Hypo/Hyperglycemia,in relation to BP

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two days ago i was assigned to ER(im having my preclinical), one patient turned out to be hypoglycemic(feels cold,general weakness,etc), taking her vital signs, it turned out she has a high BP...

question: what's the relationship of BP to Hypoglycemia(and if possible for hyper too)?(out of my curiosity i tried to ask my instructor and he gave it to me as a homework)

sorry for the troubles though(i tried searching for its relation but i didnt find anything):bluecry1:

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

In looking at some of the information I have around here I am not finding a correlation between the two other than hypertension can be a complication of diabetes and hypoglycemia can be a side effect of the medications taken for diabetes. If the patient was not a diabetic, it is possible, I suppose, for someone with hypoglycemia to also have hypertension. BP can elevate for a number of reasons, particularly when someone is under stress.

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majority of people w/ DM(as far as i know, i haven't met anyone w/ out) has hypertension.... and i cant understand the rationale w/ it...

what's more absurd(for me that is) is a patient who was turned in for Hypoglycemia(has DM btw) but has high BP...

although my report if finished i still would like to know more about the relation w/ the two(Blood sugar and BP)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Cardiovascular disease is a common complication of diabetes. Hypertension is common with cardiovascular disease. You need to read up on diabetes and its complications.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

The only thing I can think of to relate the two is that if they are noncompliant or recently diagnosed diabetic, or just have had hyperglycemia for a long time that might cause the arteries to narrow, allowing buildup = hypertension. Just a thought.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

There's an osmotic relation-- very high serum glucose levels will lead to increased diuresis which can develop into dehydration/hypovolemia with associated tachycardia and hypotension. You see this in both your DKA population and your (more and more frequent) hyperosmotic hyperglycemic nonketotic population.

As for hypoglycemia and hypertension, in theory the opposite would be true, but you'd think other issues more acute to being severely hypoglycemic would take root beforehand.

A patient with a history of hypertension can have hypoglycemia as a side effect of beta blocker therapy, and as mentioned, diabetes often has hypertension as a comorbidity.

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Question for you all....

Is there any reason for you to think the patient might have an eating disorder? Vomiting= low blood sugar/ electrolytes = alkilosis (also, cold extremities/ poor perfusion)

as well as elevated BP- both manifestations (hypoglycemia and high BP) could be complications of bulemia.

Also, anxiety can precipitate an elevation in BP, an alkilosis (hyperventilation) and increase in metabolism= leads to lower blood sugar b/c of increased glucose consumption. What were her other vitals? Electrolytes? Was she on any drugs? You sparked my curiosity!!!!!

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She may just have an unrelated history of hypertension like some said above...

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
She may just have an unrelated history of hypertension...

I was diagnosed with hypertension about 3 years before I developed diabetes. Even though my blood sugars are very well controlled on diet (and a little exercise) alone ... I still need my meds for the hypertension.

One did not cause the other in my case.

My mother's mother developed essential hypertension in middle age. (like me)

My father developed type II diabetes in middle age. (like me)

Apparently, I just got all the bad genes.

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I'm jinxed on genes too. Most of my mom's side has hypertension and/or died of strokes. She doesn't have Diabetes, but it runs on her side. Both of my dad's parents had strokes. I wonder what I can do to avoid getting these things, aside from diet and exercise.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Many patients with longstanding DM have cardiovascular disease, and this sydrome relates to the manifestations seen. It's not the blood glucose itself affecting BP most of the time, but the comorbidities. Cardiovascular disease -> nephropathy -> increased fluid retention -> hypertension. This is in addition to the direct effects of atherosclerosis leading to hypertension.

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thank you all....

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