Which of the following conditions is the diabetic patient at an increased risk of developing

Heart and Vascular High Blood Pressure/Hypertension Diabetes

High blood pressure is twice as likely to strike a person with diabetes than a person without diabetes. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. In fact, a person with diabetes and high blood pressure is four times as likely to develop heart disease than someone who does not have either of the conditions. About two-thirds of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than 130/80 mm Hg or use prescription medications for hypertension.

The Brain Connection

Hypertension in midlife could affect late-life thinking skills. Discover what Johns Hopkins researchers know about the connection, plus ways to keep your blood pressure under control and your brain at its best.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Each time the heart beats, it is pumping blood into these arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure when the heart contracts and is pumping the blood. High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack). With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood.

Two numbers are used to measure blood pressure. The number on the top, the systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and is pumping the blood through the body. The number on the bottom, the diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury).According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NHLBI), high blood pressure for adults is defined as:

  • 140 mm Hg or greater systolic pressure and

  • 90 mm Hg or greater diastolic pressure

NHLBI guidelines for prehypertension are:

  • 120 mm Hg – 139 mm Hg systolic pressure and

  • 80 mm Hg – 89 mm Hg diastolic pressure

NHLBI guidelines define normal blood pressure as follows:

  • Less than 120 mm Hg systolic pressure and

  • Less than 80 mm Hg diastolic pressure

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Often, people with high blood pressure do not have noticeable symptoms. If the blood pressure is greatly elevated, a person may experience the following. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Blurred vision

The symptoms of high blood pressure may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.

Preventing high blood pressure

The American Diabetes Association recommends the following to help prevent the onset of high blood pressure:

  • Reduce your salt intake

  • Engage in stress-relieving activities

  • Exercise regularly

  • Get to and stay at a healthy weight

  • Avoid excessive alcohol intake

  • Stop smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke

  • Monitor your blood pressure

Treatment for high blood pressure

Specific treatment for high blood pressure will be determined by your doctor based on:

  • Your age, overall health, and medical history

  • Extent of the disease

  • Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies

  • Expectations for the course of the disease

  • Your opinion or preference

Treatment may include exercise, a balanced diet, and quitting smoking, as well as medications prescribed by your doctor.

A 37-year-old female with a history of diabetes presents with excessive urination and weakness of 2 days' duration. Her blood glucose level reads 320 mg/dL. If this patient's condition is not promptly treated, she will MOST likely develop:
Select one:
A. irreversible renal failure.
B. hypoxia and overhydration.
C. severe insulin shock.
D. acidosis and dehydration.

A. irreversible renal failure.

A 66-year-old woman experienced a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She has a history of type 2 diabetes and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). On the basis of her medical history, which of the following should the EMT suspect?
Select one:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Severe hypoglycemia

A 75-year-old male with type 1 diabetes presents with chest pain and a general feeling of weakness. He tells you that he took his insulin today and ate a regular meal approximately 2 hours ago. You should treat this patient as though he is experiencing:
Select one:
A. a heart attack.
B. an acute stroke.
C. hyperglycemia.
D. hypoglycemia.

A man finds his 59-year-old wife unconscious on the couch. He states that she takes medications for type 2 diabetes. He further tells you that his wife has been ill recently and has not eaten for the past 24 hours. Your assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive. You should:
Select one:
A. open and maintain her airway and assess breathing.
B. assess for the presence of a medical identification tag.
C. administer 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.
D. administer oral glucose between her cheek and gum.

A. open and maintain her airway and assess breathing.

A patient with an altered mental status; high blood glucose levels; and deep, rapid breathing may have a condition known as __________.
Select one:
A. diabetic ketoacidosis
B. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma
C. hyperglycemic crisis
D. hypoglycemic crisis

A patient with hypoglycemia will often present with which of the following signs/symptoms?
Select one:
A. Pale, cool, and clammy skin
B. Warm, red, and dry skin
C. Hypertension
D. Deep, rapid respirations

A. Pale, cool, and clammy skin

Classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
Select one:
A. cold, clammy skin; bradycardia; hunger; and deep, rapid respirations.
B. warm, dry skin; hunger; abdominal pain; and deep, slow respirations.
C. cool, clammy skin; weakness; tachycardia; and rapid respirations.
D. warm, dry skin; irritability; bradycardia; and rapid respirations.

C. cool, clammy skin; weakness; tachycardia; and rapid respirations.

During your assessment of a 19-year-old male, you are told that he is being treated with factor VIII. This indicates that:
Select one:
A. he has hemophilia A.
B. he has a thrombosis.
C. his blood clots too quickly.
D. he has thrombophilia.

Excessive eating caused by cellular “hunger” is called:
Select one:
A. dyspepsia.
B. polydipsia.
C. polyphagia.
D. dysphasia.

In contrast to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes:
Select one:
A. is caused by resistance to insulin at the cellular level.
B. is commonly diagnosed in children and young adults.
C. is caused by a complete lack of insulin in the body.
D. occurs when antibodies attack insulin-producing cells.

A. is caused by resistance to insulin at the cellular level.

Proper procedure for administering oral glucose to a patient includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. checking the medication's expiration date.
B. assessing the patient's mental status.
C. ensuring the absence of a gag reflex.
D. requesting permission from medical control.

C. ensuring the absence of a gag reflex.

Symptomatic hypoglycemia will MOST likely develop if a patient:
Select one:
A. takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin.
B. eats a regular meal followed by mild exertion.
C. markedly overeats and misses an insulin dose.
D. misses one or two prescribed insulin injections.

A. takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin.

The EMT should assess for hypoglycemia in small children with a severe illness or injury because:
Select one:
A. children overproduce insulin during severe illness or injury.
B. children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults.
C. illness or injury causes the pancreas to produce less insulin.
D. a child's cells do not uptake glucose as rapidly as adults' do.

B. children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults.

The main function of the endocrine system is to _________.
Select one:
A. produce glandular secretions
B. regulate blood flow
C. regulate glucose and calcium
D. maintain homeostasis

The normal blood glucose level is between:
Select one:
A. 30 and 150 mg/dL.
B. 80 and 120 mg/dL.
C. 160 and 200 mg/dL.
D. 60 and 80 mg/dL.

The two main types of cells contained in blood are called _________.
Select one:
A. transport and clotting
B. platelets and plasma
C. hemoglobin A and S
D. erythrocytes and leukocytes

D. erythrocytes and leukocytes

Which of the following conditions is the diabetic patient at an increased risk of developing?
Select one:
A. Depression
B. Alcoholism
C. Hepatitis B
D. Blindness

Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct?
Select one:
A. Blood glucose levels decrease in the absence of insulin.
B. The brain requires insulin to allow glucose to enter the cells.
C. The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen.
D. Most cells will function normally without glucose.

C. The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen.

Which of the following statements regarding sickle cell disease is correct?
Select one:
A. In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells are abnormally shaped and are less able to carry oxygen.
B. Because of their abnormal shape, red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease are less apt to lodge in a blood vessel.
C. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that causes the blood to clot too quickly.
D. The red blood cells of patients with sickle cell disease are round and contain hemoglobin.

A. In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells are abnormally shaped and are less able to carry oxygen.

You are treating a 40-year-old male with a documented blood sugar reading of 480 mg/dL. The patient is semiconscious and breathing shallowly, and is receiving assisted ventilation from your partner. You should recognize that definitive treatment for this patient includes:
Select one:
A. insulin.
B. oxygen.
C. dextrose.
D. glucagon.

What are the 4 most common leading complications of diabetes?

Common diabetes health complications include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and other problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health.

What condition is most common in diabetic patients?

High blood glucose from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. Over time, this damage can lead to heart disease. People with diabetes tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than people without diabetes.

What is the most common complication of diabetes?

Nerve damage (neuropathy): One of the most common diabetes complications, nerve damage can cause numbness and pain. Nerve damage most often affects the feet and legs but can also affect your digestion, blood vessels, and heart.

What are the risk factors of diabetes mellitus?

You're at risk for type 2 diabetes if you:.
Have prediabetes..
Are overweight..
Are 45 years or older..
Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes..
Are physically active less than 3 times a week..
Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds..