Awareness of blood pressure for diabetics crucial

Figures in the UK suggest that half of people with diabetes are failing to keep control of their blood pressure, risking "damaging" complications in later years. Diabetes UK, which analysed the NHS data in England showed that the percentage of sufferers not hitting their target remains at 50 percent, a level it has been at for some years. The charity also said that people with the illness needed more help and support to keep their condition under control. High blood pressure increases the risk of conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure and stroke. Diabetics are normally told to keep their blood pressure below 130/80, slightly lower than the target for the rest of the population. Diabetics at risk of going over their target can be given medication as well as counselling to help them with their diet and to lose weight so as to get their levels down. But the figures, which are based on the National Diabetes Audit and cover nine in 10 people diagnosed with the condition in England - showed that only around 50 percent of patients had control of their blood pressure, a proportion almost exactly the same as in previous years. This would mean that if this statistic was to be used across the UK, 1.4 million out of the 2.9 million people with the condition would be at risk. Diabetes UK chief executive Barbara Young stated that "It is extremely worrying. People with diabetes need to 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."