Hi, diabetic for over 40 years and a proud, but retired member of the healthcare community, working in admin most of the time. There is a correlation between high blood sugars (BS) and high blood pressure, also between high BS and eye problems, and high BS and kidney damage. In fact, there is a correlation between high BS and the damage that is often found in diabetic patients.
The high BS sugar makes your capillaries and small vessels harden. in short:
High glucose levels reduce the
levels of the powerful vasodilator nitric oxide in
blood vessels, a shortfall that increases the risk of
high blood pressure and eventually narrows down the
vessels. From:
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/how-high-blood-sugars-damage-blood-vessels/
The damage can happen to ANY of your blood vessels. This is what leads to blindness, kidney failure, loss of circulation in the extremities, etc. The damage is cumulative-over time- and your body can repair some of the damage with good BS control and management.
I was diagnosed when I was 27 years old and have neuropathy in my hands and feet, a different but related problem. I just had my first stent at 62. All in all, not a bad record for a diabetic with over 30 years with this disease.
Take care of your blood sugars and protect yourself!