Connection between Hypertension  and Diabetes

By in Diabetes & Endocrinology

May 17, 2022

Hypertension (high blood pressure ) and diabetes (high blood glucose) often occur together. Having one condition increases a person’s likelihood of developing the other. Likewise, a person who has both conditions may find that each condition worsens the other.

The frequent co-existence of diabetes and hypertension in the same individual is not just  a coincidence. The association between diabetes mellitus and hypertension has been described in 60 to 65% of  people with diabetes and Type 2 diabetes mellitus is almost 2.5 times as likely to develop in people with hypertension as compared to those with normal blood pressure .

There is substantial overlap between diabetes and hypertension in etiology and disease mechanisms i.e., they spring from a “common soil.” Obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance are thought to be the common pathways. 

Co-occurrence of hypertension in patients with diabetes increases the risk of development of  or acceleration of macro-vascular and micro-vascular complications of diabetes  like heart disease,  stroke, kidney disease, and retinopathy thereby complicating the treatment regimen and increasing healthcare costs. Only 40% patients  with diabetes  have  been found to be having normal blood pressure and only 55% of people with hypertension have good glycemic control.

Diabetes and hypertension both can be prevented and managed by lifestyle modifications and medical intervention. People should focus on maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, following a healthy diet , limiting alcohol consumption, abstaining from smoking and maintaining healthy sleep cycle. Its imperative to have follow up visits with your doctor to ensure both blood pressure and  blood glucose are within safe limits.