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New research reveals that blood pressure blood will not increase the rate of falls among diabetics between the ages of 40 and 79.

Lead researcher Dr. Karen Margolis, of HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research in the US, examined data from previous studies and compared the number of falls and fractures of type 2 diabetes patients receiving two types of blood pressure treatment. The intensive group involved 1,534 participants who received treatment aimed at a systolic blood pressure of <120 mm Hg, and the other group of 1,565 participants who received treatment aimed at a systolic blood pressure of <140 mm Hg.

The average participant was about 62 years old. However, non were older than the age of 80

Researchers found that participants who took intensive blood pressure medication did not suffer significantly less falls than those who didn't.

"Lowering blood pressure using intensive treatment compared with standard treatment did not result in an increased rate of falls or fractures and, in fact, showed possible trends towards fewer fractures in the intensively treated patients," explained Margolis.

"Although intensive blood pressure treatment to the low levels in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) randomized trial did not lower cardiovascular events, our results and review of the literature suggest a need to carefully reconsider current thinking about whether antihypertensive treatment and blood pressure lowering increases risk for falls and fractures," she concluded.

The study was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.