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Why is it important to control blood pressure if you have diabetes?

Diabetes increases your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and it can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

How should doctors help control blood pressure?

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, stay physically active and stop smoking. Blood pressure for diabetics 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.