BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES

Does anybody have any experience of relating high blood pressure with higher blood sugar?

[Chappychap]

I hesitate to answer because I'm not aware of any causal relationship between blood sugar and blood pressure. In other words I don't know if one CAUSES the other.

However, there is abundant evidence that heart disease and type 2 diabetes are commonly found together.

There are many different causes for heart disease, including the weird and wonderful such as gum disease or heavy metal pollution, but a very common cause seems to be insulin resistance which often results from a long term diet of highly processed, sugar rich, carb heavy foods.

Insulin resistance is like a pre-pre-diabetes condition. It's not normally tested for by the NHS, but I've had private tests that show that even though my fasting blood glucose are consistently low at under 4.0 mmol/L, never the less I do have insulin resistance and unless I address my lifestyle then I'll probably develop type two diabetes and excessive blood glucose over time. My working hypothesis (which is endorsed by my GP) is that the root cause of my heart disease is likely to be insulin resistance caused by poor food choices.

Put simply, if I had my time again I'd stay well away from Greggs!

[Hidden in reply to Chappychap]

I had a very helpful reply from the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation that informed me that there is research looking into high blood pressure and type 2, and suggested I had a look at this from the DRWF website drwf.org.uk/news-and-events...

There is research going on that high blood pressure can cause diabetes inasmuch as one almost inevitably will follow the other.

My question relates to some observations over time that I will refer to later and want to thank you all for your most interesting replies.

I have always been adamant that since I was (originally) not overweight my diabetes was caused by heightened stress levels over six months as my sisters health deteriorated until she finally passed away, still in the same hospital - who were magnificent, however the outcome was never in doubt, we just had to wait - and we did, visiting every day and over Christmas until January when her suffering thankfully (for her) ended.

Now that I have lost seven stone etc etc I am now diet only - no Metformin, no insulin, no numb or cold feet etc. Now in my second year of this, my first indication something could be affecting the BS was when I had a HA and then bypass surgery. I continued withthe restricted diet in hospital and through fluid retention did put on weight but all through that time my BS was all over the place. Once I get home and things began to settle down, my weight dropped and my BS began to go back to normal. Then again a I got better and I began to exercise I again noticed my BS would increase - even doing hard gardening and thinking my BS would be nice and low, it was actually higher than normal.

I went to the doctor last week for my 12 month review of meds and as a precaution took my BP which was high where the doctor increased my BP meds Rampril to my pre HA rate. Now after a week, my BP is returning to an acceptable level and my BS levels which have been worryingly increasing, has actually returned to normal - which preempted the initial enquiry.

Perhaps my becoming diabetic had nothing to do with stress but was actually linked to high BP due to the stress and everything to date seems to prove that and wanted to voice these ideas so they could be recorded and investigated further with test patients. Just a thought - thanks again for your help, it has been very kind of you

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I have never heard or observed any relationship between blood glucose and blood pressure levels. If sugars are run at high'ish levels the mechanism controlling blood pressure can become damaged resulting in continual raised BP without medication.

If BG is very high the blood thickens increasing the risk of a heart attack. I imagine this could raise BP but we are talking levels in high teens upwards. At this level people should not exercise to try and bring levels down as it is high risk!

[Handel]

I'm a type 1 diabetic of 35 years and was given blood pressure tablets to bring down my 130/75 BP 25 years ago! I though that BP wasn't too bad but doctors thought differently. I occasionally have high glucose readings for no apparent reason but I've never noticed a change in blood pressure readings. Sorry - I'm not much help!! In short - I've no idea if the two are related xxxx

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Handel]

I have been Type I for over half-a-century. The indications are they a lower than normal BP reduces the risk of complications. ACE inhibitors are also thought to protect the kidneys. Like yourself I have never noticed and response of BP to BG. Stress and exercise have more effect.

[Handel in reply to MichaelJH]

I agree with the stress thing in that my blood sugars drop if I'm seriously stressed.

Weird! Thanks for getting back to me.

[Ianc2]

Type in blood pressure and sugar on t'internet and browse to hearts content, or/and look on the diabetes.org website. type 2 can be fixed quite quickly if you are willing to implement the changes. sadly most people aren't.