Can Diabetes Cause Hypertension?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries. Normal blood pressure is 120 mm Hg for systolic pressure that is when the heart is in contraction and 80 mm Hg for diastolic pressure that is when the heart is in dilation. When the blood pressure is elevated, it is called hypertension or high blood pressure.

Hypertension along with diabetes increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, stroke and renal diseases. A person with diabetes and hypertension is four times more likely to have heart disease than a normal person, reports the University of Virginia Health System.

Hypertension in Diabetics

• In his book "Hypertension in Diabetes," author Bryan Williams states that persons with diabetes are twice as likely to have hypertension than non-diabetics. He also says up to 32 percent of people with type 1 diabetes and 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have hypertension, which is blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.

  Health A to Z says untreated hypertension can lead to arteriosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. A person with diabetes and hypertension is four times more likely to have heart disease than a healthy person. The leading cause of death among diabetics is heart disease, thus diabetics should be checked often for hypertension.

Pathogenesis

• The main cause in the development of hypertension in type 1 diabetes is nephropathy, or kidney damage, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This kind of hypertension can be corrected with a kidney transplant.

  In type 2 diabetes insulin resistance and sympathovagal imbalance lead to the development of diabetes. Hyperinsulenemia and insulin resistance causes hypertension in diabetics through sodium retention and a direct effect on blood vessels. Hyperglycemia per se may disrupt the function of the vascular lining, resulting in a decrease in its elasticity, which contributes to hypertension.

Treatment

• Since the combination of diabetes and hypertension is associated with increases in morbidity and mortality, aggressive treatment for hypertension, is advocated for patients with diabetes.

  A person suffering from diabetes and hypertension can improve their lifespan with lifestyle modifications including weight management, limitation of alcohol intake, diet management, exercise, refraining from smoking and pharmacological treatment. The goal should be is to keep the blood pressure below 135/80 mm Hg.
  Considerations

  The combination of diabetes and hypertension is detrimental to vascular health. When both of these conditions are present there are negative consequences on most systems in the body.

  Hypertension can go unnoticed as there are no clear signs or symptoms of its presence; and since hypertension is twice as likely in diabetics, according to the American Heart Association, constant monitoring of blood pressure in diabetics is required to detect its presence.

Pharmacological Treatment

• For hypertension with diabetes Thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide, angiotensin II receptor blockers like Candesartan and Losartan, and ACE inhibitors like Captopril and Lisinopril may be
  the best first-line treatments. These may help prevent volume expansion, damage to blood vessels and damage to the kidneys.

Conclusion

• There is no evidence that every diabetic will develop hypertension but hypertension occurs more often among diabetics. It is clear that many of the conditions that cause hypertension are present in diabetics. Hypertension cases in diabetics are higher among female diabetics. The mechanism of development of hypertension in diabetics is complex and there are multiple factors. The progress is usually slow, and it may take several years to develop.