More than half of all persons with diabetes have a condition called hypertension, defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg. Left untreated, these patients can develop heart disease, stroke, retinopathy (eye disease), kidney disease, nerve damage, and even death.
Here’s what you need to know to recognize and treat high blood pressure.
Did You Know? |
| Many health care providers believe that controlling blood pressure is at least as important as controlling blood glucose levels, because of the serious risk of heart attacks and death. |
The factors related to high blood pressure may differ for each type of diabetes:
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| High blood pressure can be related to the development of diabetic complications such as eye damage, nerve damage, or kidney disease. |
| High blood pressure often goes undetected because many people don’t have symptoms. |
| When symptoms of high blood pressure do occur, they might include headaches, chest pain, or shortness of breath. |
Tips to prevent the progression to hypertension: |
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Patients with diabetes are at risk for hypertension. Left untreated, this condition can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and even death. Check your blood pressure at home if it has been high in the past and at every doctor’s visit.
