In most cases, the cause of high blood pressure can be unknown. This enigma is referred to as essential hypertension where the blood vessels depend on how hard the heart pumps and how much resistance the arteries put up.- Diabetic nephropathy, or diabetic kidney disease, is a complication that develops in certain people who have diabetes, particularly type 1. The kidneys are damaged causing high blood pressure.
- Other conditions – it rare that high blood pressure is caused by other conditions. If this should happen it is referred to as secondary hypertension. Examples include hormonal problems.
Is High Blood Pressure Common in People with Diabetes?
It is reported that in the United Kingdom approximately half of all people over the age of 65 and one in four middle-aged adults suffer from high blood pressure. 3 in 10 people with type 1 diabetes and 8 in 10 with type 2 diabetes tend to develop high blood pressure at some stage of their life.
People with diabetes are at greater risk of high blood pressure if they have a family history of high blood pressure; are of African- Caribbean origin; are from the Indian sub-continent or have lifestyle factors that could contribute to their condition.