Diabetes And High Blood Pressure

Posted on by Jordan Soblick

So much about living with diabetes involves monitoring, managing, and maintaining blood sugar levels. But it isn’t just the amount of glucose in the bloodstream that matters when it comes to diabetes health. How well that bloodstream functions and how efficiently it delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body is critical to overall health. This is particularly true when it comes to high blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to many diabetes complications, including kidney disease, diabetic eye disease, and heart and circulation problems. Diabetes damages arteries and makes them more vulnerable to hardening, a condition called atherosclerosis. That can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks, or kidney failure if left untreated. Most people with diabetes will eventually have hypertension; in fact, two out of every three people with diabetes report having high blood pressure or are taking prescription drugs to lower their blood pressure

What Is Blood Pressure and What Should It Be?

Blood pressure refers to the force of your blood moving through your blood vessels. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart is beating and pumping blood. This is called systolic pressure. Between beats, when your heart is resting, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.

Systolic and diastolic pressure are the two numbers that make up a blood pressure reading, usually expressed as a “systolic/diastolic” or “systolic over diastolic” figure.

What your optimal blood pressure reading should be depends to a certain extent on whether you have other heart risk factors, but generally:

Blood Pressure Category                             Systolic                         Diastolic

Normal                                                     Less than 120                  Less than 80

High Blood Pressure (no other heart risks)       140 or higher                   90 or higher

High Blood Pressure (with other heart risks)     130 or higher                  80 or higher

Dangerously high blood pressure                    180 or higher                   120 or higher

Controlling Blood Pressure

You can lower your blood pressure with lifestyle changes, though medication may also be needed to bring your numbers down to a healthy level. Many of the things you do to manage your diabetes will also help with high blood pressure, such as:

  • Control your blood sugar
  • Stop smoking.
  • Eat healthily.
  • Exercise most days.
  • Keep your weight in a healthy range.
  • Don’t drink a lot of alcohol.
  • Limit how much salt you eat.
  • Visit your doctor regularly.

Keep Your Blood Sugar In Check With CGM

Along with keeping your blood pressure at a healthy number, maintaining blood glucose levels as close to your target level as possible is critical for reducing the risk of heart attack and other complications. One way to ensure that you keep your blood levels in check is through Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). It is a tested, approved, accurate, and easy-to-use transceiver device that helps those with diabetes monitor keep abreast of their blood sugar levels 24/7 without any need to stop what their doing to take a blood sample.

Speak with your doctor and contact us today to see if you qualify for CGM and access our guide to continuous glucose monitoring.

CALL US TO QUALIFY NOW

If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

1-888-308-0094

*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading