The effect of SBP is the same in diabetic and non-diabetic women, with a relative risk of 1.01. There is some modification of the risk with high triglycerides versus low triglycerides, low HDL versus high HDL, and high total cholesterol versus low total cholesterol. But, the main effect is due to the high glucose levels. One study has indicated that subarachnoid hemorrhage may be decreased in patients with Type I diabetes. A study from the US shows that hemorrhagic stroke is not increased with the glucose level in the population.
Thromboembolic stroke is increased with increased levels of blood glucose.
Different pathologies in diabetics compared to non-diabetics may exist. Plasma glucose was strongly associated with the presence of a brain lesion, with a correlation coefficient of 0.469. Serum cortisol had a correlation coefficient of 0.542 and plasma insulin 0.399, both part of the metabolic syndrome. Very low glucose levels had an increased risk of stroke, but thereafter there was a nearly linear association. Although this was a trend, it did not reach statistical significance.