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What Causes Fluctuations In BP Levels?

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Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2016
Question: My blood sugar keep fluctuating(about 400, 350,250, 176, 184) and my high blood pressure runs about 177/96, pulse rate is 92. However, I noticed that for the last few days, I have been feeling dizzy and fainty mostly when I got up or when I am walking around. Could this symptom be related to my diabetes or high blood pressure?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes, they could

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

a really bad glucose control causes the body to loose water, ultimately causing dehydration. Dehydration may present with postural hypotension, that is faintness when getting up or standing. Electrolyte disorders which commonly accompany such states may enhance the ill effects of dehydration.

Regarding your blood pressure, you've got to make sure that you're doing the measurements the right way. Check the following list:
- use a trustworthy device (you can find which devices are trustworthy (validated) in http://www.bhsoc.org//index.php?cID=246
- check this device periodically against a working device to make sure it still works properly!
- only measure your blood pressure when you're absolutely calm and without any problems like headaches or other pain, etc.
- in case the measurement is too high, try a second measurement a couple of minutes later. If the second measurement is lower than the first, do a third one. The correct blood pressure should be somewhere between the second and the third.
- take your medication regularly
- if you get high readings consistently (higher than 140/90mmHg) then you've got to visit your doctor for improvement of your regimen.

The blood pressure can be influenced by various factors. Controlling salt consumption is essential, maintaining physical activity and a healthy diet are very important too.

In order to control your blood sugar, you've got to watch what you eat and if you already do that, to check whether something happened that got your blood sugar out of control. An infection is a common cause. A bad tooth could be a "hidden" cause. If you can't identify any cause then perhaps your doctor will with history taking, clinical examination and tests.

A glucosylated hemoglobin A1c is very important to check your current status. A high HbA1c usually means that your regimen is inadequate.

So in conclusion, your symptoms could be related to your diabetes. I doubt that they have anything to do with your blood pressure, because a high blood pressure won't cause any symptoms. You've got to get both under control to avoid various complications.

Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3810 Questions

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What Causes Fluctuations In BP Levels?

Brief Answer: yes, they could Detailed Answer: Hello, a really bad glucose control causes the body to loose water, ultimately causing dehydration. Dehydration may present with postural hypotension, that is faintness when getting up or standing. Electrolyte disorders which commonly accompany such states may enhance the ill effects of dehydration. Regarding your blood pressure, you've got to make sure that you're doing the measurements the right way. Check the following list: - use a trustworthy device (you can find which devices are trustworthy (validated) in http://www.bhsoc.org//index.php?cID=246 - check this device periodically against a working device to make sure it still works properly! - only measure your blood pressure when you're absolutely calm and without any problems like headaches or other pain, etc. - in case the measurement is too high, try a second measurement a couple of minutes later. If the second measurement is lower than the first, do a third one. The correct blood pressure should be somewhere between the second and the third. - take your medication regularly - if you get high readings consistently (higher than 140/90mmHg) then you've got to visit your doctor for improvement of your regimen. The blood pressure can be influenced by various factors. Controlling salt consumption is essential, maintaining physical activity and a healthy diet are very important too. In order to control your blood sugar, you've got to watch what you eat and if you already do that, to check whether something happened that got your blood sugar out of control. An infection is a common cause. A bad tooth could be a "hidden" cause. If you can't identify any cause then perhaps your doctor will with history taking, clinical examination and tests. A glucosylated hemoglobin A1c is very important to check your current status. A high HbA1c usually means that your regimen is inadequate. So in conclusion, your symptoms could be related to your diabetes. I doubt that they have anything to do with your blood pressure, because a high blood pressure won't cause any symptoms. You've got to get both under control to avoid various complications. Kind Regards!