Blood pressure in diabetes: What’s the connection?

A majority of people with diabetes also have a condition called hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension, like diabetes, has the potential to lead to the development of other health conditions and complications. This is why your provider will check to see if your blood pressure is well-controlled, especially if you have diabetes.

Blood pressure measures the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. If your blood pressure is chronically high, it can lead to other complications, including damage to your arteries, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. You may also be at risk for other health conditions, including heart attack, stroke and chronic kidney disease, especially if you have diabetes. You can work with your healthcare provider to treat hypertension and diabetes with lifestyle changes and medications. 

If you have both diabetes and high blood pressure, your provider may start you on a medication that will help protect your kidneys. Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause other medical conditions to develop.

Kidney disease is a condition that can be caused by either diabetes or high blood pressure. There are medications, known as angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE-inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers, ARBs, that are used primarily to lower blood pressure. They also have the added benefit of protecting your kidneys from potential damage. 

In addition to these two types of high blood pressure medications, there are other blood pressure medications that can be used to treat high blood pressure, including medications like furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and amlodipine besylate. The ultimate goal is to lower blood pressure with a treatment plan that works best for you. In some cases, you may have to take more than one type of high blood pressure medication to gain good control. This will be a discussion you have with your provider at the time of prescribing. Don’t be surprised if it takes a few tries to find the right medication or combination of medications for you.

Besides taking medication, there are other lifestyle changes you can make to help lower blood pressure and control high blood sugar. Some things you can do include:

• Eat healthier: Your healthcare provider may recommend a heart-healthy diet, which may include foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and sodium, and high in potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber and protein. There are many ways to reduce salt, trans fats and saturated fats in your diet with healthier substitutions without losing the flavor. Eating a healthier diet can be beneficial for your whole family.
• Avoid sugary beverages: It’s important to stay hydrated, but with healthier beverage options. Some people may find the taste of water lacking, but you can always add a squeeze of lemon or drink unsweetened teas or sparkling water with no-calorie or low-calorie flavoring.
• Exercise regularly: Get up and stay active! The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 50 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week (e.g., walking, hiking, swimming, running).
• Quit smoking: Smoking can be the culprit of many health-related issues, including increasing blood pressure. The sooner you can quit, the greater the positive effect on your health. If you feel you are ready to quit smoking, consult your pharmacist or healthcare provider. They can discuss the available options with you.
• Limit alcohol: Like smoking, alcohol can lead to many health-related problems, one of which is high blood pressure. It is recommended to limit intake to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. One drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor (e.g., vodka).

Always consult your primary care provider before making any changes to your current diet and exercise routine to make sure it is appropriate and safe for you to do. There are many ways to help control hypertension and diabetes at the same time. It’s best to work with your healthcare provider to find a treatment plan that best suits your body and lifestyle.

Clinically reviewed and updated by Julie McDaniel, MSN, RN, CRNI, June 2024.