Diabetes is a health condition which results from the body not being able to produce insulin, a hormone which helps convert sugars into glucose molecules and transports the sugars into cells to provide energy for daily life. When glucose builds up in the blood, instead of going into cells, this buildup can damage our organs, such as the heart, kidney, and nerves.
When glucose builds up in the blood, it leads to an increase in the work load and puts increased stress on the vascular system. This is because of the development of atherosclerosis, which is known as the build-up of plaque in the blood vessels. Around 73 percent of adults who have diabetes have a blood pressure which is greater than 130/80 mm Hg. When the blood pressure is elevated from what we consider a healthy level, a person needs to be put on medication to treat the high blood pressure. Not keeping control of the blood pressure for a diabetic is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. It is well known that diabetes, when associated with high blood pressure, can lead to complications of diabetes, including diabetic eye disease and kidney disease, which are present in 60 percent of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
It is important to note that not maintaining a healthy blood pressure, which is 120-139/80/89, can also put a person at a threefold increase for heart disease, when other risk factors for developing diabetes are present.
A recent study looked at healthy, middle-aged women and blood pressure as a predictor for Type 2 diabetes. This study showed that women who have a high blood pressure have a higher risk for diabetes and diabetic complications when compared to women with normal blood pressure. In this same study, they followed up on the same study group ten years later and found that almost 10 percent of women had Type 2 diabetes.
There has been a lot of research down to learn how a person can prevent heart disease and stroke in association with diabetes. One of the more researched preventive methods involves keeping blood glucose levels under control. To help know the levels of your blood glucose levels at least two times a year, you can have an A1C test done. An A1C test score of seven is considered healthy. When you have a score above seven after a few tests, it would be beneficial to seek a medical professional for further testing to see if there is anything else that could be done to help maintain optimal health.
Keeping your blood pressure under control can help prevent heart disease. You can have your blood pressure checked regularly at a free clinic, a local community clinic, or at some corporations like Wal-Mart while you are shopping. The targeted goal would be 130/80 or below.
Another important factor to helping prevent heart disease or stroke is to have your good cholesterol (HDL) level, bad cholesterol (LDL) level, and triglycerides level checked on yearly bases. The targeted number for the LDL is below 100, and HDL is above 40 for men and above 50 for women. For the triglycerides, the targeted number is below 150.
Eating a healthy diet and not smoking can also help prevent heart disease and stroke.
Blood Pressure and Risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Women's Health Study. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/567441_1 (free registration required)