High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to and make worse many complications of diabetes, including diabetic eye disease and kidney disease. Most people with diabetes develop high blood pressure during their life.
Having diabetes makes high blood pressure and other heart and circulation problems more likely because diabetes damages arteries and makes them targets for hardening (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can cause high blood pressure, which if not treated, can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, heart failure, heart attack, or kidney failure.
Compared to people with normal blood pressure readings, men and women with hypertension more often have:
- Coronary artery disease (heart disease)
- Peripheral vascular disease (hardening of the arteries in the legs and feet)
- Heart failure
Even blood pressure that’s at the higher end of normal, called prehypertension (120/80 to 139/89) impacts your health. Studies show that people with prehypertension have a two to three times greater chance over 10 years of developing heart disease.
What Should Blood Pressure Be if You Have Diabetes?
Blood pressure readings vary, but most people with diabetes should have a reading of no more than 140/80. The first, or top, number is the “systolic pressure,” or the pressure in the arteries when your heart beats and fills the arteries with blood. The second, or bottom, number is the “diastolic pressure,” or the pressure in the arteries when your heart rests between beats, filling itself with blood for the next contraction.
When it comes to preventing diabetes complications, normal blood pressure is as important as good control of your blood sugar levels.
What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
Usually, high blood pressure has no symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to check your blood pressure regularly. You should get it checked at any doctor or pharmacy sister and follow the recommendations about checking your blood pressure at home, too.
How Is High Blood Pressure Treated?
To treat and help prevent high blood pressure:
- Control your blood sugar
- Stop smoking
- Eat healthy (follow the Manna Weight Loss program in the free e-book)
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Exercise (See exercise tips in the free Manna weight Loss e-book) Exercise also helps to de-stress.
- Limit salt intake
- Drink at least 2L of water per day
- Take the Manna Blood Circulation Support, which can help to increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure the natural way, without side effects.