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Anyone check their own Blood Pressure ?

eddie1968

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,661
Location
Dumbarton, Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Pasta, sorry to me it's vile, yeuch lol (and full of nasty carbs)
As a diabetic of nearly 5 years I developed Diabetic Nephropathy but BP is stable. As a precaution I invested in a very good monitor with two cuffs, one for slim arms and one for more chunky arms. I read my DESMOND book and they did mention BP in My Health Profile. Does anybody here self monitor their BP and would you advocate it ? I do.
Thanks EDDIE
 
No, I don't. I used to have a monitor several years ago (when my BP was 240/180) but I didn't trust the readings as they varied so much. If I want to check my BP myself I go to my GP's surgery and check it on their machine in the waiting room. It also does pulse rate too which was useful when my heart was out of normal rhythm.
 
Cheers Zand, the monitor I bought was pricey at just over £60. I do three readings and they are very similar and average the three pressures. Cheap monitors have **** cuffs and usually give erratic readings. I was on average 115/76 mmHg this morning so that's good.
 
Yes that is good. I haven't had mine checked for a while. I will in the New Year when I am over this nasty chest/throat infection.
 
I've got an Omron M10-IT which I got from Amazon for about £40 and which is similar to the one they use in the surgery. Unless I'm ill I routinely only test once a week now (2 in the morning, averaged, and 2 in the evening, averaged). Remember to sit upright and relaxed for 5 minutes before taking the readings.
 
I have a basic Omron which I bought a fat bird cuff for( I thunk I can now use the one it came with having lost 4st) - I take it most days - usually do three readings five minutes apart, varying time of day. Mine comes out around 120/68 most of the time.
 
My daughter uses us as her guinea pigs,as she is at Uni studying to become a nurse,I don't mind it but sometimes if I am stressed it races up so try not to as then I start to worry abit.
 
Sorry @Snowy12
Just sprayed you with coffee, then realised that you didn't say : "My daughter uses it on her guinea pigs",
 
We have an Omron. It also measures pulse rate. I do use it but not as often these days as my average BP is 116/67 as per a 12 hour monitor I had strapped to me by the doc in August when I thought I was having sudden drops in BP. (I wasn't, it turned out to be vertigo!)

Best to take it morning and evening, sitting up straight, legs uncrossed, and at rest. If I have just been up and down the stairs before I take it, the readings are higher.
 
QUOTE="FergusCrawford, post: 706134, member: 26127"]Sorry @Snowy12
Just sprayed you with coffee, then realised that you didn't say : "My daughter uses it on her guinea pigs",[/QUOTE]

Pmsl thank god we don't have one as I am sure she would find some use for it along with her stethoscopes.

 
I have an Omron M5 that I've had for ten years or so. I got it when I was diagnosed with Hypertension and was sure that I was displaying white coat hypertension. Back then it was about £120, but it's kept going well and hasn't had any issues with losing calibration.

I've found that over the past couple of years my BP has stabilised to a fairly standard level, but reckon I'll be on pills till I get to the end of the road. Better than a Quadruple bypass or heart attack though.
 
I too have an Omron bp monitor and check it probably every 2 months, did use to do it more often but my gp said there was no need to, I think it's good to keep an eye on these things between our annual diabetes appointments so your doing the right thing @EDDIE,
 
FergusCrawford said:
Sorry @Snowy12
Just sprayed you with coffee, then realised that you didn't say : "My daughter uses it on her guinea pigs",
Click to expand...
same here, this poor thing in a BP cuff with its eyes bulging
it also reminded me of the old joke of masking tape

I had a home BP tester..it was called a wife..
since then I had to buy one, as has been said, check at the same time ..I think morning when you get out of bed is best
during the day will see wild swings that are still in normal range
 
Yes I have a BP monitor, due to having Addison's disease it's vital to know when just unwell or heading for an Addison's crisis. This involves very low BP.
 
My father tries to measure mine every time I go and stay.
I always refuse.
I don't think his tiddly little shrimp sized cuff will fit my fat bird voluptuosity.
But I'm not worried.
The last time my bp was taken it was 5 mins after having a smear taken.

I asked the nurse, she laughed, mentioned some figure and said
'If you have that reading immediately after your smear, then you are FINE'
 
lol Brunneria, I use the big arm cuff too. I still think it is an integral part of my diabetes management though.
 
I have an Omron M2 - basic but does the job. My BP is usually 95/55 ish.

I have to take BP tablets after my bypass (tablets not negotiable) even if I do get a bit dizzy standing up
 
I use mine to show off how low my BP is now!
Thanks to low carb!
 
Yes check mine daily now down to 118/60 on average from 145/85 due to lchf regime having now lost 34 lbs
 
I've used my own monitor for years, I'm using it more frequently as my weight drops because I might be over medicated and I have been noticing from lowish readings already. A good piece of advise would be "Don't panic". The one I now have is exactly the same as the one used in the surgery.
 
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