Publication Date: 11/21/2004
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I have type 2 diabetes and take metformin to keep it under control. Is my hypertension caused by my having type 2 diabetes?Answer
Actually, hypertension usually precedes the frank diagnosis of diabetes. It is part of the metabolic syndrome, which precedes diabetes by several years, and is now an established diagnosis itself. A person who has three or more of the following components is classified as having Metabolic Syndrome and is at high risk for developing diabetes. These criteria were established by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATPIII).- blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg
- waist circumerence 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women
- fasting triglycerides greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL
- blood HDL levels less than 40 mg/dL in men and less than 50 mg/dL in women
- fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 110 mg/dL [5 mmol/L]
