Does Diabetes Cause Low Blood Pressure

Preventing Low Blood Sugar Levels

Here are some other tips to help you avoid low blood sugar levels:

• Eat all your meals and snacks on time and try not to skip any.
• Take the right amount of insulin.
• If you exercise longer or harder than usual, have an extra snack.
• Dont take a hot bath or shower right after an insulin shot.
• Stick to your diabetes management plan.
• Check your blood sugar levels regularly, so you can tell if your blood sugars are running too low and your treatment plan needs adjustment.
• Carry something containing sugar with you at all times and take it right away if you have symptoms. Dont wait to see if the symptoms will go away they may get worse!

Alcohol and drugs can cause major problems with your blood sugar levels, so avoiding them is another way to prevent diabetes problems. Drinking can be particularly dangerous even deadly for people with diabetes because it messes up the bodys ability to keep blood glucose in a normal range. This can cause a very rapid drop in blood glucose in people with diabetes. Drug or alcohol use is also dangerous because it may affect someones ability to sense low blood sugar levels.

Learning how to recognize the signs of low blood sugar levels and get them back to normal is an important part of caring for diabetes. Keeping track of your blood sugar levels and recording lows when they occur will help you and your diabetes health care team keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

Maintaining A Healthy Weight

For people with excess weight, losing even a little can help reduce the risk of both high blood pressure and diabetes.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that a of body weight can improve blood pressure readings.

Similarly, the notes that a 57% loss of body weight can help stop prediabetes from developing into diabetes. This equates to a loss of 1014 pounds for a person who weighs 200 pounds.

How To Treat Hyperglycemia

For people with diabetes, its advisable to try the following if youre experiencing higher blood sugars that may or may not be causing dizziness:

• Drink water or hydrating liquids to help flush out excess glucose.
• Physically move around after checking glucose levels.
• For insulin users, consider taking a dose of regular or fast-acting insulin to help lower glucose levels.

Extremely high glucose levels (

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What Are The Symptoms Of Hyperglycemia

Its especially important to know the early signs of hyperglycemia if you have type 1 diabetes. If hyperglycemia is left untreated in people with type 1 diabetes, it can develop into ketoacidosis, where ketones, which are toxic acids, build up in the blood. This condition is an emergency situation that can lead to coma or death.

Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• High blood sugar.

• Unusual fruity smell on the breath.
• Deep labored breathing or hyperventilation.
• Rapid heartbeat.

Early Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body doesnât make enough of a hormone called insulin or doesnât use insulin the way it should. Insulin helps carry glucose to your cells. So when thereâs a problem with the insulin, glucose builds up in your blood. Youâve probably heard this called high blood sugar.

About 90% of people who have diabetes have type 2. The other two main ones are type 1, in which your body stops making insulin, and gestational, which happens in pregnant women.

You can usually control type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes. Some people also need medication.

You might not know that you have type 2 diabetes until it affects your health. About 1 in 4 people with the condition donât know that they have it.

Symptoms can come on slowly. They may include:

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What Should I Do If My Blood Sugar Is Low Right Before A Meal

• Take quick-acting carbohydrate.
• Wait 5 minutes so your blood sugar starts to come up.
• If you are feeling better, take your insulin dose to cover the carbohydrate you will eat.
• Do not take extra insulin to cover the quick-acting carbohydrate you took for your low blood sugar.

Diabetes And Low Blood Pressure

Talk around blood pressure usually fixates what to do if blood pressure is too high. We know that hypertension is more typical in people with diabetes than individuals without diabetes. We also know that unchecked hypertension is a risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. The American Diabetes Association suggests a blood pressure objective of less than 140/80 for the majority of people with diabetes. But what if your blood pressure is too low? Is it cause for issue? And what do you do about it?

Contents

• Dealing with low blood pressure

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Sugar Can Cause Headaches And Its More Likely If You Have Diabetes

• Eating too much or too little sugar can trigger a headache.
• This is because sugar consumption affects blood sugar levels, and can lead to hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, which both include symptoms like headaches.
• Sugar headaches are more common for people with diabetes, as they have more difficulty regulating blood sugar levels.

There are many different types of headaches, and your diet can play a role in how often you get them. In fact, your sugar consumption may be an important factor, especially if you have diabetes, as abnormal blood sugar levels are known to trigger headaches.

With Ilana Halperin MD and Elena Christofides MD

Type 1 diabetes is a permanent condition. That means youll likely have to deal with symptoms at least a few times in your life, no matter how diligently you monitor your blood sugar. Were here to empower you with clear answers to all your pressing Qs.

What Are Treatments For Low Blood Pressure

According to Dr. Laffin, If you’re underweight, working to healthfully increase your weight and muscle mass will help to increase your blood pressure.

Dr. Laffin also recommends the following:

• Hydrate often to prevent dehydration. When youre dehydrated, your blood volume drops and, as a result, so does your blood pressure. Drinking adequate fluids increases the volume of your blood. Remember to drink before youre thirsty, which is often a sign that you’re already dehydrated.

• Eat multiple small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. This prevents too much blood flowing to your gut to aid in digestion.

• Get up from a seated or lying position gradually rather than bolting upright.

• Take blood pressure lowering medications at night. Most BP medications last 24-hours, but the peak effect occurs two to three hours after we take them. If taken at night, this will be while youre sleeping and help you to avoid your blood pressure getting too low while you’re awake.

• Avoid very hot showers or visiting saunas, hot tubs, or steam rooms. They dilate blood vessels, causing blood pressure to drop.

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What Should Your Blood Pressure Be

Readings vary, but most people with diabetes should have a blood pressure of no more than 130/80.

The first, or top, number is the “systolic pressure,” or the pressure in your arteries when your heart squeezes and fills the vessels with blood. The second, or bottom, number is the “diastolic pressure,” or the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats, filling itself with blood for the next contraction.

When it comes to preventing diabetes complications, normal blood pressure is as important as good control of your blood sugar levels.

Low Blood Sugar For Children Age 6 And Older

A blood sugar less than 70 is too low.

• Take 10 to 15 grams of quick-acting carbohydrate right away, such as:
• Drink 3 to 4 ounces of juice
• Drink 3 to 4 ounces of soda pop that has sugar
• Chew 3 to 4 glucose tabs

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Why Do You Think Diabetics Are Also At Increased Risk For Pad

Blood flow through your arteries is restricted by plaques. The most common cause of pad is atherosclerosis and people with diabetes are more likely to have it. PAD can also be caused by other conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. If you have any of these conditions or are at high risk for them, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for your condition.

Why Am I Having Lows

If you are experiencing low blood sugar and youre not sure why, bring a record of blood sugar, insulin, exercise and food data to a health care provider. Together, you can review all your data to figure out the cause of the lows.

The more information you can give your health care provider, the better they can work with you to understand whats causing the lows. Your provider may be able to help prevent low blood sugar by adjusting the timing of insulin dosing, exercise and meals or snacks. Changing insulin doses or the types of food you eat may also do the trick.

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Definitions Screening And Diagnosis

Recommendations

• Blood pressure should be measured at every routine clinical care visit. Patients found to have an elevated blood pressure should have blood pressure confirmed using multiple readings, including measurements on a separate day, to diagnose hypertension. B

• All hypertensive patients with diabetes should have home blood pressure monitored to identify white-coat hypertension. B

• Orthostatic measurement of blood pressure should be performed during initial evaluation of hypertension and periodically at follow-up, or when symptoms of orthostatic hypotension are present, and regularly if orthostatic hypotension has been diagnosed. E

Blood pressure should be measured at every routine clinical care visit . At the initial visit, blood pressure should be measured in both arms to detect and account for abnormalities that may lead to spurious blood pressures, such as arterial stenosis. Patients with elevated blood pressure who are not known to have hypertension should have elevated blood pressure confirmed on a separate day, within 1 month, to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension.

What Is Hyperglycemia And What Causes Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is defined as high blood glucose levels. This develops when the body has far too much sugar in the blood and hence does not produce enough insulin to disperse the necessary quantity of glucose in the blood.

Many diabetics suffer from hyperglycemia. It happens when a person with diabetes of type 1 is unable to create enough insulin via the pancreas. Because the body may be resistant to insulin, a person with type 2 diabetes isnt producing enough natural insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. This is one of the contributing factors for diabetes dizziness.

If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to a variety of complications. Among the potential complications are:

• Blood vessel damage

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Causes Of Low Blood Pressure

A low blood pressure for one person might be different for another person. To puts it simply, some individuals naturally have low blood pressure and are completely healthy. However, particular medical conditions can cause low blood pressure, including:

Pregnancy. A ladys circulatory system broadens during pregnancy, which can cause low blood pressure

Extended bed rest. This can set off orthostatic hypotension.

Heart issues. Heart failure, heart valve issues, and cardiac arrest can decrease blood pressure.

Dehydration. Dehydration reduces blood volume, therefore reducing blood pressure.

Blood loss. Blood volume and, for that reason, blood pressure, drops as an outcome of internal bleeding or some sort of significant trauma .

Endocrine problems. Thyroid disease, Addison disease, low blood glucose, and nerve damage from diabetes might lower blood pressure.

Severe infection. If an infection goes into the bloodstream, this can lead to a life-threatening drop in blood pressure called septic shock.

Severe allergy. An allergy to medicine, foods, or, say, a bee sting can cause a drop in blood pressure, along with difficulty breathing, hives, and itching. This is called anaphylactic shock.

Medicines. Some medications can cause blood pressure to drop too low. These consist of diuretics , beta blockers and tadalafil .

Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. An absence of either of these B vitamins can cause anemia, which, in turn, can cause low blood pressure.

Treatment Of Diabetes Mellitus And Its Cardiovascular Complications

Once T2D has been diagnosed, the aim of achieving glucose control is principally to avoid microvascular complications. There are some benefits with respect to macrovascular complications, but this is dependent on the profile of individual drug classes and even appears to be different for agents within the same class.88 The role of BP lowering to improve prognosis in T2D has been established since the UK Prospective Diabetes Study in 1998.89, 90 However, more recently, more widespread use of glucose-lowering agents that reduce weight, lower BP, and have beneficial off-target effects facilitates cardiovascular risk factor control and is playing a role in improving the cardiovascular prognosis of T2D.91, 92

Achieving glucose control in T2D begins with weight management. Particularly in the first 8 years after diagnosis, normal glucose tolerance can be restored if radical weight reduction can be achieved, most effectively using a very low calorie liquid replacement diet.93 In obese patients, this can also occur after successful bariatric surgery, particularly the Roux-en-Y procedure.94 The mechanism may involve reduction in ectopic fat, and consequent relief from its proinflammatory effects, in and around the pancreatic islets of Langerhans.95

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Medications That Affect Blood Sugar

Some medicines that are used for other conditions such as high blood pressure, COPD, or depression can affect your blood sugar. Some over the counter medicines can affect your blood sugar. Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine all affect your blood sugar.

Below are lists of some of the medicines that might cause your blood sugar to increase or decrease. Do not stop taking prescription medicines or change the dose without talking to your doctor. Always let your doctor know what over the counter medicines, vitamins and supplements you take.

What Causes Hyperglycemia In People With Diabetes

• The dose of insulin or oral diabetes medication that you are taking is not the most helpful dose for your needs.
• Your body isnt using your natural insulin effectively .
• The amount of carbohydrates you are eating or drinking is not balanced with the amount of insulin your body is able to make or the amount of insulin you inject.
• You are less active than usual.
• Physical stress is affecting you.
• Emotional stress is affecting you.
• You are taking steroids for another condition.
• The dawn phenomenon is affecting you.

Other possible causes

• Pancreatic diseases such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis.
• Certain medications .
• Gestational diabetes, which happens in 4% of pregnancies, and is due to decreased insulin sensitivity.
• Surgery or trauma.

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What Else Can You Do To Control Blood Sugar Levels

Yes. People with diabetes should wear identification stating they have diabetes and whether they have recurrent low blood sugar. Those at risk for the health condition should be counseled on checking blood sugars before they drive a car, operate heavy machinery, or do anything physically taxing. In addition, it is important to carry a quick-acting glucose source at all times, and keep a source in their car, office, and by their bedside. Efforts should be made to minimize the hypoglycemic effects of drug regimens and to avoid variable surges in exercise, activity, and drinking alcohol.

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Healthy Tips For Lowering Blood Pressure

Making certain lifestyle changes can not only reduce complications from diabetes but can also greatly reduce your risk of high blood pressure. In fact, lowering your systolic blood pressure by 10 points has been shown to lower all diabetes complication risks by 12 percent overall.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Regularly visit your primary care physician and take advantage of free blood pressure screenings.
• The American Heart Association recommends either 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity each week.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Limit your salt intake to two grams per day, which is about one teaspoon.
• Eat a diet with low sugar but plenty of fruits, vegetables, fish, healthy fats, and whole grains.
• Dont smoke and drink only in moderation.
• Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , which can raise blood pressure. Take acetaminophen instead whenever possible.

If you have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, these lifestyle changes can help you get your diabetes and blood pressure under control. The goal is to live well with diabetes and work to prevent complications, and lowering your blood pressure is a critical step.

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Causes And Risk Factors Of High Blood Pressure

For most people, theres no single cause of high blood pressure. But we know some things can make you more at risk. These are called risk factors, and one of these is having diabetes.

High levels of sugar in your blood can lead to something called atherosclerosis. This is when theres a build-up of fatty material inside your blood vessels, narrowing them. The narrower the blood vessels, the more the pressure builds up.

The more stress your blood vessels are under, the harder it is to push blood around the important areas of your body. This means your feet, eyes and heart are seriously at risk.

There are other risk factors you cant do much about:

• a family history of high blood pressure
• if your ethnic background is African-Caribbean or Black African

And there are risk factors you do have control over:

• too much salt in your diet
• being overweight
• how you cope with stress
• drinking too much caffeine, such as coffee

If you make changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Were not saying its easy, but its vital you understand how you can do this. Theres lots of support to help you and achieve your goals.