BLOOD PRESSURE FOR DIABETICS

Many Diabetics suffer from High Blood Pressure - Hypertension. It is something that can be treated well but first of all you need to know that you actually have it.

It is not something that you will always feel or notice, the signs and symptoms can often be missed or confused with something else. The only way to find out if you have it is by testing your BP.

If you do have high BP a single test once in a while is not going to be much help so just having it tested at a Clinic every few months is not really a good way to know if it is under control.

The best way is to buy yourself a good quality Arm Cuff tester and test at home at various times of the day/night. Then you will know how your BP is throughout a day. It will vary due to many things, so don't expect it to remain the same all the time.

The charts that tell you what is a good BP to have are for people who have no other risk factors.

If you are a Diabetic the present recommendation is that your BP should be lower than 130/80 if possible to avoid further complications. What is 'normal' for a non-Diabetic is NOT 'normal' for a Diabetic. You need to understand that first thing..........

Here is a link to the UK Blood Pressure Association website where there is much information.

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... odpressure

Re: BLOOD PRESSURE FOR DIABETIC'S

Patch said:

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. My BP has always been fine, but my cholesterol fluctuates between 4 and 8 regularly. I'll be interested to see how the 2 are linked (if at all).

Click to expand...

There is a connection and it is just down to the fact that if there is too much Cholesterol in your Arteries it can build up and narrow the Arteries which will increase the risks of a Heart attack or Stroke.

Here is a link to the subject Fats and Cholesterol in the BPA link I posted. There is much in the link which will answer many of your questions. We do not want to duplicate what is going on in the Cholesterol thread, that would be taking it off topic....Have a read of this link.

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... holesterol

Blood pressure has many causes but principally if you have a lot of salt, lead a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight, drink in excess and maybe dont eat much fruit and Veg that can all be risky. Your lifestyle needs to be healthy at all times.

Again from the BPA.......

There are some factors that increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, which you cannot control. These include:

Age: as you get older, the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle can build up and your blood pressure can increase.

Ethnic origin: people from African-Caribbean and South Asian communities are at greater risk than other people of high blood pressure.

Family history: you are at greater risk if other members of your family have, or have had, high blood pressure.

Some people may have high blood pressure that is linked to another medical condition, such as kidney problems. For these people treating the medical problem may lower their blood pressure back to normal.

Click to expand...

Re: BLOOD PRESSURE FOR DIABETIC'S

How to lower Blood Pressure.

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... rlifestyle

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... ruitandveg

Re: BLOOD PRESSURE FOR DIABETIC'S

Whilst I agree with Sid about testing your blood pressure at home if you think you may be at risk of 'White Coat Syndrome' it is important that any meter you use is clinically validated by both the British Hypertension Society and the European Society of Hypertension.

This from the UK BPA (Blood Pressure Association)........

There are many different kinds of home blood pressure monitor, but it is easiest to use a monitor that is fully automatic (digital). Choose one that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm, rather than at your wrist or finger. Upper-arm blood pressure monitors usually give the most accurate and consistent results.

Make sure that the home blood pressure monitor you choose has been listed as 'clinically validated' for accuracy by the British Hypertension Society. This means that the digital monitor has gone through a series of tests to make sure it gives results that you and your doctor can trust.

Click to expand...

I was diagnosed with WCS some 14 yrs ago after being monitored for 24 hrs and since then have always taken my own BP readings with a clinically validated upper arm monitor. I do have a wrist one (not CV) for travelling purposes but I have found that it never gives the same reading as an upper arm one.......but it is better than nothing. My GP seems to think it is because I have always had an eye for the Nurses........nah ! :wink:

My GP etc know that they can trust any readings I take as I use the same one that my GP has in his surgery. The readings are clinically correct as it is a CV meter. I use the Omron MX3 which cost about £60 but there are cheaper models including a few wrist monitors available.

So whether you go for Upper Arm or Wrist type.....make sure it is clinically validated then you can trust the readings and your HCP's will be able to as well.

A useful link to the BPA all about Monitors with a list of the makes which are clinically validated.

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... ourmonitor

Hope that helps.