can diabetes make my BP low? newly diagnosed type 2, taking metformin slow release 500mg once a day

[Chris_Tilley]

hi can anyone tell me please, can diabetes make my BP low? keep feeling lightheaded and dizzy, sometimes a bit shakey, newly diagnosed 2 weeks ago type 2 , taking 500mg metformin slow release once a day

 

[Dark Horse]

Have you actually measured your blood pressure to see if it is low?

 

[Chris_Tilley]

Have you actually measured your blood pressure to see if it is low?

yes, 109 over 71

 

[Pipp]

http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart

According to this ^^^^^^^^^
You are within healthy range.
If you are feeling unusual symptoms, though, get checked by GP.
Could it be that you are anxious or in shock following diagnosis? I think all members know what that feels like. It gets better, honest.

So, welcome to forum. Have a read, ask questions, and join the 'fun'.

 

[Chris_Tilley]

http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart

According to this ^^^^^^^^^
You are within healthy range.
If you are feeling unusual symptoms, though, get checked by GP.
Could it be that you are anxious or in shock following diagnosis? I think all members know what that feels like. It gets better, honest.

So, welcome to forum. Have a read, ask questions, and join the 'fun'.

thank you very much for this

 

[Lamont D]

How you got a glucose monitor to check your sugar levels?

What you could be describing is a quick drop in blood glucose levels, sometimes called a false hypo.

Your BP is actually quite good!

 

[CarbsRok]

hi can anyone tell me please, can diabetes make my BP low? keep feeling lightheaded and dizzy, sometimes a bit shakey, newly diagnosed 2 weeks ago type 2 , taking 500mg metformin slow release once a day

yes, 109 over 71

As others have said BP is normal Your symptoms are classic low sugar symptoms though in a diabetics world, even though you are just on Metformin have you altered your diet and increased your exercise? Met doesn't normally cause low blood sugars but diet and exercise can make you feel hypo esp if you have been running at a high level for awhile.
If at all worried you need to visit your GP or practice nurse so s/he can check you over.

 

[Brunneria]

Definitely worth checking your blood glucose whenever you experience those feelings.

Also worth remembering that blood pressure is a constantly fluctuating thing. You need to take your bp regularly over several days (same time, same conditions) to build up a picture of what is really happening.

My doctor's surgery suggests taking the bp an hour after waking, sitting at rest, while not eating, drinking or stressing.
Then repeat in the evening.
for a min of 5 days.
Then average out the results.

I think one-off bp readings (like one off blood glucose readings) are about as informative as a photo of a cloud - changes within 10 mins. Though they are often useful in identifying a potential problem, and inviting further investigation.

 

[Chris_Tilley]

How you got a glucose monitor to check your sugar levels?

What you could be describing is a quick drop in blood glucose levels, sometimes called a false hypo.

Your BP is actually quite good!

not for me it isn't, i'm usually 130/70 ish

As others have said BP is normal Your symptoms are classic low sugar symptoms though in a diabetics world, even though you are just on Metformin have you altered your diet and increased your exercise? Met doesn't normally cause low blood sugars but diet and exercise can make you feel hypo esp if you have been running at a high level for awhile.
If at all worried you need to visit your GP or practice nurse so s/he can check you over.

i have been buying low sugar foods and cooking with natural ingredients, not sauces, but veg, chicken fruit, and swim once a week

 

[Chris_Tilley]

i dont have a blood glucose monitor to test my blood, and the BP readings were for a day, will try to do a weeks worth, thanks

 

[Dark Horse]

not for me it isn't, i'm usually 130/70 ish

i have been buying low sugar foods and cooking with natural ingredients, not sauces, but veg, chicken fruit, and swim once a week

109/70 is a usually considered to be a better blood pressure than 130/70. Low blood pressure is defined as less than 90/60. If you measure your BP WHILE you are feeling dizzy you should be able to get an idea whether the blood pressure is the problem. There are many common causes of dizziness - BPPV, for example.

 

[Chris_Tilley]

109/70 is a usually considered to be a better blood pressure than 130/70. Low blood pressure is defined as less than 90/60. If you measure your BP WHILE you are feeling dizzy you should be able to get an idea whether the blood pressure is the problem. There are many common causes of dizziness - BPPV, for example.

thanks, but I don't know what BPPV is?

 

[Indy51]

not for me it isn't, i'm usually 130/70 ish

i have been buying low sugar foods and cooking with natural ingredients, not sauces, but veg, chicken fruit, and swim once a week

A change in diet can certainly affect BP. So can cutting down on salt. If you've cut out processed food, your salt intake has probably dropped considerably. If you're feeling faint, it may be an electrolyte issue so my advice would be to add more salt to your cooking to see if it helps. People going on a non-processed food diet often shed a lot of fluid because of the reduced salt.

 

[Dark Horse]

thanks, but I don't know what BPPV is?

Sorry, I should have said - it's Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (you can see why it's usually abbreviated to BPPV). Explanation here:- http://patient.info/health/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-leaflet