Diabetes care: 10 ways to avoid complications
3. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control
4. Schedule regular physicals and eye exams
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1. Commit to managing your diabetes
2. Don't smoke
3. Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol
4. Make regular physicals and eye exams
5. Keep your vaccines up to date
6. Take care of your teeth
7. Pay attention to your feet
8. Consider a daily aspirin
9. If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly
10. Take stress seriously
3. Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol
Like diabetes, high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects the body's blood vessels and causes the heart to work harder to pump blood. In general, hypertension is a blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
High cholesterol is a concern too. Cholesterol is a waxy substance in the blood that the body needs to build healthy cells. But high levels of cholesterol can build up in the walls of blood vessels, causing them to become narrower. This makes it hard for enough blood to flow through, raising the risk of heart disease. Damage from high cholesterol is often worse and more rapid when you have diabetes.
When diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol happen together, they can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening conditions.
Eating a healthy diet that has reduced fat and low salt, avoiding too much alcohol, and exercising regularly can go a long way toward managing high blood pressure and cholesterol. Your healthcare professional also may recommend taking medicine for high blood pressure and cholesterol if needed.
