Monitoring diabetes and high blood pressure

A person is considered to have high blood pressure if the blood pressure exceeds 139/89 mmHg. This is a common condition: over 25% of women between 25 and 64 and over 40% of all men in this age group are affected by it.

High blood pressure is more common in patients with type II diabetes than in patients with type I diabetes.

High blood pressure and diabetes are particularly dangerous in combination. All diabetes patients have an increased risk of general arteriosclerosis.

High blood pressure aggravates diabetes

High blood pressure accelerates the later effects of diabetes, including damage to the retinas, which may even lead to blindness, or kidney damage, which may lead to a need for regular dialysis. The risk of illness and death due to high blood pressure is four times higher for diabetes patients than for those not affected by diabetes.

In addition, the risk of hardening of the arteries rises due to increased glucose concentration in combination with high blood pressure. Blood pressure for diabetes patients should therefore be kept as low as possible in comparison to that of non-sufferers.

Values within a normal range

If patients are able keep both their blood glucose and blood pressure levels within as normal a range as possible, this can increase longevity. To achieve this, it is helpful to regularly monitor and keep complete records of the measurement values. BodyTel offers suitable tools in the form of PressureTel for measuring blood pressure and GlucoTel for measuring blood glucose levels. In this way, the effects of diabetes and high blood pressure can be reduced.