Ways To Help You Manage Diabetic Hypertension
Diabetes continues to pose a major threat to the health of the population worldwide. With it comes a plethora of other health hazards and among them, hypertension tops the list. Hypertension is defined as blood pressure (BP) above 140/90 mmHg. High blood pressure in diabetics puts them at a major risk for developing eye damage, kidney failure, heart failures, stroke, etc. Diabetes and hypertension are one of the leading cause of cardiovascular deaths in these patients.
Better awareness and control is believed to help manage diabetic hypertension and the disease itself. The need is to work on some areas to lessen the risk of complications that may occur out of the disease and also improve the quality of life.
Two Simple Steps to Help You Cope Up With Diabetic Hypertension
Family history and inheritance, sedentary lifestyle, aging, obesity, and physical inactivity contribute to increased risk of developing diabetes and related disorders like hypertension. To manage its severity and improve the quality of life, health care professionals suggest changes to make in lifestyle and medicines.
1. Dietary and lifestyle modifications to lower your BP
A few healthy switchovers can lower your risks for diabetic hypertension or at least delay their development.
Dietary Amendments
Let’s start with the dietary changes you can make to fight the disease:
- Control glucose levels: First and foremost, limit the added sugars, sugar-containing beverages, or foods that may increase your glucose levels.
- Balanced dieting: Watch your portion size and switch to healthy eating that involves loads of fruits and veggies, whole grains, fibers, lean proteins, and so on.
- Reduce salt (sodium) intake: Choose different flavors and reduce your total salt intake. Select foods with less sodium and a high potassium to control your BP.
- Cut caffeine: It is okay to have caffeine in smaller amounts. In large amounts, caffeine is shown to increase the blood pressure. Consider cutting down energy drinks, tea, coffee if you are at risk.
- Avoid fats: Fats, especially saturated fats, can raise your cholesterol levels which further contributes to high blood pressure levels. Stick to unsaturated fats such as rapeseed oil or sunflower oil and low-fat products to maintain healthy standards.
Lifestyle Amendments
The changes in lifestyle can be a game changer for you to regulate diabetes and hypertension. These include:
- Physical activity: Get active. Sedentary and inactive lifestyle are the major concerns for various health complications, diabetes, and high BP being one of them. Indulging in regular physical activities can save you from several health threats and maintain a healthy weight. Start with walking, gardening, cycling, aerobics, etc.
- Sleeping pattern: Yes, sleep has a very significant role to play. High BP has been linked to sleep deprivation. Catch a good bedtime sleep to stay refreshed throughout the day and healthy from within.
- Watch your weight: Overweight is again a big threat to diabetics. Not only hypertension, being overweight or obese is a risk factor for serious diseases, such as heart problems. Shed weight to stay healthy and out of danger.
- Quit smoking: Stop smoking. If you are diabetic with high BP, smoking can cause your arteries to narrow down on a faster rate leading to health problems.
- Avoid alcohol: Regular alcohol intake can be risky for hypertensive people as it also increases blood pressure. It also increases weight owing to high calories present in it. Make sure you stay in recommended limits of alcohol.
- Distress yourself: Stress, anxiety, and depression are silent killers. Stay happy to ward off these evils to your health status.
2. Medications to Treat Diabetic Hypertension
Pharmacological treatment of hypertension includes anti-hypertensive drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), beta blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and diuretics.
The pharmacotherapy depends upon your numbers, your age, stage of diabetes, and other related health factors and problems. Ask a specialist to know more about appropriate medications and treatment for you.
Management of diabetic hypertension plays a key role in the maintenance of health status for diabetics. Know your health numbers and keep a track of progress reports. Discuss with your health care team about the cons and complications you may be at risk of. Work with them to design the best treatment plan.
For any query related to your diabetes and hypertension concerns you can consult a Diabetologist at www.healthcaremagic.com
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