Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
What is hypertension?
About half of all people with diabetes also have high blood pressure or
hypertension. For people with diabetes any blood pressure more than
130/80 is too high. Hypertension can be controlled, but not cured.
The medicine will bring your blood pressure down but if you stop the
medicine your blood pressure will go back up.
How is hypertension treated?
Hypertension treatment includes a meal plan and medicine. You may
need to eat less salt, less fat and
more vegetables and lose weight. Some of the things you have learned
to care for your diabetes can be used to care for high blood pressure.
As you eat less fat, and loose weight you will see that your blood sugar and
blood pressure will come down.
A special caution about salt substitutes is that they may be high in
potassium. High potassium can cause problems with your heart.
You may want to use other spices
instead of salt or salt substitutes.
Several different classes of medications are used to control high blood
pressure. Some of them may affect your blood sugar. It is
important to take your blood pressure medicine every day.
How does exercise affect blood pressure?
A regular exercise plan will help
to lower your blood pressure.
How does stress affect my blood pressure?
Stress can raise both your blood pressure as well as your blood sugar.
There are several ways to help how you
deal with stress.
Can I check my blood pressure at home?
Yes you can learn to monitor your blood pressure at home. There are
several good, inexpensive, electric blood pressure machines at your drug
store. You can keep a record of your blood pressure in your diabetes
log.
What can I do to care for diabetes and hypertension?
High blood pressure and diabetes are both chronic conditions that will
need your attention every day. Many of the things you do for one will
help the other. Good health habits, like not using tobacco, increasing
activity, and learning to cope with stress will help both conditions.
You will feel better and stay healthier if you keep your blood sugar in
range and your blood pressure down.