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Blood pressure

Marieukxx

Marieukxx

Well-Known Member
Messages
240
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
Does diabetes cause raised blood pressure? I've always been ok with my BP but at my appointment with the diabetic nurse she said it was slightly high and would need to check it again next time.
 
I think it can raise it, but so can the stress of diagnosis and having it taken in the surgery. Mine was up so I was told to buy a monitor and do it at home. Those readings are still in the pre high blood pressure range as just knowing I have to take it sends me into a panic attack. At the surgery it was still high so I have to speak to GP about it.
 
Uncontrolled diabetes if left untreated can certainly contribute to raised B/P and poor general circulation to the fine veins and capilaiaries as well as to the main arteries, principly due to the raise 'sugar' levels in the bloodstream which will coats all the internal 'pipework' inside the body. If left untreated it can contribute to many of the side effects that we diabetics can suffer from, and for this reason controlling Blood Glucose levels are just as important as controling Blood Pressure.
Generally B/P readings for a diabetic should ideally be close to 120/70 but most Dr's would accept a B/P reading of less then 140/80 in the general population.
Where B/P readings are taken they should be taken in three successive reading at approx. 5 min intervals, with the individual sitting and fully relaxed and not stressed, and from the 3 reading their B/P is the mean average of all 3 readings.
Medications are usually supplied if the B/P is in excess of 140/80 and many medications particularly the 'Statins' do have long term proven health benifits for the diabetic, though I would suspect many on this site will dissagree as they unfortunately also have a few side effects.
 
if you go worried about it, it will be higher, used to happen with me to the point i was on meds, then one GP took it talked to me did it again talked some more tried it again and took me off the meds, ask them to do that for you, try not to worry all the best
 
Mine just goes beserk at the surgery. Doesn't help that I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks so last time he took it I had just had a massive panic attack whilst having ECG done. Left to own devices it's 128/68 which is ok I think though losing weight will hopefully send it a bit lower. I'm trying to avoid meds as they are another thing that make me anxious!
 
In 2001 my GP thought my blood pressure was a bit high so asked me to diet and exercise (sound familiar?). I lost two stone and my blood pressure went to levels my GP liked

This forum is rightly convinced that if overweight then losing some improves most stats. It could all be coincidence I suppose but if your historical sugar intake has raised your weight then your diabetes and blood pressure seem to follow. I personally think it's coincidence and not causal that diabetes and blood pressure go hand in hand but I think that weight issues don't help.
 
Often, when I go to the diabetic clinic at my local hospital the nurse takes my BP twice then says "OOh! you've got the BP of a twenty year old." - I'm 56. This is after 40 years of smoking and drinking and little exercise - I must be doing something right but I've no idea what it is :p
 
cold ethyl said:
Mine just goes beserk at the surgery. Doesn't help that I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks so last time he took it I had just had a massive panic attack whilst having ECG done. Left to own devices it's 128/68 which is ok I think though losing weight will hopefully send it a bit lower. I'm trying to avoid meds as they are another thing that make me anxious!
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It's quite a common occurrence, they call it White Coat Syndrome/Effect:

http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Medicaltests/Whitecoateffect

Best to buy a home bp monitor (with upper-arm cuff) and take your own readings at home so you can show them to your gp, losing weight will certainly help with your bp as will getting more regular exercise.
 
Yes I got a home monitor . Was still borderline on some readings according to nurse but now I've got used to it and have exercised even more it is coming down . Today was 114/64 so am going to decline the blood pressure meds I think.
 
cold ethyl said:
Yes I got a home monitor . Was still borderline on some readings according to nurse but now I've got used to it and have exercised even more it is coming down . Today was 114/64 so am going to decline the blood pressure meds I think.
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The bp levels look fine, did you also notice that your pulse rate went down with the weight reduction and increased exercise?
 
Pulse is a bit up and down as I have anxiety and panic disorder but it is lower than it used to be and is often just 70 post 20 nins on the exercise bike.
 
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