Warning about blood pressure control for diabetics

Data has shown that 50% of people with diabetes do not control their blood pressure, leaving them in danger of "damaging" conditions as a result.

According to a review of the National Diabetes Audit by Diabetes UK, 49.3% of diabetics fail to keep their blood pressure within recommended levels.

This leaves them at risk of conditions such as stroke, kidney problems and heart disease.

While a person without the condition should not have a blood pressure reading that exceeds 140/85 mmHg, someone with diabetes should not have a reading greater than 130/80.

The charity's analysis of the data suggests that 1.4 million of the 2.9 million people in the UK with diabetes could be in danger of complications.

Diabetes UK chief executive Barbara Young said: "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."

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