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High Blood Pressure and Diabetes — health article from the Heart Health Support Group on the Smart Living Network

December 02 2009 at 4:50 pm

High Blood Pressure and Diabetes

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It is important for anyone who has diabetes to control their blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of heart attacks. Diseases of the kidneys and eyes can also stem from high blood pressure if gone unchecked. If you have diabetes you are twice more likely to have high blood pressure than a person who does not have diabetes. If your high blood pressure is not treated you are four times as likely to develop some sort of heart disease. 60% of people with diabetes also suffer from high blood pressure. Diabetes affects the arteries adversely and people with diabetes are predisposed to atherosclerosis, which can cause high blood pressure. If you have diabetes your blood pressure should not go above 130/80.

The reason that having normal blood pressure is important if you have diabetes is because diabetics have to be in control of their blood sugars in order to prevent complications that come with diabetes. Because the risk is higher for people who have diabetes to have high blood pressure, it is more important to follow the steps needed to prevent and treat it. There are medications to help with high blood pressure but if you have been diagnosed with diabetes it is important to consult your physician to see what medications would work best for you. There are some medicines to combat high blood pressure but it they can have a negative effect on a diabetic's blood glucose level. There are also some medications that can be better on specific populations of people. ACE inhibitors can help narrow the blood vessels in the body and they can also reduce the risk of both heart attacks and strokes. ARB's help to relax and open the blood vessels and can also protect the kidneys. Beta-blockers lower blood pressure as well as relaxing the heart, making it beat lower. Beta-blockers also reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Calcium channel blockers relax the blood vessels and keep calcium out of the heart. Diuretics can help rid the body of excess sodium and water.

Following a healthy diet is also very important to help with high blood pressure. A diabetic is generally more aware of what they consume but has to be even more so to keep their blood pressure down. A diet with fruits, vegetables, and low dairy products is a good diet to follow. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day can also help. Taking a brisk walk or a bicycle ride daily can help keep high blood pressure in check. Smoking should be avoided as it leads to high blood pressure. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes it is important that you have your blood pressure checked regularly. Having diabetes puts you in the increased risk category for high blood pressure. Don't let diabetes have a negative affect on your life, eat healthy, exercise regularly and live your life healthy. These few things will make all the difference.

Sources:

http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/well-being/treating-high-bp.jsp

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_diabetes/hbp.cfm

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/high-blood-pressure

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3044765

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