When a person has diabetes 1 their body is unable to produce the insulin in the pancreas as their own body has destroyed these insulin producing cells. That is why it is also called an auto-immune disease. Diabetes 1 usually occurs after the age of 40. Although it is a rare form of diabetes, only 15% of people have diabetes 1. Diabetes 1 has got nothing to do with the person’s lifestyle.
Hypertension is an extremely common condition amongst patients with diabetes. It affects almost 20 to 60% of the patients who have been diagnosed to have diabetes. The amount of hypertension in these patients depends on several other factors too such as ethnicity, age, weight management.
In type 1 diabetes, hypertension may be a part of the onset of diabetic nephropathy. In fact, hypertension in such patients greatly increases the risk of both macrovascular and microvascular complications and these include strokes, coronary heart diseases and vascular disease too. However, research has shown that the moment hypertension is proactively treated and kept under control the complications that could result out of a person being diabetic are also kept under check.
Hypertension and diabetes are closely linked diseases. People with diabetes 1 are on a higher risk level of procuring hypertension. Majority of people with diabetes1 will be on a antihypertensive medication at some point of time or other. Diabetes 1 patients require a higher rate of hypertensive treatment and control measures when compared to those that are not diabetic. At the same time hypertension remains largely uncontrolled in these kinds of patients even after being on stringent medication control. This will make it necessary for them that in order to control their hypertension they either try out multiple antihypertensive drugs. Diabetes 1 patients can achieve greater control on their hypertension as well as diabetes by food control, exercising and keeping their weights in check. They must keep their salt intake to a minimum, exercise at least three times a week, go for walks or play a game every alternate day and eat lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals.
Hypertension management in diabetic patients is important. For every 10mg of decrease in the systolic pressure the patient reduces the risk of up to 12% for any complications to arise from those related with diabetes, 15% for deaths related to diabetes, 11% for myocardial infarction and 13% for micro-vascular complications. Hence, it proves that hypertension is a great enemy of those afflicted with diabetes 1.
Weight reduction is an effective way of lowering your hypertension immediately. This will also help you to keep it in control. This could have further benefits for those who are diabetic.
Hypertension is twice as likely to occur in diabetics then the non-diabetic. Hypertension in diabetic patients is associated with about 4 to 5 times in increase in mortality rate especially from coronary artery disease and strokes.
To conclude, hypertension should be treated aggressively in diabetic patients. This will enable them to reduce the progression and the prevention of diabetic related complications.