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Blood Pressure

shedges

shedges

Well-Known Member
Messages
432
Location
Hampshire, Uk
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi All,

I'm going to ask a question about blood pressure and Type 1 diabetics. Before I get to that, here are my stats to give you some background:

Age 33. Height 1.91m(6'4" in old money) Weight 82kg (about 13.5 stone). Diagnosed 3 years, Hba1C 8.1, Cholesterol 3.8. I haven't drunk alcohol for the last year, I don't smoke, I eat healthily (wholemeal, no salt, etc... only vice is packet of crisps per day). I lift weights at the gym 3-5 times a week and play cricket every Sunday/Tuesday. Over the last couple of years my blood pressure was around 120-130/80-90 range.

Yesterday I went back for my 6-month check up and Hba1C was exactly the same as previous reading, but blood pressure is 140/90. I asked if that is too high and the doc said it's 'normal'. At the tender age of 33, should I be getting concerned, or should I mark it down as a one-off, a blip?

The doc didn't seem too worried as he has changed my check up frequency to annual rather than 6 months.

What does anyone think about:
A) my bp readings?
B) my doctor's attitude?

Let me know,
Sam.
 
Hi Sam.

Here is a link to the Blood Pressure Association site in the UK. Have a read.
http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... atisnormal

Your reading was 140/90. You are 33yrs old. My BP when I was 50 was lower than that.

An extract from the site.
More than 120 over 80 and less than 140 over 90 (120/80-140/90): You have a normal blood pressure reading but it is a little higher than it should be, and you should try to lower it. Make healthy changes to your lifestyle.

To put this in perspective, my own readings are consistently around 110/65 mark and I am 61 yrs old. I am on Blood Pressure lowering drugs. I think you should try and reduce your BP with the advice from the BPA. Your GP might have given you the same advice but for some reason chose not too ? :?

Ken.
 
Sam

Blood pressure varies all the time in an individual, and is influenced by a great number of factors; there might also be an element of "white coat syndrome" contributing to your readings! The only way to know what is happening is take a series of measurements at random or over a 24 hour period, which will help build a more accurate picture. But a 24 hour test would normally only be undertaken following a specific referral from your GP or consultant.

Readings consistently at the level you quote - especially the diastolic number - may be a cause for concern, nearer to 70 would be a better average. Your doctor's attitude sounds "relaxed" to me...
 
When mine was 130/80 my doctor felt it was too high but organised a 24hr BP monitor to see whether it was white coat syndrome, or a problem.
( It was OK but she still put me on a low dose irbesartan,'to protect the kidneys' )
 
Marzeater said:
My last BP test was 125 / 79. I don't know if it was good or bad and the nurse just mumbled something. :?
Click to expand...

Marzeater. From the previous post in this thread. Your Bp looks ideal ?

More than 120 over 80 and less than 140 over 90 (120/80-140/90): You have a normal blood pressure reading but it is a little higher than it should be, and you should try to lower it. Make healthy changes to your lifestyle.

Ken.
 
Sam

I can't comment on your bp readings, as I would imagine other risk factors have to taken into consideration, such as present long-term complications, family history etc. What I can say is that I am type 1, and have had retinopathy for some 10 years. About 3 years back I was put on low medication for bp to help prevent further complications with my eyes. This was despite having normal bp readings of around 130/70. Although my doctor said that for a non-diabetic this would be very satisfactory, he said the lower I could get my bp, would benefit my eyes and prevent other complications in the long-term.

At present my bp is 115-120/60-65 range, and some time back I bought a blood pressure monitor to test myself at home. These machines are so inexpensive now, you can buy them for as little as £10, and are great for getting a true bp reading. My readings are always lower at home than at my doctors, there is a condition called ''white coat syndrome'', this is where a person attending their doctors surgery is nervous and uptight, and therefore their bp is elevated and hence the higher readings. I get this and my doc says this is very common indeed.

At 33, and you seem to be pretty well active, may I suggest that you look at foods that help with lowering bp, oats are great for reducing bp, and I take a strong garlic supplement (Kwai one-a-day) to help with cholesterol and heart health. Google foods that reduce bp for further reccomendations. Long-term, the lower your bp, the less chance of strokes, heart disease, kidney damage, the list is endless. Hope all goes well and hope the above has been helpful.

Nigel
 
Thanks everyone for your answers.

Looking back at yesterday, I think there were a number of factors at play, several of which may have raised my bp:

Annoyed at having to wait ages for my appointment.
Slightly anxious about discussion I was about to have with doctor re. possible depression symptoms (already posted on T1 board on that).
General stress in my life at work and home.
Possibly some 'white coat syndrome' too.

I'll look into buying a monitor for home if they're as cheap and reliable as people say they are. If this is going to be an on-going issue (and family history suggests it may be) then I might as well have the right information rather than waiting for an annual reading.

Have a good weekend everyone,
Sam.
 
My doctor recommended I buy one for home use as I suffer from 'white coat syndrome', he did the 24 hour test to confirm this, and used to repeat it every year until we both decided my BP was no longer an issue. He recommended my to buy an omron one as he said these were very reliable, plus he said to go for one which goes on your upper arm as opposed to your wrist.

Yours does seem a little high for a diabetic as I thought diabetics were supposed to have theirs kept to 120/80 because of the risk of complications from diabetes.

My mum's BP used to be higher than this standard at the GP's and I went with to the cardiologist appointment commented on this and she was put on rampril which has brought it right down.
 
Hi Sam.

Here is a link to the Amazon website showing a selection of Omron BP monitors to give you an idea of prices.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&rs=65 ... ure&page=1

I have 'white coat syndrome' and was also on a 24 Hr monitor to prove that this was the case. My readings at home are always much lower than when taken at the Surgery or Hospital. As the previous poster said get an upper arm one, they are more accurate. I too use an Omron MX3 which is very easy to use. This is the same type as my GP uses. He also accepts my readings now instead of the ones at the Surgery.

Ken.
 
The target for diabetics is lower than for the general population, about 10 lower on each figure.
Doctors' ideas vary though. I went to clinic once and was told its borderline, visit GP regularly for monitoring, which I did. At next clinic visit the doctor reviewed all the readings and said fine, no need to do anything. A year later a different doctor was virtually wetting himself and adamant I must have some tablets - when I checked afterwards, that day's reading was identical to the previous year!
 
As I said in my previous correspondence, I test my bp at home and keep a record of this, and take this along to doctors at my regular review. He always looks at this and writes down my readings, saying that they are are true reflection of my bp overall.

Regards

Nigel
 
I was hoping for a blood pressure thread here as everything else has helped me so far.

I am going great guns with my diabetes (no symptoms and no medication since April 2009) cholesterol (I am happy with my figures which will improve I know) and BP (no medication).
My BP has come down from about 128/85 as the weight loss continued, as I low carbed, as my HbA1c went down to 5.0, to 102/58 and the systolic has been even lower than that!

How low should it go before I get worried? What would I have to do to halt the downwards readings? Not wanting to take medication really............. Perhaps I should begin all the things that got me in this mess in the first place...? take up drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating a high carb diet?!!. My weight loss has reached 16 kgs and I want another 1 kg to put me right in the normal weight range and not the upper end. Love my new body! Love my energy and the range of clothes available for me!

Travelling the great land Oz at the moment and am in Darwin. At 38 degrees C every day and only dropping to 28 at night I can see why the NT guys drink a lot!
 
Hi clearviews.

Here is a link to the UK Blood Pressure Association website where there is all the information in an easy to read format. Have a read here.
http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/BloodPressure ... odpressure

Here is a small extract about what is considered low blood pressure:
Low blood pressure is sometimes referred to as hypotension and typically describes blood pressures of 90/60mmHg, or below. It is not normally a cause for concern unless you start to experience symptoms after changing your posture. If you have low blood pressure, but feel perfectly well, there will be no need for any investigation or treatment. Generally, the lower your blood pressure is, the lower your risk of developing heart problems or having a stroke.
 
I have a Wrist blood pressure machine and was advised to lift the arm, resting my hand on my shoulder, whilst running it, so that the monitor is actually above my heart. Alternatively to do it lyin down. By this method, I'm consistently in the 115/65 range. At the doctor's, I'm always a bit higher.
My DSN, the ANGEL, says it's because I talk too much. I love this nurse although apparently some patients can't get on with her 8) . I am on medication.
 
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