Diabetes and Hypertension Treatment and Prevention

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Diabetes and Hypertension Treatment and Prevention
Francine Kaufman, MD
dlife

Treatment and Prevention

Medications that may be prescribed to reduce blood pressure include diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers. The American Diabetes Association also recommends that most adults (i.e., over 21) with diabetes who have a history of risk factors for CAD, PVD, hypertension, or heart attack take a daily dose of coated aspirin.

Other strategies for prevention:

Stay at a healthy body weight. Excess pounds promote hypertension.
Keep active. Exercise can help lower your blood pressure.
Eat a balanced diet low in saturated and total fat, cholesterol, and sodium and rich in vegetables, fruit, and nonfat dairy (the DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, diet).
Quit smoking. Nicotine raises blood pressure.
Keep alcohol intake at a moderate level.
Practice good stress management. Emotional or physical stress can raise blood pressure; talk to your provider about relaxation techniques and strategies.

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