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Low Blood Pressure

  Click here for some tips for Care Partners

TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension. Two symptoms of low blood pressure are lightheadedness or dizziness. Common reasons for having an occasional low blood pressure are:

  • Eating or drinking less than usual

  • Being dehydrated from heat or illness

  • Changing in how you take your blood pressure medications

IF YOU EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE:

  • Try to check your blood pressure while you are having symptoms.

  • Try sitting or lying down and drinking a full glass of water. If you suffer from low blood pressure when standing for long periods, be sure to take a break to sit down.

  • If your blood pressure is low more than twice, contact your healthcare professional to see if your medications need to be adjusted.

TRACKING BLOOD PRESSURE

  • You can use a blood pressure log to help you and your healthcare professional figure out if anything in your routine leads to low blood pressure readings.

  • Note on your blood pressure log the time of day and your activity when you had the low blood pressure. Even if you are not having any symptoms from low blood pressure, continue tracking your readings so you can contact your healthcare professional if the readings continue to seem low on a regular basis.#CPBOX

 

 

  HOW CARE PARTNERS CAN HELP

  • Remember that people with diabetes sometimes have low blood pressure because they are eating or drinking less than usual, they are dehydrated from heat or illness, or they changed how they are taking their medications. If your partner is having symptoms from low blood pressure, or if they have low blood pressure on a regular basis, they could be at risk for dizziness or falls.

  • When your partner has low blood pressure, have them sit or lie down and have them drink a full glass of water.

  • Help your partner figure out if there is a pattern to their low blood pressure. They can start by writing on their blood pressure log the low blood pressure reading, time of day, how they felt, what they ate, and how they took their medication that day.

  • If they are having low blood pressure more than once or twice, recommend that they call their healthcare professional to see if they need to adjust their medications or be evaluated.

  • If this issue is coming up repeatedly, your partner may want to discuss with it their healthcare professional.