Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas (PAN-kree-us), an organ behind your stomach. Normally, the pancreas releases a substance called insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the body to use simple sugars and fats broken down from the food we eat.

When a person has diabetes, the pancreas either:

• Does not make insulin.
• Makes only a little insulin. Or,
• Makes insulin, but the insulin does not work as it should.

Diabetes is a life-long disease. People with diabetes must manage their disease to stay healthy.

What's the link between diabetes and high blood pressure?
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure.  High blood pressure, that is not treated, can affect your kidneys, eyes and heart.

Some blood pressure medicines affect your blood glucose (sugar) levels. You should talk to your health care provider about all the medications you are taking.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Usually, there are no symptoms. You should have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

How can I control my blood pressure?
Important ways to control high blood pressure are to:

• Change your diet by limiting salt and reducing alcohol intake.  (You can create a meal plan with your health care provider.)
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight, or lose weight if you need to
• Take medications, if necessary

Why is diet important?
Diet is a key part of managing diabetes because it can help you:

• Control glucose levels in the blood
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid health problems caused by diabetes, like high blood pressure

How can I change my diet?
Eat more:

• Lean meats (baked, broiled or poached instead of fried)
• Fresh fruits (without added sugar)
• Vegetables (without added salt)
• Plain rice, pasta and breads

Eat less:

• Sodium and salt (Salt is a form of sodium, a mineral that occurs naturally in foods.)
• Deli meats
• Fats (butter, margarine, salad dressings)
• Sugars
• Fatty meats
• Whole milk dairy products
• Fried foods
• Salted snacks

How can I eat less salt?
Eat less:

• Table salt
• Canned foods
• Frozen and boxed mixes for potatoes, rice and pasta
• Salty snack foods

Instead, select:

• Foods marked "sodium free," "low sodium" or "unsalted"
• Herbs and spices to flavor foods
• Salt substitutes (Ask your health care provider first.)

How can I exercise more?

• First, check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program. 
• Choose activities you enjoy such as walking, biking or swimming. 
• Start slowly and increase your activity as tolerated.

How can I lose weight?
To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than your body burns. You can eat fewer calories by changing your diet. You can burn more calories by getting more exercise.

The best weight-loss programs combine changes in diet and exercise. Here are a few tips:

• First, talk to your health care provider about how to plan a weight-loss program. People with diabetes need to follow specific diet and exercise guidelines.
• Think about your eating habits. You may be able to change your eating habits to prevent weight gain.
• Keep a regular schedule of meal times.
• Plan ahead. Make a list of things to do when you get the craving for food, other than eating!
• Keep on track. Continue to make good changes in your lifestyle.