Diabetes and blood pressure: How often to get yours checked

When you live with diabetes, blood pressure is another important number to keep an eye on. Alongside your blood glucose levels, it can help give a clearer picture of your overall health and your risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

If you live with diabetes, you're twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as someone without diabetes.¹

Experts believe the 2 conditions interact in several ways. Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels, while high blood pressure can affect how insulin works, resulting in high blood sugar levels.²

A person living with high blood pressure and diabetes is 4 times more likely to develop heart disease than someone who has neither condition.¹ Regularly checking blood pressure can help reduce the risk of heart and kidney disease and stroke.³

If you've had a diabetes review, you've probably had your blood pressure checked many times. The result is shown as 2 numbers:

• The top number (systolic) measures pressure when your heart beats.
• The bottom number (diastolic) measures pressure when your heart rests between beats.

For many people living with diabetes, the goal is to keep blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg to 140/90 mmHg, but different people have different targets depending on age, overall health and individual circumstances.⁴

Always follow your doctor’s advice on the blood pressure targets that are right for you.

Blood pressure checks are usually part of routine diabetes care. Most people living with diabetes should have their blood pressure checked at least every 6 months.⁴

If you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend more frequent checks and ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home.

If you have gestational diabetes, it's common for your blood pressure to be checked at every appointment.

High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, which is why routine checks are important.

Your doctor may check your blood pressure alongside other diabetes health checks, such as HbA1c tests, kidney function tests and eye examinations.

Together, these results help build a picture of how well your diabetes is being managed and whether there are any signs of complications developing.

Home blood pressure monitoring can show how your blood pressure changes throughout the day and may provide a more accurate picture than a single clinic reading.

Your doctor may recommend home monitoring if you have high blood pressure, are starting treatment or need closer monitoring.⁶

To do this, you will need to have an at-home blood pressure monitor. Ask your GP or pharmacist to recommend one that works for you. Upper arm cuff monitors are more reliable than other styles, such as wrist and finger monitors.⁵

Do not smoke, exercise, eat or drink caffeine at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Empty your bladder before the test.

Before measuring your blood pressure, sit quietly for 5 minutes, avoiding stressful activities and movement.

While measuring your blood pressure, sit upright in a chair with your back supported, legs uncrossed and feet flat on the floor.

The cuff should be attached to the bare upper arm directly above the elbow.

Take the blood pressure measurement twice, one minute apart and record both readings.