Diabetes FAQs: What should I do if have high blood pressure and diabetes?

Diabetes and hypertension together puts you at major health risks.

Read this in HINDI.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.

It goes without saying that diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) go hand-in-hand, as the latter is prevalent in almost 75 percent of people suffering from type 2 diabetes. ^[1] Diabetes calls for following a proper fitness regimen and dietary restrictions. But when coupled with hypertension, a lifestyle disease, you need to be extra careful with your lifestyle choices as it increases your risk of stroke, kidney problems and heart diseases.

To understand how diabetes and high blood pressure affects your health, you need to understand what hypertension is.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood flowing through the arteries exerts pressure on the walls of blood vessels. But in some cases, the walls of the arteries thicken (due to deposition of cholesterol), which in turn increase the resistance for the blood flow. And this causes the heart to pump harder, causing the blood pressure to increase and leading to hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension Why you need to worry?

According to a study published in the Journal Advances in Cardiology, hypertension and diabetes majorly affect the vascular system and thus, increase your risk of suffering from heart diseases. It also lowers the functioning of kidneys and accelerates the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Coronary artery disease: High blood pressure damages the inner lining of the heart vessels and blocks the blood supply to the organ. This puts excess pressure on the heart, leading to tissue damage and chest pain in the long run. So if you have frequent chest pain and your blood pressure and diabetes is not within control, it indicates urgent medical attention.

Kidney damage: When the blood flow is affected, even your kidneys don't receive enough blood and cannot function properly. Also, uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of diabetic nephropathy. Here is a detailed information about kidney damage in diabetics and how to prevent it.

Diabetic retinopathy: Another common health complication that might occur if your blood pressure and diabetes is not under control is diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eyes). It causes the blood vessels to swell and leak out fluid. And in extreme cases, might lead to loss of vision. The only way to prevent it from worsening is to keep a tab on your blood sugar level and blood pressure. The common signs of eye damage you need to look out for are blurred or impaired vision, floaters or black spots in the eyes and extreme eye pain, says Dr Haresh Asnani, a retina specialist from Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai.

Here are some tips to prevent health complications caused due to high blood pressure and diabetes

• Make sure your blood pressure is less than 130/80 mm Hg and blood sugar level within control (around 100 mg/dl)
• Go for a regular blood pressure and blood sugar check-ups.
• Lower your intake of salt and eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise daily at least for 30 minutes (you can even try practising yoga)
• Take your medications on time. Here are 7 hacks to help you never forget to take your medicine.

Previous Tip

Image Source: Shutterstock

---

For more articles on diabetes, visit our diabetessection. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. For health related queries, visit our Q&A section.References:

1. Schutta MH. Diabetes and hypertension: epidemiology of the relationship and pathophysiology of factors associated with these comorbid conditions. J Cardiometab Syndr. 2007 Spring;2(2):124-30. Review. PubMed PMID: 17684469.
2. Grossman E, Messerli FH. Hypertension and diabetes. Adv Cardiol. 2008;45:82-106. doi: 10.1159/0000115189. Review. PubMed PMID: 18230957.