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What is the relationship between diabetes and high blood pressure?

What is the relationship between diabetes and high blood pressure?

High blood pressure and diabetes interact with each other, increasing the risk of developing the other. They also share common causative and risk factors. However, both conditions are associated with a number of serious complications, while lifestyle changes play a crucial role in managing and preventing both conditions. Learn more about the relationship between diabetes and high blood pressure, and lifestyle recommendations for managing both conditions.

Diabetes and high blood pressure often occur together, and both diseases share a common causative factor, such as:

Laziness and lack of physical activity

Obesity.

Relying on an unhealthy diet.

Insulin resistance.

Can diabetes lead to high blood pressure?

Glucose is the body's source of energy. In order for the body to use it, it must be inside the cells, not in the bloodstream. The hormone that transports glucose from the bloodstream into the cells is insulin. When a person develops insulin resistance, insulin cannot bring glucose into the cells, and therefore the body cannot use glucose as an energy source.

Insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes, causes sugar to build up in the blood, damaging various tissues and organs, including the blood vessels and kidneys. Since both play a crucial role in maintaining normal blood pressure, damage to these organs caused by diabetes can lead to high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is more common in people with diabetes than in people without the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 47% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure or take medication to manage it. At the same time, 2 out of 3 people with diabetes have high blood pressure.

Can high blood pressure cause diabetes?

High blood pressure may not directly cause diabetes, but it can increase the risk of developing it. People with high blood pressure often have insulin resistance and are at increased risk of developing diabetes compared to those with normal blood pressure. This may be due to several factors that contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of diabetes:

Thickening of blood vessels.

Obesity.

Activate the immune system.

Complications of diabetes and high blood pressure

Diabetes, along with high blood pressure, negatively impacts the body's health, increasing the risk of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. If these two diseases are not managed and controlled, they may be associated with many serious complications, such as:

having a heart attack

Having a stroke.

Eye problems.

Kidney failure.

Managing blood sugar and blood pressure levels can help prevent these complications.

Risk factors

In addition to the fact that diabetes and high blood pressure may increase the risk of each other, they also share the same risk factors, which include:

Being overweight or obese.

Sedentary lifestyle.

Following an unhealthy diet.

Exposure to chronic stress.

Bad sleeping habits.

Having a family history.

Environmental factors such as exposure to air pollution.

Lifestyle changes are helpful in managing both of these conditions. Certain bad habits are risk factors for high blood pressure and, consequently, an increased risk of diabetes. These habits include smoking tobacco and alcohol consumption. A diet high in sodium and low in potassium are also factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure.

prevention

Lifestyle changes are crucial for managing both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, including:

Maintaining a healthy weight

For people who are obese or overweight, losing excess weight is a key factor in reducing the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) indicates that losing 3-5% of your body weight is beneficial in reducing high blood pressure.

The CDC notes that losing 5-7% of your body weight helps prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes.

Physical activity

In addition to the many wonderful health benefits of regular physical activity, it also helps manage blood sugar levels and lower high blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends following one of the following options:

Do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week.

Do 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week.

Moderate exercise includes brisk walking and swimming, while muscle-strengthening exercises are also a great option. People who have not been physically active for a long time should consult their doctor for advice on an appropriate exercise plan.

Follow a healthy diet

Following a healthy diet helps control blood sugar levels, reduces the risk of high blood pressure, and lowers blood pressure in people with the condition. A suitable diet for managing blood pressure includes the following:

Focus on high-fiber foods, including whole grains.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Avoid or reduce your intake of foods high in unhealthy fats, such as trans fats and animal fats.

Reduce salt and sugar intake.

Avoid alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of many diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes, due to the significant damage it causes to the body, including:

Thickening of the arterial walls.

Obesity and overweight.

increased risk of diabetes

increased risk of high blood pressure

Quit smoking

Smoking tobacco constricts blood vessels, leading to a temporary increase in blood pressure. It also increases the buildup of plaque within the arteries, which can lead to chronic high blood pressure. Smoking also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Smokers with diabetes are also more likely to develop serious complications, including:

Poor blood flow, which increases the chance of infection and the risk of foot or leg amputation.

heart or kidney disease

Retinopathy.

Peripheral neuropathy.

Recovery Advice from Team 6.5

Lifestyle changes are key to managing high blood pressure and diabetes. This includes following a healthy, low-carb diet, losing excess weight, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol, and quitting smoking. This helps prevent the serious complications caused by both conditions and can radically change your life.

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