“High blood sugar affects one in 5 people and high blood pressure affects two in 5 people.”
(Dr. Vijaya Prasad Paudel, 2017 )
Nearly two in five Nepali people have high blood sugar, also known as hypertension. Even if your blood pressure is relatively high, you won’t likely have any symptoms, so by the time you start feeling ill, some damage may have already been done. Therefore, it’s crucial to frequently check your blood pressure as part of your “Cardiovascular Risk Assessment“.
Persistent high blood pressure can cause the heart to enlarge and weaken. It also damages the blood vessels, especially if you also have raised blood cholesterol or diabetes, or if you smoke. If blood vessels become narrowed or blocked, a heart attack or stroke may occur.
Similarly, Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. It can happen when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin it produces isn’t effective. Managing diabetes can be challenging. Considering that chronic damage to many of the body’s organ systems, such as the liver and kidneys, can take place throughout this time. In order to reduce the damage of diabetes, screening should be an effective strategy.
What are healthy levels for a blood glucose series?
- Pre-lunch between 4.5 and 7.8mmol
- 2 hours after lunch between 4.5 and 8.5mmol
- First thing in the morning (fasting) between 4 and 6mmol.
High blood pressure and sugar: hidden dangers
In the short term, high blood pressure and sugar levels can zap your energy, cause excessive thirst and urination, and blur your vision. High blood sugar levels can also lead to dehydration, dry and itchy skin, and infections.
Over time, high pressure and blood sugar affect many parts of the body. –
- Memory problems
- Vision problems like blurriness, diabetic retinopathy, and blindness
- Gum disease leads to tooth loss, which can make eating healthy foods difficult due to problems chewing
- Heart attack and stroke due to increased plaque build-up in the vessels and other vascular issues
- Kidney disease can lead to the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant
- Nerve damage can cause decreased sensation in the feet and legs which increases the risk for wounds to turn into serious infections and even amputation.
When should I get my blood pressure checked?
Every adult should have their blood pressure and sugar checked regularly. It is more common in older age groups but it can affect younger people too. Your doctor will advise you depending on your age, whether you are taking any medications, and your general health. Regular checks are important for:
- all men aged over 45 and women over 55 years
- smokers
- those who are overweight
- pregnant women and those taking the oral contraceptive pill
- those with a family history of heart disease.
Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus are both major modifiable risk factors leading to premature death due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are a must to reduce mortality due to the following diseases. In 95% of people with high blood pressure, there is no obvious cause. The remaining 5% generally have a specific cause, such as kidney disease and others. Several laboratory tests like lipid profile, liver function test, thyroid function test, diabetic profile, renal function test, urine analysis) can give you an indication of the level of your diabetes and other diseases. They can also assist you in observing changes over time and determining whether or not the diabetes management techniques you are applying are effective or not.