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. 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. 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 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. The American Diabetes Association recommends the following to help prevent the onset of high blood pressure:
Treatment for high blood pressureSpecific treatment for high blood pressure will be determined by your doctor based on:
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: 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? 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: 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: 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 __________. A patient with hypoglycemia will often present with which of the following signs/symptoms? A. Pale, cool, and clammy skin Classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include: 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: Excessive eating caused by cellular “hunger” is called: In contrast to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes: 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: C. ensuring the absence of a gag reflex. Symptomatic hypoglycemia will MOST likely develop if a patient: 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: B. children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults. The main function of the endocrine system is to _________. The normal blood glucose level is between: The two main types of cells contained in blood are called _________. D. erythrocytes and leukocytes Which of the following conditions is the diabetic patient at an increased risk of developing? Which of the following statements
regarding glucose is correct? C. The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen. Which of the following statements regarding sickle cell disease is correct? 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: 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.. |