High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are common conditions worldwide. It’s estimated that type 2 diabetes affects around 415 million people and that diabetes affects 1.39 billion. Unfortunately, both conditions carry significant health risks, including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.
In this article, we’ll explore the connection between diabetes and high blood pressure. We’ll also discuss the risks, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of both conditions.
Can Diabetes Cause High Blood Pressure?
Yes, type 2 diabetes can lead to the development of high blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition marked by insulin resistance and high glucose, or blood sugar, levels. Over time, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and artery walls and increase the force of blood that travels through your arteries, causing high blood pressure.
Increased risk
People with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure than people without type 2 diabetes. Having both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure significantly increases your risk for heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Having high blood pressure also increases the risk of vascular complications of diabetes, including:
Increased formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs)
Oxidative stress
Inflammation
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Complications
There are many possible complications of both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Shared complications include:
Heart disease
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
Endothelial dysfunction
Vascular inflammation
Vascular fibrosis
Arterial remodeling
Kidney damage or disease
Eye problems
Memory problems and dementia
What’s the Connection?
Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are common conditions that increase the risk of developing heart disease. They’re connected by common risk factors, complications, and mechanisms.
Risk Factors of High Blood Pressure and Diabetes
Anyone can develop high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, but some common risk factors for both conditions include:
Age (older individuals are at higher risk)
Family history
Overweight or obesity
Physical inactivity
Race (African Americans are at a higher risk)
Additionally, having high blood pressure increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and vice versa.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure and Diabetes
High blood pressure is often called a “silent killer” because most people with the condition don’t experience symptoms. It can remain undetected in individuals for many years, making treatment and management more difficult. In rare cases, people with high blood pressure may experience a pounding feeling in their chest or head, lightheadedness, or dizziness.
Unlike high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes causes symptoms in most people. The most common ones include:
Increased thirst
Increased urination
Increased hunger
Skin changes or rashes
Sores that heal slowly
Numbness or tingling sensation in the hands or feet
Erectile dysfunction (in people with penises)
Retrograde ejaculation (in people with penises)
Low testosterone (in people with penises)
Low sex drive (in people with penises)
Preventing High Blood Pressure and Diabetes
It’s not always possible to prevent high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, especially if you have a family history of one or both conditions. However, some lifestyle factors can help to prevent the development of these conditions, including:
Healthy diet: Eat a diet that’s rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins and low in sodium. Limiting total intake of refined carbohydrates may also help to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Regular exercise: Aim to get at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity exercise (such as walking or bicycling) per week.
Maintain a healthy weight: If your BMI is considered overweight or obese, talk to your healthcare provider about strategies for safe and sustainable weight management.
Don’t smoke: If you use cigarettes or other tobacco products, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to quit.
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Treatment
Many of the lifestyle modifications used to prevent these conditions can also help to manage them, including:
Eating a healthy diet
Getting regular, physical activity
Maintaining a healthy weight
Quitting smoking
In some cases, your provider may also recommend taking medication. Some medications used to lower and control blood pressure levels include:
Thiazide diuretics
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Medications used to treat type 2 diabetes include:
Alpha glucosidase inhibitors
Biguanides (including Metformin)
Dopamine agonist
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s)
Meglitinides
Sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors
Sulfonylureas
Thiazolidinediones
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