High blood sugar can contribute to hypertension in various ways, but adopting certain dietary and lifestyle modifications that are effective in managing diabetes can also help reduce blood pressure. It's worth noting that around two-thirds of individuals with diabetes either have hypertension or take medication to control their blood pressure.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are closely linked. They share similar risk factors and causes, and diabetes can elevate blood pressure levels. Insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels can eventually lead to the development of hypertension.
When diabetes and high blood pressure coexist, the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other complications significantly increases. However, both conditions can be managed through lifestyle changes and prescribed medication.
The link between Diabetes and High Pressure
Let's start by learning more about how diabetes and high blood pressure are related. What binds the two together, and how does diabetes raise the risk of developing hypertension?
Kidney Damage
One typical effect of diabetes is diabetic nephropathy, or kidney disease in diabetics. The most vulnerable groups to kidney damage are people with type 1 diabetes and those with uncontrolled high blood sugar.
The kidneys' numerous small nephrons filter blood, eliminate waste, and maintain a healthy fluid balance. renal disease results from high blood sugar over time because it harms nephrons and renal blood vessels.
Your body may retain salt and water if your kidneys are not functioning effectively. These changes can lead to high blood pressure.
Blood Vessel Damage
The Insulin hormone is made in the pancreas. It controls the amount of glucose in our blood. Diabetes results from either insufficient insulin production or poor insulin cellular response. To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day. Type 2 diabetics may also use insulin to deal with their condition, but there are other medications that can be used as well.
Nitric oxide, a chemical that promotes blood flow by enabling the inner muscles of blood vessels to relax, is less effective in the body due to insulin resistance. Nitric oxide is used by the body to naturally lower blood pressure; when this process stops, blood vessels lose their elasticity and start to limit the flow of blood and oxygen. This increases the risk of hypertension over time.
Causes and Risk Factors of Diabetes and Hypertension
One research of adults over 18 found that approximately three out of every four patients with diabetes also have hypertension. The majority of the causes and risk factors are similar, making the illnesses concurrent.
These include:
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Chronic inflammation
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Sedentary lifestyle
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Obesity or being overweight
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Insulin resistance
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Oxidative stress is when the body develops more harmful byproducts via regular metabolic processes than it can efficiently filter out.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
It is false that people with hypertension frequently sweat, have flushed skin, and have problems falling asleep or remaining calm.
High blood pressure, also referred to as "the silent killer," frequently displays no symptoms at all. Monitoring your blood pressure is the most effective approach to determine if you have hypertension.
What’s Normal Blood Pressure for People with Diabetes?
According to Robert Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, the chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association, it is generally recommended for individuals with diabetes to maintain a blood pressure level that is better than that of the general population.
Ideally, their blood pressure should be less than 130/80. Monitoring blood pressure closely is important for people with diabetes to help prevent complications and manage their overall health.
