Half of people with diabetes are failing to keep control of their
blood pressure, risking"damaging" complications, figures suggest.
The analysis of NHS data in England by Diabetes UK showed the number
of people not hitting their target has been stuck at about 50% in
recent years.
High blood pressure increases the risk of conditions such as heart
disease, kidney failure and stroke.
The charity said people needed more support to control their condition.
People with diabetes are normally told to keep their blood pressure
below 130/80, slightly lower thanthe target for the rest of the
population.
For someone without diabetes, blood pressure should be no higher than
140/85 mmHg.
Ideally, we should all have a blood pressure below 120/80.
'Extremely worrying'
Those at risk of exceeding the target can be given medication as well
as support in improving diet and losing weight to get their levels
down.
People with diabetes need to be aware that high blood pressure can
have a hugely damaging effect on their health"
Barbara Young
Diabetes UK
But the figures - based on the National Diabetes Audit, which covers
nine in 10 people diagnosed with the condition in England - showed
that just 50.7% of patients had control of their blood pressure.
The proportion was almostexactly the same as the previous year.
It means that if the figure was replicated across the UK, 1.4 million
out of the 2.9 million people with thecondition would be at risk.
Diabetes UK chief executiveBarbara Young said: "It is extremely worrying.
"People with diabetes needto be aware that high blood pressure can
have a hugely damaging effect on their health.
"But instead we are in danger of high blood pressure becoming the norm
in people with the condition.
"This is one of the reasons they are experiencing record rates of
stroke and kidney failure and are dying years younger than the rest of
the population."
A Department of Health spokesman said it was vitalfor health
professionals to ensure diabetic patients with high blood pressure got
all the health checks recommended by the National Institute for
Clinical Excellence (Nice).
He added: "Diabetic patients who have high blood pressure should also
get advice and treatment to help them manage the condition that fits
with their lifestyle."/
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:-: Translator :-:
http://translate.google.co.in/m?hl=en&twu=1
'' Our Lord ! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire '' [Ameen]
-
{in Arab} :->
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqinaa 'athaaban-naar/-
(Surah Al-Baqarah ,verse 201)
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