Diabetes and high blood pressure are two major lifestyle diseases that a large section of the people of Kerala suffer from today. An interesting fact is that 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes also develop hypertension or pressure later on. Both of these affect the blood vessels and the heart in the body. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind the combination of sugar and pressure:
Insulin Resistance & Endothelial Dysfunction: The body uses the hormone insulin to transport the glucose produced by the digestion of the starch (carbohydrate) we eat to the cells. But when the cells do not accept insulin due to a poor diet (Insulin Resistance), both glucose and insulin in the blood rise. High insulin levels cause sodium and water to build up in the body, which thickens the walls of the blood vessels. This simultaneously increases sugar and blood pressure.
Atherosclerosis: When blood glucose levels are always high in people with diabetes, it damages the inner walls of the blood vessels. Cholesterol and fat begin to accumulate rapidly in these damaged areas (atherosclerosis). When the inner diameter of the blood vessels decreases, the heart has to use more force to pump blood. This is the main reason why diabetics quickly develop high blood pressure.
Obesity & Visceral Fat: Weight gain, especially the accumulation of fat in the abdomen, is the main driving force of these two diseases. Fat cells in the abdomen release chemicals that cause chronic inflammation in the body. These interfere with the function of insulin and cause diabetes, and also increase blood pressure by overstimulating the nervous system that controls blood pressure.
High Salt & Sugar Diet: Bakery foods, fast food, pickles, and fried foods contain a large amount of sugar and salt. While excessive sugar weakens the pancreas and causes diabetes, excessive salt (sodium) increases the amount of water in the blood and raises blood pressure sharply. When this is combined with smoking and drinking, blood vessels are completely destroyed.
Sedentary Lifestyle & Stress: In people who sit in the same position for hours every day, the body’s metabolism slows down and the cells stop digesting glucose. In addition, when there is severe mental stress, the body releases the hormones ‘cortisol’ and ‘adrenaline’. These hormones temporarily increase blood pressure and, in the long term, inhibit insulin production, leading to diabetes.
