Do diabetes and high blood pressure go together?

[Gem]

Hi,

Over the years I have managed to gain good control over my diabetes. Unfortunately, I have a dilemma that I don't know if it is hereditary, a cause of stress or just something else. I was "just a diabetic" and then I was diagnosed with hypertension. It has added to another major issue that I have to manage in my life. I take a pill everyday to maintain the hypertension but every time I see the doctor my medication is changed. It had gotten to the point where I was sick everyday and experiencing extreme headaches. When I would check my blood pressure it was off the scale even with the medication. I recently had my medication changed to something stronger but when I visit the doctor is it never normal. My doctor said that my headaches and sickness were due to migraines (which I have never had in my life until now) and now I take medication for that! Yet, whenever I had the headaches my blood pressure was always high, like it was a signal. I exercise more now and try to cut out all salt; eating salt is just scary. I currently feel fine today but my bp never is. Any ideas on what is the cause of this and what can I do naturally to control it? Or is this just a side effect of another condition? My doctor claims that hypertension is worse than the diabetes but what can I do? I try not to worry about the stresses of this "silent killer", especially the long term issues but since all this has happened I feel like I am beginning to also loose control over my diabetes.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi Gem,
Anyone can suffer with high blood pressure, diabetic or not.
The more you stress about it then the higher it will go. It is sometimes difficult for the medics to get the right combination of medication to sort it out and it really is trial and error as to what will suit you.
I personally have had high blood pressure for 36 years, long before my diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and have been on many bp medications over the years. Even though I have no complications and am not overweight, I still have high blood pressure that needs medicating. It has to be controlled as you rightly say, it is the "silent killer".
Is there a family history of high blood pressure, heart conditions, strokes as this is often the case?
Maybe when you get it under control then the headaches and nausea will go.
Try not to worry too much and if you feel that your GP is not taking it seriously then ask to be referred to a Consultant.
It seems unfair that some sail through life with no worries and yet people like yourself who control their diabetes should have this added burden. Life isn't fair and once you get the right combination of meds you will feel so much better.
Take care ,

Catherine.

 

[Gem]

Hi Catherine,

Thank you so much your words, they mean alot to me. Its good to hear that you have mastered your conditions. In my family there is a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke . It runs in both sides of my family, father and mother. Still I have done exactly what you said, I had seen a doctor once and she changed my pressure medication to something totally new for reasons other than hypertension (meaning my blood pressure was quite fine) and this is when I started becoming ill and even hospitalized for high blood pressure. So right after that I changed doctors and now I am on new medication which seems to be working. Thank you again for the inspiration and your reply. I wish you all the best and I guess we all have to make the best out of our situations. You are toally right worrying makes things far worse so I try to burn more candles, relax, read more books and just be calm about it.

All the best,
Gem

 

[noblehead]

I am not sure the answer to this one, I would be inclined to say no not necessarily. I had normal bp for the first 24 years of diabetes, but was given a low-dose bp med to take about 5 years ago due to retinopathy in my left eye. My consultant suggested that keeping bp below normal is advisable to patients with diabetes who experience problems of this nature, but as we know the lower the bp the less strain there is on other organs to such as the heart and kidneys, which as diabetics we have a heightened chance of developing complications.

Exercise and eating the correct foods all help to reduce blood pressure, try googling for suggestions!

Nigel

 

[Gem]

Hi Nigel,

Thanks for the advice. I can totally relate to your story. I never had issues with bp until my early 20s. Its an episode I wish had never happened. Upon doing a particular event my vision in both eyes became blurry. I had darkness in one eye after that and when I went to the eye doctor, he said a vien had burst in my eye and was bleeding, so now I have a line in my eye that is kind of hard to see through. Since then I have more control but stress makes it difficult sometimes. I will surely take your advice and do my research to learn about avoiding further complications. Just bought a cookbook the other day for healthy eating so this is my first step.

All the best,
Gem