Why is hypertension a risk factor for diabetes?

Diabetes and hypertension are two common comorbidities. People with hypertension are more likely to develop diabetes than normal individuals as hypertensive people develop insulin resistance (insulin doesn’t work effectively). Insulin is essential for glucose uptake and when the insulin doesn’t work effectively, it causes glucose levels to increase in blood, which eventually leads to diabetes if unnoticed.  

Diabetes and hypertension are closely related because they share similar risk factors such as age, obesity, high cholesterol levels, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and stress. In addition, the cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetes increases due to cardiovascular disease, which can be exacerbated by hypertension. People with both hypertension and diabetes are at increased risk for heart diseases such as heart attack or stroke, kidney diseases, and other health problems.

Early BP management and controlling blood glucose levels is essential to slow down the progression of hypertension and incidence of diabetes.

Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg (120 is systolic BP and 80 is diastolic BP). People with prehypertension (120 to 139 mmHg systolic BP and 80 to 89 mmHg diastolic BP) should undergo lifestyle modifications to control blood pressure.

Lifestyle modifications may include:

• Being physically active
• Maintain a normal weight
• Consuming a healthy and balanced diet including fresh fruits and vegetables; people with prehypertension can adopt DASH (dietary approach to stop hypertension) diet, which includes reducing salt intake and other measures to control BP
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Quitting smoke
• Reducing stress
• Being compliant with your prescribed medication

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5953551/#:~:text=Hypertension%20is%20twice%20as%20frequent,developing%20than%20are%20normotensive%20individuals.
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4644940/