Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Articles » Would low blood pressure be a sign of diabetes?

Would low blood pressure be a sign of diabetes?

Hypertension

Generally speaking most diabetics, which is about 60 to 65 percent of the patients develop high blood. High blood pressure occurs when the heart and blood vessels are overworking. Hypertension, or high blood pressure is a leading complication in diabetes. This situation left untreated can cause serious damage to the blood vessels such as (diabetic angiopathy and arteriosclerosis), heart attack or stroke. There could also be diabetic nephropathy, kidney failure, and eyes diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Hypotension

Even though high blood pressure is strongly associated with diabetes, diabetics can also acquired dangerously low blood pressure levels as well, which is known as hypotension.

Two measurements for high or low blood pressure

Blood pressure is the measurement of the power or force of blood within the artery walls. The arteries are the means of carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The actual measurement is done by the calculation of the systolic blood pressure over the diastolic blood pressure. The systolic or the top number measures the pressure within the arteries when the heart beats and the diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

When a diabetic or person with kidney disease has a blood pressure reading over 130/80 they are considered to have high blood pressure and at risk for further complication. Low blood pressure is the decline of the systolic reading especially if one suddenly stands up.

The symptoms of low blood pressure

Even diabetics with high blood periods can have bouts of low blood pressure, this usually is experienced when, there is a sudden movement, for example, from laying down to sitting up or from sitting to standing (postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension). When the blood pressure is low, and sudden movement occurs, the result could be a bout of dizziness or even fainting. Postural hypotension is a result in a failure in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary crucial actions such as the heart, beats reaction to changes such as standing or sitting. If the response is slow and blood accumulates in the legs this will result in a drop in blood pressure.

Factors that could produce diabetic hypotension

Certain medications especially antihypertensive drugs, heart antiseizure drugs, and psychiatric opioid medications can produce hypotension in diabetic patients. Other conditions include diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), dehydration, or uncontrolled blood sugar levels (meaning that blood sugar control goes up and down) can result in diabetes experiencing low blood pressure at different times. People undergoing kidney dialysis can contract low blood pressure as well as people who have anemia (not enough red blood cells). Also, seniors of advanced age often complain of low blood pressure.

Other conditions that can be affected by hypotension

Not only people suffering with diabetes can have low blood pressure, but people suffering from Addison’s disease which is caused by adrenal gland insufficiency as well. Furthermore, other endocrine conditions such as thyroid gland imbalances where they have either hyperthyroidism and over productive thyroid, or hypothryroidism which is an under productive thyroid gland, can be affected by low pressure.

Diabetes tests for hypotension

For diabetic patients who are suffering from bouts of dizziness or fainting spells, they often take a tilt-table test. This test is conducted on a platform that pivots both up and down to simulate the sudden movement often experienced with dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting spells. Other blood pressure tests will be taken periodically to monitor fluctuations in blood pressure.

Preventing Hypotension

People with diabetes can lower their chances of experiencing low blood pressure by first and foremost, following their doctor’s prescribed diabetes treatment plan, taking their diabetic medication and informing the doctor of any side affects or changes resulting from taking the diabetic medication.

Related Articles

• I have Type 2 Diabetes and lately I have been experiencing some blurred vision could this have anything to do with my diabetes and is it serious. Should I make a visit with my ophthalmologist?
• Hypertension
• Blood Glucose Meter
• Tips for Diabetics Suffering from Memory Loss
• Diabetes Centre
• Diet For Diabetes
• Diabetes Testing