Blood Pressure Control: As
Important As Controlling Blood Sugar
Patients with diabetes often have
high blood pressure, commonly known as hypertension. High blood pressure
further raises the risk of heart disease, which is already high in patients
with diabetes. This fact underscores the
importance of tight control of both
high blood pressure and blood sugar in patients with diabetes. If you have
diabetes it is very important that you control your blood pressure as well.
A recent study called the United
Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) showed us that patients who had
tight control of their blood pressure had nearly a 33 percent reduction in
the risk of dying from heart disease compared to patients who had higher
blood pressure. Patients with tight blood pressure control had a blood
pressure on average of 144/82 as compared to patients who had less tight
blood pressure control of 154/87. In the UKPDS, they found that elevated
blood pressure can wipe-out the benefits of all the hard work of improving
blood sugar control.
Other studies have shown that
patients with diabetes are particularly sensitive to high blood pressure.
The Syst-Eur research study showed us that patients with controlled systolic
blood pressure (the top number of blood pressure measurement) had a 62
percent reduction in the risk of heart disease compared to patients who had
a systolic blood pressure between 160 and 200 mm of mercury.
This study was particularly
important because it enrolled a large number of patients who are over the
age of 60. Overall, after two years of treatment, patients whose blood
pressure was controlled reduced their risk of stroke, heart attack, and
death. In both the UKPDS and the Syst-Eur research studies, treatment was
with a variety of blood pressure medicines including the class of medicine
called ACE inhibitors, as well as diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and
beta blockers. In these studies it was the actual number of millimeters of
mercury of blood pressure and not the type of medication that was important
to reduce the chances of heart attack, stroke, or death.
Simple Steps To Lower Your Blood
Pressure
Exercise
- Lose Excess Weight
- Stop Smoking
- Drink Less Alcohol
- Eat Less Salt
- Reduce Stress
Then, if needed:
With all of the emphasis in recent
years on controlling blood sugar, it is important to note that we now have
an understanding that controlling blood pressure, as well, is just as
important. Having blood pressures less than 140 systolic and 80 diastolic
seems to be the trick in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and
vascular disease. The American Diabetes Association recommends that all
patients with diabetes should keep their blood pressure less than 130
systolic and 85 diastolic.
Written by Evan M. Benjamin, M.D.
| Blood
Pressure Range Blood Pressure Reading (in mm Hg) |
| Normal Blood
Pressure |
Less Than 130/85 |
| High-normal Blood
Pressure |
130/85 to 139/89 |
| Mild Hypertension |
140/90 to 159/99 |
| Moderate
Hypertension |
160/100 to 179/109 |
| Severe
Hypertension |
180/110 to 209/119 |
| Very Severe
Hypertension |
More Than 210/120 |
