Diabetes increases your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.
Doctors should work with you to control your blood pressure. The doctor can help in many ways. They can help you plan to eat food with little or no salt, maintain a healthy weight, and stay physically active. Blood pressure is normal when it is below 140/90. If your blood pressure is above normal, the doctor can also order medicine that will help lower it.
Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for patients with diabetes who want to better control their blood pressure. These additional services may be educational materials (online and in print), classes or support groups, home blood pressure monitoring, or phone counseling.