OBJECTIVE: Risk factors for Type-2 diabetes have been associated with other conditions, including cardiovascular conditions categorized under the metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of co-morbid conditions, as well as concomitant medication use, for Type-2 diabetes patients in a state Medicaid population. METHODS: Data for Type-2 diabetes patients were extracted from medical claims for the year 2001 using ICD-9 codes 250.0x – 250.9x, where x equals zero or two. Patients under managed care coverage, or over age 65, were excluded. The patients were followed for one-year from the index date to determine the presence of co-morbid conditions and prescription drug utilization. The presence of co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, cerebrovascular, complications of uncontrolled diabetes (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy), and other conditions (liver disease, HIV, cancer) were identified using appropriate ICD-9 codes. Drug utilization was ascertained from prescription claims data using National Drug Classification (NDC) codes. Prevalence of co-morbid conditions and concomitant medication use was described for the overall population and on the basis of age and gender. RESULTS: The most prevalent (70%) co-morbid condition among Type-2 diabetes patients was hypertension. In addition, approximately 55% of patients had medical services claims for co-morbid hyperlipidemia, and 41% had co-morbid cardiovascular conditions. Prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular conditions among genders was similar; patients in the over 55 age category had the highest prevalence of cardiovascular conditions (52.2%) and hypertension (76.7%). For prescription use, nearly three-fourths of patients filled prescriptions for anti-hypertensives; 47.1% filled prescriptions for statins, fibrates, and other lipid-lowering drugs. CONCLUSIONS: As expected from results of studies in other Medicaid populations, hypertension was the most prevalent co-morbid condition with Type-2 diabetes. Other cardiovascular conditions also prevailed, warranting treatment of these conditions as part of the metabolic syndrome.