Is Blood Pressure the Same as Blood Sugar?

The terms "blood sugar" and "blood pressure" may seem confusing to some people, but is blood pressure the same as blood sugar?

No, they are not! Though they may sound similar, they are vastly different.

While blood sugar is a measurement of the levels of glucose in the body, blood pressure refers to the amount of blood the heart pumps and the resistance to it in the arteries. Extremities of both are considered to be metabolic disorders.

Can Low Blood Sugar Increase Blood Pressure?

The relationship between blood sugar and blood pressure is well established.

The body gets energy from glucose or sugars from carbohydrates. When there is a hypoglycemic episode—i.e., the blood glucose levels are low—the body releases excess epinephrine (adrenaline) and initiates a series of actions such as increasing the heart rate, widening the pulse pressure, and increasing peripheral systolic blood pressure, to keep the heart and lungs functioning properly (1).

This rise in adrenaline and associated changes in systolic blood pressure results in increased blood pressure. Hence, understanding hypertension and its causes can make the condition more manageable.

Can Low Blood Sugar Cause a Drop in Blood Pressure?

Absolutely! A drop in blood sugar can adversely affect blood pressure. In diabetics, this may occur due to nerve damage called autonomic neuropathy. When nerves are damaged due to high blood sugar levels, the body may not be able to sense drops in blood sugar immediately, affecting heart rate and blood pressure. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, due to hypoglycemia is common in individuals with severe diabetes (2)(3).

Conclusion

Maintaining blood pressure and blood sugar is essential for good health and for preventing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Extremities of blood sugar in either direction can both be hazardous for health and impact blood pressure adversely, inducing hypertension or hypotension. Learn more about this in the Relationship Between Hypertension and Type 1 Diabetes and Can Hypoglycemia Cause Hypertension?

Adopting a healthy lifestyle and following a practitioner’s advice regarding medications can go a long way in maintaining overall well-being and making these conditions highly manageable.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided by DarioHealth Corp. programs is general in nature and is not meant to replace the advice or care you get from your doctor or other health care professional.

Resources

1. https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/34/Supplement_2/S132/28705/Hypoglycemia-and-Cardiovascular-Risks
2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/nerve-damage-diabetic-neuropathies/autonomic-neuropathy
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2660058/

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