High blood pressure affects half of people with diabetes

A Diabetes UK review of NHS data in England shows that 49.3% of people with diabetes are failing to meet blood pressure targets.
The figure is within a percentage point of last year’s figure, showing that little progress has been made since last year. The blood pressure targets for people with diabetes are slightly tighter than those without diabetes. The target for people with diabetes is to achieve a blood pressure reading below 130/80, this compares with a target of 140/85 for people without diabetes.
The reason for the tighter target for people with diabetes is that higher blood pressure can contribute to a higher risk of diabetes complications occurring, such as retinopathy, kidney damage and stroke.
Charity Diabetes UK expresses worry that hypertension (high blood pressure) could be in danger of being regarded as normal and urges people with diabetes and hypertension to receive more support from the NHS, including help to lose weight, adopt a healthier diet and stop smoking.
Chief Executive for Diabetes UK, Barbara Young states: “Once people with high blood pressure are identified, healthcare professionals then need to work with that person to bring it down to an acceptable level.”