4 days ago
My blood pressure has been flagged as pre-diabetic – what should I do?
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader whose blood pressure was flagged as pointing to pre diabetic levels during a routine health check.
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Q) I RECENTLY had my free health check and my blood pressure was flagged as pointing to pre-diabetic levels.
The high number was 126, and the lower number was 86.
My health practice advised me to take statins. Could they help? Any other advice?
A) IT is great to hear that you had your health check. They are so important because they help you identify silent but dangerous issues with your blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol levels.
Your blood pressure results seem OK, but it would be a good idea to still look at measures to prevent it getting any higher.
Being pre-diabetic relates to a higher-than- normal level of sugar, or glucose, in the blood.
It should be taken as a warning sign that you need to make some lifestyle changes.
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week and eat a healthy and balanced diet, focusing on limiting ultra-processed foods, alcohol and sugary drinks. If you're a smoker, seek support to quit.
Statins are medicines used to treat high cholesterol levels and, in doing so, reduce your risk of developing a heart attack or stroke in the future.
The good news, though, is that the same lifestyle changes that will help bring down your blood sugar and blood pressure will also help your cholesterol too, and might mean you don't need to take statins.
