High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, shares the same risk factors as type 2 diabetes. If you have one of these conditions, you have a higher risk of developing the other. If you have both, each condition can worsen the symptoms of the other. High blood sugar and high blood pressure are both symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 70% of adults with diagnosed diabetes also have high blood pressure.
What the science says about diabetes and high blood pressure
Diabetes and high blood pressure are conditions that you may experience together, and in some cases, diabetes can cause hypertension.
Type 1 diabetes is when your body lacks the hormone insulin, while type 2 diabetes is when your body develops insulin resistance and cannot maintain safe blood sugar levels. According to the CDC, six out of ten people with diabetes also have high blood pressure.
Additionally, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), two in every three people with diabetes report experiencing high blood pressure or taking prescription medications to manage their blood pressure.
High blood pressure seems to be more prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes.
According to a 2021 article, type 2 diabetes and hypertension share many of the same risk factors, which go hand-in-hand to worsen insulin resistance and raise blood pressure.
Some of these common causes include:
- lack of aerobic exercise
- consuming too many daily calories
- insulin resistance
- obesity
- inflammation
- stiffening of your blood vessels
With diabetes, your cells cannot receive instructions in response to increases in your blood sugar, and as a result, too much sugar stays in your bloodstream.
Over time, this can damage your blood vessels and lead to other health conditions like vision loss, high blood pressure, and even heart disease.
Complications from diabetes and high blood pressure
When you develop diabetes and high blood pressure, your risk of developing certain health conditions increases.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), up to 40% of people with type 2 diabetes will go on to develop kidney disease. If your kidneys become less effective, this can cause your blood vessels to stiffen and, in turn, further raise blood pressure.
Diabetes and high blood pressure can also worsen cardiovascular health, and the risk of the following conditions may increase:
- heart disease
- stroke
- kidney disease
- vision loss, or retinopathy
- heart attack
Risk factors of diabetes and high blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure share common risk factors. If you already have one of these conditions, you will likely develop the other without good symptom management.
Some common risk factors for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes include:
- having obesity
- following an unbalanced diet that is high in saturated fats
- living a sedentary lifestyle
- smoking
- experiencing chronic stress
- getting irregular and poor-quality sleep
Consuming excess sodium and alcohol will also increase your risk of high blood pressure.
Family histories of hypertension and type 2 diabetes will also increase your risk of developing these conditions.
As type 1 diabetes is hereditary, the only risk factor is genetic family history.
Hypertensive medications
Medications are effective in lowering your blood pressure in a short time. Some examples of medications a doctor may prescribe include:
| Type | Names | How do they work? |
|---|---|---|
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors | Lisinopril (Prinivil) Enalapril (Vasotec) | These oral medications allow the blood vessels to dilate and relax, helping to lower blood pressure. |
| Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) | Amlodipine (Norvasc) Diltiazem (Cardizem) | These oral medications block the receptors responsible for contracting your blood vessels. This allows them to relax and lowers blood pressure. |
| Diuretics | Metolazone (Zaroxolyn) | These oral tablets reduce your blood volume by encouraging the removal of excess water from your bloodstream, lowering blood pressure. |
| Beta-blockers | Atenolol (Tenormin) | These oral medications slow your heart rate and reduce the amount of blood your heart pumps in each beat. Together, these effects work to lower the stress on your heart, which lowers blood pressure. |
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Get free cardHow to prevent high blood pressure
The following lifestyle factors can help you to reduce the chances of developing hypertension if you have diabetes, regardless of the type.
- Keeping active: Regular aerobic exercise, like a brisk walk or swimming, can lower blood pressure and manage blood glucose levels.
- Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI): If you have overweight, losing as little as 3% of your body weight can improve blood pressure, as well as lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol.
- Limit alcohol intake: As well as adding unnecessary calories to your diet, alcohol thickens your artery walls, increasing your blood pressure. You could consider sticking to one or two alcoholic drinks daily, which is the recommended daily allowance.
- Quit smoking: Smoking tobacco temporarily increases your blood pressure but also results in the long-term buildup of plaque in the arteries. It can also increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Can you reverse hypertension and diabetes?
Hypertension, even as a symptom of diabetes, is reversible with adaptations to your lifestyle and good blood sugar level management.
Reaching a healthy BMI is the most effective way of reversing hypertension and blood vessel stiffening in people with type 2 diabetes. According to a 2019 review, in just 4 weeks, exercise training can improve your heart health and lower blood pressure.
While there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, you may be able to continue your day-to-day activities without medication but manage your BMI and become more active, where possible.
Summary
High blood pressure and diabetes frequently develop together. They also share risk factors, and if you have one condition, you may also develop the other.
Lifestyle changes can be highly effective at reducing your symptoms but may also eventually reverse hypertension.
People living with type 2 diabetes may also be able to curb their symptoms with lifestyle strategies and may no longer require diabetes medication.
Talk with a healthcare professional about the different treatment options and what complications to keep an eye out for. It is important to attend regular check-ups to monitor your blood pressure and ensure appropriate diabetes treatment.
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