Quick Tips About Controlling Your Diabetes: Understanding Your Blood Pressure

If you live with diabetes, self-care is critical.  By focusing on just 3 key areas, most diabetics can stay healthy and keep their diabetes under control. The 3 areas are:  Blood sugar, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. Today we will discuss blood pressure.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common problem with diabetics.  Blood pressure is a function of volume or amount of blood pumped x peripheral resistance of blood vessels ( how “elastic”  versus how stiff the vessel  is).  For most diabetics, blood pressure should be less than 130/80 mmHg. 

The first and highest number of the ratio (called the systolic pressure) is the pressure it takes for your heart to pump the blood, while the second lower number (the diastolic pressure) is a measure of the resistance of the blood vessels to the blood flow through them (a quick glance at the heart at rest between contractions). Depending on which number is high, the doctor may treat your hypertension with different medications, depending on the action of the medication on the heart or vessels; for example, a diuretic (water pill) may be given if the first number (systolic) is high to reduce the blood volume pumped, thereby reducing the blood pressure numbers.

In the next tip, we will examine the issue of cholesterol, as it affects diabetics.

By Cindy Cloud, RPh, CGP (Certified Geriatric Pharmacist) , Volunteer (teacher) at
Bethesda Community Clinic, and available to talk to your group of elders about
medications.

http://BethesdaCommunityClinic.org
107 Mountain Brook Drive
Suite 100
Canton, GA 30115
678-880-9654     

Hours:
Monday,Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Low Cost Care and Labs, walk-ins welcome)

Tuesday: 12 - 8pm (Low Cost Care and Labs, walk-ins welcome)

Friday: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm (Low Cost Care and Labs, walk-ins welcome)

Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Free Health Care for pre-qualified Cherokee County Residents.  Click here to learn about how you can pre-qualify.)