Re: Diabetes and hypertension

Harold Groot wrote:
On Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:49:11 -0500, whodunit
<whodunit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I asked some questions here last week and got some good advice, had another question or two.

My MIL is visiting from India. She's elderly (late 60s) and takes insulin injections daily for her diabetes (I had asked questions about daily glucose monitoring, which she says her Indian doctor told her 'wasn't necessary', she only needed testing every 3 to 6 months).

We went to a store a few days ago and she tried one of those blood pressure chairs that gives you a free reading...I know they aren't TOTALLY accurate but when I've used them they've been pretty close to my readings at my doctor's office--anyway, when it finished and gave the results, I happened to catch them before she erased them and I nearly freaked out! Her reading was 195/75 with a pulse rate of 77--yikes! When I exclaimed at how high that was, she was calm and said, that's okay, the 75 is in the normal range! :-O

I've talked to my husband and he's like, "Well, they're adults and they know what they are doing and there's nothing we can do because they trust their Indian doctors" (forgot to mention she also takes hypertension meds every day, don't know the name though)...is it normal to have such high readings while on insulin? Or is that just crazy-high-she-needs-to-go-to-the-ER-right-NOW! kind of deal?

Again, if anyone has experience/advice, I would greatly appreciate it!
Carolyne in TX


I am not a doctor, but:

While 196/75 is indeed in the "High Blood Pressure" area, it is not in
the "crazy-high-she-needs-to-go-to-the-ER" area. And while she is at
higher risk than if her higher (systolic) number was under 140, in
general the lower (diastolic) number is considered a more accurate
indicator of risk - and yes, hers is in the "normal" area. Maybe if
she got more medication her diastolic would go too low - she and her
doctor have probably varied the medication and settled on this dosage
and these numbers after some experimentation. Of course, the
excitement of the trip could be boosting them higher than normal for
her - but this will only be for a short time.

So while she has "some" extra risk, she is not anywhere near "crazy"
extra risk. She and her doctor know about it, she is taking
medication to treat it - and meanwhile she is trying to live a normal,
enjoyable life instead of worrying herself sick. Good for her. My
advice would be to learn from her example.



I am concerned because last week she recieved news that her 94 y/o mother had died in India (she really hadn't been sick, although at that age, you sort of prepare yourself mentally for something to happen--still, when it does, it's quite a shocker)--I've been told and read that this kind of stress can increase diabetes and hypertension problems, so that's why I'm a bit more vigilant. Believe me, with two babies who just turned one (the day their great grandmother died) I've got plenty to do minding my own business! It's just when they visit from India (I'm in Texas) they stay for 6 months WITHOUT a doctor's care. To me that's a long time to wait for monitoring, etc.

Thanks!
.

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