Did you know the American Diabetes Association changes its guidelines at the beginning of every year? In 2013 several important changes were made which include patients with Diabetes type 2 as well as Diabetes type 1. While individual health care providers may deviate from these recommendations to optimize care for specific patients, the first recommendation is to go for a target blood pressure less than 140 systolic and 80 diastolic. This will enable physicians to lighten up on blood pressure medications for certain patients. The second recommendation involves the amount of testing for people on either multiple daily injections of insulin or insulin pumps. Dr. Anne Petterson stated in the medscape summary: “This year, instead of suggesting a number like 3 times a day, the American Diabetes Association included a paragraph stating that patients on multiple-dose insulin or insulin-pump therapy should do self-monitoring of blood glucose at least prior to meals and snacks, occasionally postprandially, at bedtime, prior to exercise, when they suspect a low blood glucose level, after they’re treating a low blood glucose level to see that it comes back to normal, and before doing critical tasks such as driving” This is obviously more than 3 tests per day. This does not apply to patients on oral medications. The ADA also recommends testing hospitalized patients without a previous diagnosis with a hemoglobin A1C if they have abnormal blood sugars or risk factors for Diabetes. How will these recommendations affect you?
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Thank you for visiting my website. The guidelines allow for patient variation. Some patients have a difficult time getting their blood pressure down those 10 extra points and require more medication. The question is balancing the benefit of getting the blood pressure down from 140 to 130 against the risks of using additional medications and the symptoms. Some patients feel dizzy when their pressure is lower and it is reassuring for them that the ADA has raised the guidelines. Lower is better sometimes, but not always. It depends on individual circumstances. Continue to work with your health care provider to decide which is the optimal BP for you. The guideline is for a population and not an individual.
I was informed in December by 2 of my Dr`s about the change to the BP. I still will try my best to maintain my BP at 120 80 as I know its healthier. Even with the changes to the BP my r`s would not lower my dose of BP unless its under 100 on a constant bases,