If I have hypertension am I at greater risk for developing diabetes?
We know that people who have diabetes are at greater risk for developing hypertension. We are not sure if the reverse is true - that is, whether or not individuals with hypertension are at greater risk for diabetes. Some hypertension experts believe that in certain individuals with high blood pressure there is a greater propensity to be resistant to the effects of insulin. This phenomenon, called insulin resistance, is also associated with diabetes. Thus, in some cases hypertension may in fact be associated with an increased risk for diabetes, but more research needs to be done in this field. Regardless of the links between hypertension and diabetes, we know that more people are developing diabetes than ever, because of the rise in obesity, and more sedentary lifestyles. Thus, all Americans should be concerned about the possibility of developing diabetes and should make every effort to maintain ideal body weight and to exercise regularly. Those with hypertension should be especially concerned about the possibility of developing diabetes, since the presence of these two risk factors increases the risk of cardiovascular disease to a greater degree than either one alone.