Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hyperglycaemia, also called raised blood glucose or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.
Symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes may occur suddenly. In type 2 diabetes, the symptoms can be mild and may take many years to be noticed. Symptoms of diabetes include:
- feeling very thirsty
- needing to urinate more often than usual
- blurred vision
- feeling tired
- losing weight unintentionally
Diabetes and Hypertension: A Dangerous Duo
If you have diabetes, you already know about the importance of controlling your blood sugar levels. But you may not be aware of another problem that can go hand-in-hand with diabetes — high blood pressure or hypertension.
People with diabetes either do not have enough insulin to process glucose or their insulin does not work effectively. As a result, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream, which can cause widespread damage to the blood vessels and kidneys.
People with both diabetes and hypertension have approximately twice the risk of heart attack and stroke as nondiabetic people with hypertension. Hypertensive diabetic patients are also at increased risk for complications including retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye) and kidney disease.
Lifestyle Modifications & How We Can Help
Lifestyle modifications such as eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can reduce complications from diabetes as well as high blood pressure. Another key to keeping both diabetes and hypertension under control is self-monitoring both conditions at home and regularly seeing your healthcare provider. Our office can provide personalized and comprehensive care to prevent and treat hypertension and manage the wide-ranging impact of hypertension on the human body.