Relationship Between Hypertension and Type 1 Diabetes
Published July 25, 2022
Type 1 diabetes is a metabolic condition where the beta cells in your pancreas stop making insulin. As there is no insulin, your blood sugar levels increase, resulting in hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar
Hyperglycemia can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) in type 1 diabetics, defined as blood pressure above 140/90. The close association of diabetes with hypertension is commonly due to changes in vascular function and structure.
To know more about this association, keep reading!
How Type 1 Diabetes Causes Hypertension
In Type-I diabetes, your blood sugar levels are high, which decreases the elasticity of blood vessels, narrowing them. It also causes inflammation in the arteries and the accumulation of cholesterol and calcium. The result impedes normal blood flow, causing reduced blood supply and oxygen to different parts of your body.
Therefore, with the narrowing of arteries due to excess sugar, the heart has to work harder to ensure that blood reaches your extremities, thus increasing the risks of hypertension amongst type 1 diabetics.
In fact, the risk of developing hypertension is 1.5-2 times higher in diabetics than in nondiabetics (1).
Is Hypertension a Complication of Diabetes?
Yes, hypertension is indeed a complication of diabetes, and they often exist together. In fact, they are considered a twin epidemic, rising at an alarming rate every year. This is a matter of concern as both hypertension and diabetes cause endothelial cell damage to the blood vessels resulting in atherosclerosis, retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, etc. Therefore, make sure to keep your diabetes and hypertension in check, before it's too late.
How To Manage Type 1 Diabetes and Hypertension
Here are some points for hypertension management and to keep your type 1 diabetes under control:
1. Lose Belly Fat
Obesity and hypertension go hand in hand, and so does diabetes. Weight around the midsection or abdominal obesity is defined as having a waist circumference greater than or equal to 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women. With intermittent fasting and a nutritional diet, you should be able to reduce your weight considerably.
2. Exercise Regularly
According to the American Diabetic Association, exercise helps increase insulin sensitivity in diabetics (2). In other words, the need for insulin to process carbohydrates reduces. Exercise also helps reduce diabetic complications such as hypertension.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
It is essential to incorporate the proper nutrients into your meal for the right diabetes diet. A good amount of vitamins and minerals and sufficient control of carbohydrate intake can do the trick. Healthy fats, high-quality protein, and complex carbohydrates are highly recommended.
4. Reduce Sodium Intake
The American Diabetes Association recommends diabetics limit their sodium intake to 2300 mg, which is just 1 teaspoon of table salt per day (3). Limit intake of processed food, canned foods, instant meals, salted snacks, and meats.
5. Increase Potassium Intake
Potassium is instrumental in reducing cell resistance to insulin. Potassium is diuretic and can dilate the smooth muscle in the arteries and keep the vascular system from stiffening. Low potassium impairs glucose metabolism.
Our daily need for potassium is around 4700 mg per day that can come from 7-10 cups of vegetables, but very few actually consume that much. Increasing your potassium can help fight both diabetes and hypertension together.
6. Limit Alcohol
Even though moderate amounts of alcohol are considered okay for type 1 diabetics, it is advisable to limit the amount. Heavy drinking can worsen your glycemic control, worsen diabetic self-care behaviors, and increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia (4).
7. Quit Smoking
Smoking can increase the risk of diabetes-related complications including hypertension. Nicotine in cigarettes can also increase your blood sugar levels by increasing insulin resistance. Therefore, it is best to avoid them (5).
8. Reduce Caffeine
Some studies have shown that caffeine can lower the insulin sensitivity of the cells and increase hyperglycemia. Limiting your caffeine intake to 200 mg/day can help tackle the problem (6).
9. Reduce Stress
Stress releases cortisol, a stress hormone that can counteract the effects of insulin, causing insulin resistance. Therefore, controlling your stress can be one of the crucial diabetes solutions (7).
10. Take Essential Vitamins
Nicotinamide or vitamin B3 in an amount of 1000-2000 mg can delay insulin-deficient diabetes and can protect the beta cells in the pancreas. It can prevent or limit the severity of type 1 diabetes (8).
Conclusion
Although it is not sufficient to say that one will always cause the other, there is a clear relationship between hypertension and type 1 diabetes. However, with proper diet, lifestyle habits, and awareness, these conditions can be managed by most people.
Medical Disclaimer
Dario Health offers health, fitness, and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon. The information provided might not be accurate, full, complete, or effective. Accordingly, it is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. You are strongly advised to consult your physician or qualified health professional regarding your condition and appropriate medical treatment. Individual symptoms, situations, and circumstances may vary.
Resources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5953551/
- https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/fitness/getting-started-safely/blood-glucose-and-exercise
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P00352
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125008/
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/smoking-and-diabetes.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29501444/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30336709/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10097894/
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