Diabetes in Canada

RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES COMPLICATIONS

Smoking

Smoking predisposes people with diabetes to heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and lower extremity amputations. In the age group 35 to 64, 27% of people with diabetes reported being daily smokers. This does not differ from the prevalence of daily smokers among people without diabetes in the same age group. In the over 65 age group the percentage of daily smokers is much lower among both those with, and without, diabetes (9% and 13% respectively).

High Blood Pressure

The prevalence of high blood pressure in people aged 35 to 64 years is four times higher among those with diabetes than those without (40% vs. 10%) (Table 21).

TABLE 21 Prevalence of self-reported hypertension (high blood pressure), by diabetes status and age group - Canada excluding Territories, 1996/97
Diabetes status	% with high blood pressure
	Age group
	35 - 64	65+	Population (12+ yrs)
With diabetes	40.0	44.4	39.7
Without diabetes	10.0	30.7	9.0

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