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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.

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Australian Prescriber Vol. 25 No. 1 2002

Hypertension in diabetes

Many people with sugar diabetes develop high blood pressure. This increases the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Keeping the blood pressure down is as important as controlling the blood sugar.

Medical research has found that lowering the blood pressure cuts deaths from diabetes and strokes. This treatment can also reduce some of the complications of diabetes such as poor vision.

To keep the blood pressure down, the patient often needs more than one medicine. As the same medicines do not suit everyone with diabetes, each patient will have their own individual treatment. An important part of this treatment is having regular check-ups. If you have diabetes do not smoke. It is also important to have regular exercise and to keep weight under control.