{"id":26606,"date":"2021-08-16T20:36:50","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T20:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medical.andonline.com\/?p=26606"},"modified":"2023-06-14T05:39:20","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T05:39:20","slug":"diabetes-and-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medical.andonline.com\/diabetes-and-blood-pressure\/?lang=ce","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes and Blood Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diabetes and Blood Pressure<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section>\n
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According to the CDC, nearly\u00a050% of\u00a0American adults\u00a0suffer from hypertension\u00a0(high blood pressure).\u00a0When you narrow\u00a0the\u00a0focus to\u00a0adults with diabetes,\u00a0that percentage\u00a0increases to\u00a0over 60%. That means 2 in 3 adults with diabetes\u00a0have\u00a0high blood pressure.\u00a0With\u00a0over\u00a010% of the US population\u00a0living with some form of\u00a0diabetes<\/a>, learning more about the link between these two conditions can be a lifesaver.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

What is diabetes?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Diabetes is a group of diseases that\u00a0impact the way the body processes sugar<\/a>. With type 1, the pancreas does not produce enough\u00a0of the hormone\u00a0insulin, which is needed stabilize the body\u2019s blood sugar levels. With type two, the person may produce insulin, but their body has become resistant to insulin. While there are differences between type 1 and type 2, both come with a higher risk of developing hypertension.<\/p>\n

Higher risk of hypertension<\/span><\/h3>\n

What about diabetes makes adults\u00a0more at risk<\/a>\u00a0of developing hypertension?\u00a0Diabetes damages arteries. This makes them more vulnerable to\u00a0hardening, which\u00a0can cause high blood pressure. If\u00a0left untreated,\u00a0hypertension can lead to\u00a0additional health issues\u00a0including blood vessel damage, heart attack, and kidney failure.\u00a0This makes management of diabetes imperative to heart health.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

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Highs and lows<\/span><\/h3>\n

On the flipside of hypertension is hypotension (low blood pressure).\u00a0Low blood pressure is any reading below\u00a090 for systolic or 60 diastolic.\u00a0Unlike high blood pressure, low blood pressure is\u00a0usually accompanied by symptoms<\/a>\u00a0such as dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. It\u2019s important to note that some people experience no symptoms from low blood pressure, and can actually live normal, healthy lives.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

Symptoms can be confused with diabetes<\/span><\/h3>\n

As is the case with many overlapping\u00a0health\u00a0conditions, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish\u00a0the source of\u00a0symptoms. While high blood pressure usually does not\u00a0present any physical symptoms, the dizziness and fatigue that can accompany low blood pressure could be\u00a0confused for low blood sugar<\/a>.\u00a0This can be frustrating and confusing, especially when first learning to manage and live with diabetes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

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Double-teaming defense<\/span><\/h3>\n

Both diabetes and hypertension increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack,\u00a0heart failure, and stroke.\u00a0Learning how to manage both<\/a>\u00a0is imperative to your health.\u00a0There is some\u00a0good news. With\u00a0the right game plan,\u00a0both diabetes and\u00a0your blood pressure can be managed. This could mean changes to your diet, regular blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring, and, if needed, medication.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

Prevention is the best medicine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Of course, the best management is prevention. If you have a family history of diabetes or hypertension talk with your doctor about what you can do to reduce your risk.\u00a0Simple adjustments to your diet and exercise can make a huge difference in reducing your risk.\u00a0Knowing your family\u2019s health history<\/a>\u00a0is a vital step in all aspects of your health, but especially when dealing with heart health.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re concerned about your risk, management, or prevention of diabetes talk with your doctor. Together, you can figure out your personal risk of developing hypertension and\/or diabetes and also come up with a plan to keep you as healthy as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

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