Blood pressure control goals for diabetic patients

  In ordinary patients with simple hypertension, blood pressure needs to be controlled to no more than 140/90mmHg. The latest hypertension guideline study points out that the serious danger of diabetes combined with hypertension increases and other comprehensive factors, in order to fully reduce the risk of complications, the blood pressure control for diabetic patients is more stringent than non-diabetic population, generally requires control below 130/80mmHg, if the patient is also combined with diabetic nephropathy (24-hour urine protein > 1g), blood pressure control requirements are more stringent, should be below 120/75mmHg, so as to effectively protect the kidney function.  Of course, this is not absolute, for patients with diabetes mellitus combined with hypertension who are over 65 years old or with severe coronary artery disease, the blood pressure control target can be relaxed appropriately, not to exceed 140/90mmHg is sufficient, if the blood pressure is lowered too low but easy to cause more adverse events, including ischemic stroke, postural hypotension and so on.  In conclusion, for patients with diabetes combined with hypertension, blood pressure control is as important as blood glucose control. Moreover, blood pressure control goals should be individualized. In principle, the higher the patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease, the more stringent the blood pressure control should be. However, the blood pressure control target can be relaxed for patients of advanced age and severe coronary artery disease.