October 9, 2014 – Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

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Anchor lead:  Two common health problems together are more than double trouble, Elizabeth Tracey reports

If you have diabetes you may think you have enough to manage, but you really need to keep your eye on your blood pressure, too.  That’s because a recent study demonstrates that good blood pressure control in those who have diabetes lengthens life.  Gregory Prokopowicz, a blood pressure expert at Johns Hopkins, explains.

Prokopowicz: I think anyone with diabetes has to take their blood pressure very seriously because you have both diabetes and high blood pressure the risk of the high blood pressure is greater than somebody who has high blood pressure without diabetes.  Whereas if somebody has mildly elevated blood pressure but no other problems going on, we might be comfortable watching them for six months a year maybe more without treatment but somebody with diabetes and high blood pressure we really want to get them under control quickly because the damage occurs more quickly and we really take that seriously.   :29

Prokopowicz says someone who is expert in this field can likely simplify regimens to manage both conditions together.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.