If you have diabetes, you are at risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) as well. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), almost one in three American adults has high blood pressure, and two out of three people with diabetes report taking prescription medications to lower their blood pressure. But do you really need to take medication for your blood pressure? Isn’t cutting back on salt or losing a few pounds enough to get your blood pressure to goal? Let’s take a look at how hypertension is treated.
High blood pressure, defined
You’ve no doubt had your blood pressure checked each time you go to a doctor’s visit. You might have a home blood pressure monitor that your doctor has asked you to use as well. What do the numbers mean?
High blood pressure is when blood flows through your arteries at a higher-than-normal pressure. Blood pressure is measured as two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure (the first
