Can you live a "typical, normal life" with diabetes type 2 and high blood pressure?

I'd like to share some inspiration about living a full life with serious physical   complications.  I also want to stress that this is NOT intended to challenge anyone's comments, suggestions, adaptations, or anything else.   It's to share a story of intense determination to conquer challenges.

It's someone about whom I learned some months ago, someone very inspirational, determined, and who refuses to let challenges hold him back.   It's someone who inspires me when I get lazy or feel sorry for myself.

His name is Bob Coomber; his nickname is 4-wheel Bob.  He "hikes" in a wheelchair.   I couldn't even meet the challenges of some of the routes he chooses, on my two legs and feet, so I'm in such admiration of someone who tackles such challenging activities.  

After thinking of how he must struggle to get his wheelchair over a rocky path, I stop feeling sorry for myself.

https://www.aptonline.org/catalog/4-WHEEL-BOB

https://news.ucsc.edu/2017/08/tal-skloot-films-bob-coomber.html

Exercise daily, eat a balanced healthy diet, take meds as prescribed. There’s nothing abnormal about life with either condition. Don’t dwell on the conditions. Don’t treat yourself or expect others to treat you as an invalid. I’m a long time insulin dependent diabetic. My BP tends to run high. I’m 65, I’ve been married 35 years, have 2 sons, worked full time, etc. It’s not a death sentence. Don’t worry about life expectancy.

Exercise and Healthy Eating

I was on the road to type 2 diabetes until I started the keto diet - drastically low carbs. Is it easy? No. Do I miss some foods? Yes, but after seeing what my dad went through with amputations, I can deal with not eating bread and cereal.

On this diet I lost about 55 pounds and was able to get off my BP med. However, I did not lose everything I needed to lose and recently added back 10 pounds. My BP is OK, for now. Everybody gets higher BP as she ages, and a little higher is probably normal.

Even if you don't go full keto or Atkins, at least cut way back on the carbs. My personal opinion is that the meds that treat blood sugar only mask the symptoms, and do nothing to stop the ongoing damage to the beta cells and blood vessels.

You might want to check out Stephanie Laska's videos on youtube. She promotes what she calls Dirty, Lazy Keto. She eats a lot of low carb veggies, which may not be typical of what some keto purists do, but she lost 140 pounds and has kept it off for 10 years.

Bob and Brad, 2 goofy guys who have a website and videos and call themselves the most famous physical therapists on the internet, have a video about how one of them lowered his blood pressure. It involves mouth taping at night. I've started doing that - it's just a strip of skin-friendly tape across the center of your lips to keep you from breathing through your mouth. Obviously not something you can do if you have a cold. :-) I think it helps, and I know I sleep better.

I hate diabetes. It took my dad, and now my husband is having issues and his doctor keeps increasing his meds. He won't listen to me and cut out the carbs. I'm scared he will end up like my dad.

In my own personal experience, if the patient is willing and able to control weight and eat a specified eating plan, it is possible to manage diabetes symptoms, and to a somewhat lesser extent, manage elevated blood pressure.

After my mother lived with us for the 9 months following her broken hip, I ballooned to a weight of 265 pounds on a 5’4” frame. During the several years I carried that weight, I took Metformin and went through 6 different blood pressure medications, all of which caused symptoms worse than my blood pressure.

Came the day that after over 10 years of that weight, I was to become a grandmother for first time, I decided that I would not be a grandmother that would not be able to play with her grandchildren.

I started Intermittently fasting, and stopped eating salt, sugar, grain, and dairy. I based all of my meals on veggies, low carb fruit, raw nuts and protein. I lost 100 in a year, and it’s never returned.

Until my Covid infection, my BP had remained stable. Just recently my systolic number has been elevated more than I like. My a1c is never higher than 5.7.

If you want to do your best against HBP and diabetes, you have to commit to stopping what causes them. You also have to stop yourself from thinking “I could never do that”.

If you want to change your life, you can.

BP and diabetes are both mostly controllable diseases. Both can be controlled with medication and diet.

Before my wife had her last stroke in 2017, she ate whatever and whenever she felt like it. Her diet consisted mostly of high salt and high carbohydrates. She is now bedbound or wheelchair bound. She has advanced dementia.She is incontinent Xs 2.

She had the idea that insulin was made so that she could eat more sugar. Now that she has almost no control over her carbo and salt intake her insulin doses have dropped by almost 90%, but the damage has already been done.

As I write this, I realize that I need to adjust my diet as primary caretaker, I often eat junk food after I go to bed because during the daily grind of caretaking a bipolar narcissist spouse, I forget to eat during the course of the day.

You have great advice, how to stay healthy with DM2 & HTN

Warning: This is what can happen if you disregard your conditions.
I'll tell you about my husband. He was over 300# by age 50, when he was put on oral pills for B/P & DM. A few years later he started 2 types of insulin, up to 5 shots a day. He DID NOT follow advice regarding diet, exercise, insulin use, etc. Meals at home were appropriate, but not his fast food, and the terrible food that his work had at potlucks every week, birthday cakes, donuts, etc. His A1c was 10-13 range for 2-3 years. (Diabetics need to be less than 7) Drs warned him over & over.

Jump to age 74, in 2020, his kidneys have failed & he is on dialysis 4hrs, 3 days a week for life, He got a diabetic ulcer on his foot, that got infected and he now has a below the knee amputation. His carotid artery is 85% blocked and he is on blood thinners to help prevent a stroke. He is weak from dialysis and has severe back pain. I am his fulltime caregiver, but if he has a stroke (& lives) he will be too much to handle and will go into a LTC facility,

Hope this true story inspires you to follow the others' advice.
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I am an RN. Neither disease is a death sentence. The older one gets, the more likely one is to have either or both diseases.

Diabetes type 2 can be controlled with diet and exercise in most cases. Ask your doctor for a consult with a registered dietician and a physical therapist. Follow their recommendations. Sometimes, medication is needed but it usually helps your body either excrete sugar or make your insulin more effective. Keeping your blood sugar within normal limits is the best way to ensure a full and healthy life with diabetes.

High blood pressure usually occurs as we age because our blood vessels are less supple. Low salt and low fat diets (registered dietician can help) tend to help with this problem. Moderate exercise can help with this too (physical therapist can help with this). It may take some trying some different medications to find the right combination to help keep your blood pressure in normal limits. Some studies have shown a link between HBP and menopause. Talk with your doctor about whether a course of HRT with a very slow tapering off period may be helpful. If you can get your blood pressure to stay within normal limits, you will live a normal life span.

Certainly maintain a good rapport with doctors and keep regular checkups.

For ALL of us, the best things we can do is eat smart and get exercise.

OP - a good, healthy eating habit is best. Unless a dietician tells you specifically what not to eat, focus on eating food YOU make, not stuff bought off the shelf. Keep it all as natural as possible. The "hidden" items in foods contribute to both of these conditions, although some can be genetic.

If you get in the habit of reading ingredient labels (not that white thing they slap on, read the ingredients!), you'll find most items have added salt and sugar and/or may have partially or fully hydrogenated oils. Sugar can be "hidden" when they use other forms of it, often ending in -ose. I gave a few examples in a reply to Okiegranny. Canned items are not as bad, but you should still read the ingredients, eliminating those with suspect stuff in them. Fresh fruits and veggies, raw or cooked, make your own pasta sauce, make your own primary meals, etc. The more you buy prepackaged, the more likely you'll be eating things you shouldn't!

Exercise is also key to both of these conditions. Work with the doctor(s) for a plan, as you don't want to start off running marathons! Start slow, a decent pace, walking. I lost 20# just walking on a tread mill at a work place gym. Started with normal but brisk pace, about 20 min, worked my way up both speed and elevation.

Although the doctor tested mom for diabetes 2 yrs ago, it was negative. She was on BP meds for as long as I can recall. She would get into exercise classes and then off, so her weight was like a yoyo, up and down. Clothes ranged from 8-12 (until she moved to MC, then L and XL! those ice cream bars and her penchant for sitting all the time!)

Anyway, several years before dementia, taking her to appts, I was baffled that her systolic BP was always at least 140, despite the meds. Never did see the diastolic. However, despite being overweight and high BP on meds, she made it to 97. Dementia started at about 90-91. She wasn't on any kind of dietary restrictions at that point.

I believe what took her was refusing to take medications. She had trouble swallowing them and dementia sometimes convinces people they don't need the pills! She had a stroke around Labor Day last year. That impacted her right side (dominant) and made swallowing more difficult. The more she refused her pills, the more likely she'd have another. Mid-December she did - had she been able to continue her meds, she might have lived a bit longer, but...

Anyway, she had a pretty active life (activity wise, not so much exercise, but she did try to walk - not a great pace, but some is better than none!) They had a place here and in FL for winter, went on trips, cruises, driving to old friends and relatives, etc. That slowed a bit when we lost dad, but still, she managed to squeeze out 97 years! She outlasted everyone on both sides of the family. I also don't think the high BP was affecting her heart so much (though it likely has an impact at some point, when the vessels are restricting), but the blood vessels are impacted, which is what likely led to her strokes.

Eat healthy. Consult with a GOOD dietician if you need to, but buying fresh foods, not packaged crap, and making your own meals and salads will likely help both conditions, may help you lose weight and may even make you feel better! Start slow with the exercise, getting ok from doctor(s), or just taking brisk walks, starting with maybe 10-15m/day and over time work that up a little more each week. This can help both conditions and help you lose weight. If you are committed enough, you CAN do this and stick with it. Just make it part of your routine every day. Get blessings from doc first, then eat healthy and move more! Be sure to get reg checks if you do this - you might need to reduce meds.

Many pets eat garbage food sold as "good" food and get diabetes too. A change in diet often eliminates it.

Imho, as with any illnesses, you should be proactive about your health, e.g. see your specialists routinely.

I have type 2 diabetes and HBP. I have an insulin pump, because my body no longer produces insulin. I also have a Dexcom 6 automatic glucose monitor. I was probably diagnosed with both about 10 years ago, and I am now 66. Now I have been very non-compliant in the past. I preferred to ignore it than to deal with it, which I have a bad habit of doing. But 6 months ago I needed surgery for torn ligaments in my hand. Dr wouldn’t do it because my A1c was too high. For three months I watched it and got it down to 8.2. Dr said it had to be 8 or below or no surgery. I guess my point is you can follow your dr’s orders and do it right from the start and live a “normal” life, or you can be a complete idiot like me and fight the diagnosis, the treatment, the nutrition guidelines, and end up not getting what you need because of it. I trust you will make better choices than I have!

You will find many different prescriptions. Some recommend a vegan or at least a vegetarian diet. I think the ADA is still recommending a low-fat, low-cal, modified carb diet. It also depends on what your mean by a "normal" life. Many people would say that the way I have decided to eat is not normal, but it works for me and is the only thing that has.

I have a family history of type 2 diabetes, and have been fat most of my life and had high blood pressure. I have tried every diet there is, and was unsuccessful. The low-cal, low-fat diet almost made me go nuts, seriously. About 3 years ago, I started the keto diet, which is high-fat, moderate protein, and extremely low carb. I lost about 55 pounds, but did not reach my goal weight. At the current time, I have gained back about 10 pounds and am trying to go back to losing.

Here is the important part in relation to diabetes. Even though I am still about 30-40 pounds overweight my blood sugar is normal and my blood pressure has improved to the point that I no longer take BP meds. Even though this diet is difficult, it is the only one I have been able to stick to long term, and even if I don't lose any more weight, I am happy with my blood pressure.

My husband chooses to eat whatever he wants, sit all day, and take a whole bunch of prescription meds. His condition is getting worse and it will continue to do so. Why? Because the meds only treat the symptoms, not the disease. They lower blood sugar but do not address the problem of beta cell destruction caused by hyperinsulimia. Advocates of the keto diet would agree with me.

I always recommend the books by Dr. Nortin Hadler, MD. The 3 that I have read are, Worried Sick; The Last Well Person; and Rethinking Aging: Growing Old and Living Well in an Overtreated Society. What he says runs counter to all that you hear about tests and drugs these days, and everyone has to decide for himself what is best for him (or her).

Here is a sample of what Dr. Hadler has written:

If There's No Benefit, Why Tolerate Any Risk?
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3232247&page=1

As you can see, he is not on board with all the tests and drugs that are pushed on us today.

If you are already on diabetes meds and want to try a low carb diet, you will have to do it gradually to avoid a dangerous low blood sugar. Test frequently and decrease carbs gradually.

Both conditions can be managed long term with medication and life style choices. You might not have the luxury of being reckless with your health, but if you are mindful of how to deal with both the HBP and the Diabetes, you should live a normal life span. Panicking about having these two chronic conditions might be adding to your tendency toward blood pressure. Learn what you need to do for conditions that arise, do a good job of managing medications and diet, and make your doctor proud.

So I was born with a "problem" that causes all kinds of things. They didn't even have a name for it until about 25 years ago. I take good care of myself, keep up to date on Drs. appointment s and forget about it. Life is never a guarantee so I just figure enjoy what is good. God has blessed me beyond what ever was expected. So, if I don't take care of myself I disrespect that. If I worry I don't accomplish anything. It is a balance that I hope you can find.
A famous painter got severe arthritis. He painted in great pain. One of his friends asked why he would live with that pain and not stop painting. His answer was that the pain would stay the same either way BUT at least he had made something beautiful that would last longer than the pain. Paraphrase.

My husband, who is now 85, has had hypertension since he was in his 50's. About 5 years ago, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He is still fully able to lead an independent life. Of course, he is on medication for both conditions He also had a quadruple by-pass @ age 70. Lost about 18 pounds after that. So it is possible to lead a full and active life with proper medication, diet and some exercise!

My mom is 97, has both issues, and doing quite well. Medication to control both.

You may not have the correct BP med yet if yours continues to be high. Talk to the doctor(s). You may have to adjust the diabetes meds to get it right, too. One pill lowers hers too fast and causes issues, so we started with 1/4 pill when sugar was high. Add a 1/4 over period of time. Finally figured out 1/2 pill taken at lunch keeps her at a normal range.

If you have shots for arthritic joints (like synvisc), it can cause diabetes to be a little higher on sugar testing. I think steroids do it, too.

My totally non compliant DH, who is a liver transplant pt, a stroke suvivor, a motorcycle accident suvivor, a heart attack survivor and many other things along the way (he's had a GOOD life) developed Type 2 diabetes and initally was great about following the diet. Lost 70 lbs, exercised, ate carefully....and that lasted all of 6 months.

4 years after the dx, he is in bed, too sick to get up and struggling with some of the long term effects of the diabetes, which he once again is trying to take seriously. He's done irreprable damage to his body.

I cook healthily, and he eats garbage all night long in bed. (We cannot share a bed due to his raccoon habits of hiding food all over the bed).

He got sick with something about 2+ months ago. Ended up in the hospital for over a week as they ran test after test. They did get his diabetes under control again and took him off some meds and added a couple more. He feels rotten. And it is 100% his own fault. He's been in bed 9 weeks now.

You CAN live a normal lifespan and I know a LOT of people who have exactly what you have and do,in fact, have fine lives. He thinks he's immortal. Doc in the hospital said he had maybe 2 years left if he didn't make some serious changes.

Whether he does or doesn't make these changes is up to him. I am so stressed worrying about him--I finally had to simply quit. I love him, but he's near to impossible to live with. Yesterday he had a full blown panic attack, was positive it was another heart attack and I gave him a tranquilizer and within 1/2 hr he felt GREAT. Go figure.

We have wonderful kids and g-kids. You'd think the joy of just wanting to be in their lives would be enough, but it's not. He has to want to be well. He must not.

YOU will be fine--and probably healthier than you've ever been b/c you CARE. That really is the key.

BTW--DH tried to tell his cardiologist that the reason he was so heavy was becasue 'My wife is too good of a cook'. That's a back door compliment. Dr didn't buy it.

Often, with great care plan you can minimize the problems with type II and even can almost elminate it. Weight loss can make a great difference if there are problems with obesity at all. Do know that blood pressure is often higher in the MD office, so measure yours twice daily at home.
Your MD will refer you for wellness . training in ways to handle and manage BP and Diabetes. Exercise is your best friend; so is learning a good meditation regime and doing it.
As an RN I can assure you that with an excellent care plan and with a determination to help yourself with healthy living, diet, exercise you have many quality years ahead, but you need diligence. Diabetes harms every single system we have, including heart, peripheral vascular, kidneys, even our eyes. BP complicates all this. So it is going to be a real life change to help yourself live a long and happy life. The fact your heart is in good shape now is a positive. I hope you are a member of some system such as Kaiser which works on wellness and PREVENTION as they are full of great advice and interventions with diet, exercise, et all. But there is also much good advice online. READ and educate yourself like crazy. And I wish you the best and happy long life ahead.

Every person's experience will be a bit different, but I can share my mother's experience. She was diagnosed with both high blood pressure and diabetes type 2 when she was 61. She is now in hospice at 96, dying from kidney failure. She has been taking medications for multiple issues, including the diabetes and high blood pressure for 30 years. For the last 6 years her mobility has been extremely limited because of failing knees. Surgery was not an option for assorted reasons, including the diabetes. Nevertheless, her life in the decades following her diagnoses was full and happy. She travelled extensively in her 60's and early 70's, participated regularly in a water aerobics class until just 3 years ago. I might add that she has had only 1 kidney for at least 20 years. The doctors are not sure when the other kidney died. My mom did not live a "typical ordinary life" she lived an energetic and extraordinary life in many ways. For most of that life we did not get along, but that is not the issue here. Live your life in the ways that you want and take reasonable care for health considerations (I hope you manage your diet, for instance, better than Mom did). Most of all, don't lose the purpose of your life trying to make it last longer live your life with all you can manage. Good luck, and take care--but not too much care.

I am writing from the patients perspective. I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure 18 yrs ago. I was put on meds for both. Honestly, I paid little attention to the Nutritionist's or the doctors. I was told to reduce salt, I've never given up the use of it. I was also never very good at monitoring my glucose, and stopped taking it, just waiting for the next A1C bloodwork. I was 40 when diagnosed, I am now 62.

I then started losing weight about 5 yrs ago, and I've lost and kept off 80lbs. A1C is down, BP is well controlled with the meds. for the last 2 yrs my A1C has been consistently 6.2, Bp is down circa 114/60. Docs are all pretty happy with both. Yes, I am more conscientious about my diet, I've been doing regular Physical Therapy exercises I learned a year and a half ago. and have continued with since I had the initial PT with the Therapist, and now, I've been continuing to do the exercises they taught me on my own for 1 yr now. I've had to take the last three weeks off because I had Cataract Surgery. Starting on Friday, I've been released to continue on with my PT. The PT has been very effective in relieving Sciatica Problems and a lot of Arthritis issues. So yes, Managing BP and A1C are a good thing to do.
Now my major battles are with Mid Stages of ALZ. Thanks to Agingcare and our friends advice on all of these matters has been good for helping me be connected to learning about this disease and enjoying the time I have left. I'll keep sharing with you all for as long as I can. I appreciate you all, and also fellow families that belong to the ALZ groups of Forgetful Friends.

Happy Summer,
John

To be born is a death sentence. If you keep your weight down, exercise everyday chances are your diabetes will extremely improve if not go away in some cases for Type 2 (adult onset). Weight control also helps blood pressure in most cases. Diabetes is due to environmental causes but also genetic disposition; weight control and diet are the most important factors in managing this disease.

My mom was an insulin-dependent diabetes with end-stage Alzheimer's and kidney and liver diseases but through hard work she lived to be 90 years, 3 months. Alzheimer's did not kill her. Complications of years and years and years of diabetes did it due to chronic kidney disease resulting from her diabetes and hypertension. She had Stage 3 kidney disease for 10 years.

Just make your doctor orders A1Cs, do yearly eye exams, cholesterol screenings, and GO TO THE DENTIST religiously because diabetes and gum disease go together. Gum disease is a chronic infection which will make controlling diabetes harder. Just about all diabetics get gum disease, so gum and teeth health is as vital as anything else to manage diabetes.

Diabetes also often causes high cholesterol.

Diet-exercise-medication. Good management depends on those three factors.

My husband was hospitalized 4 weeks ago with a stroke; was diagnosed with HBP and Diabetes, his family have a history of both and are insulin dependent. Since he came home we are following an strict diet with no carbs, no salt lots of protein, fruits and vegetables. He loves bread so we substituted a hole wheat tortilla instead of a dinner roll. So far he lost a 7lbs and still adjusting to the diet but it is committed. I have always eaten healthy so no problems here. The point is you can live a long active life if you are willing to adjust your lifestyle to accommodate your condition.

Best wishes

Firstly - the answer is YES you can live a perfectly normal life. The level of activity you can carry out MAY be restricted by your HBP but in general you can live a perfectly normal life.

Secondly what exactly do you mean by HBP? sounds silly but is it high against the average person or is it high against your previous blood pressure (some people naturally have high blood pressure but if we have never needed to have it taken we don't know what is "normal" for us.

If the medication does not reduce your blood pressure what suggestions does the Dr have? Are you physically very active or do you live a more sedentary lifestyle? Do you drink alcohol, if so to what level? A number of situations can mean we do not respond to HBP treatment, including just not finding the right one(s) for you.

Don't be over concerned, there are things you can do to aid type 2 diabetes, and certain drugs will help stimulate your natural insulin production - there is no reason not to "cure" this is most people and certainly no reason for you to not live a normal life for a normal lifespan. There is some very outdated information amongst the answers on here, including needing to keep an eye on blood sugar - this is no longer the measurement used, and if you want to you can keep this easily under control.

Have a chat with your doctor and get his/her reassurance, and if you don't come out feeling reassured get a second opinion from a more up to date doctor - some are not so good at keeping up with modern methods of treatment and stick to what they have always done so a second opinion is worth having.

I was diagnosed at age 50 and will be 69 next month. The key is control of your diabetes and never before in your life will the phrase, "You are what you eat" have greater meaning. Go to the nutritionist and listen to what is said. Exercise regularly. Check your blood sugar frequently--having a GCM is crucial. See your Endo and get your blood work done every quarter. In the last two years, Ozempic and the GCM tightened my control and I lost 39 pounds. You can lead a productive and fulfilling and long life. Keep your eyes on the prize.

I have read that both of these conditions increase the chances of having dementia. So controlling and managing both is important for that and many reasons

Neither is a "death sentence.". I have Type 1 and HBP and I lead a "normal" life. You have to work a little harder with Type 2, because you can't correct with insulin, but recent advances, like continuous blood glucose monitors, make keeping an eye on your blood sugar easy. And there are so many options for low-carb food. With the appropriate medication, you may not have to ditch salt completely either. Have your doctor check your sodium levels.

My FIL had both. Lived to be 90. Died of a head trauma. An uncle had diabetes and heart issues and HBP. Lived until his mid 90s. Both of these guys were active.
A SIL was a brittle diabetic and died at 52. She did not take care of herself.
My DH is 69, has hypertension, diabetes and heart issues. His doctors have him on a tight leash these days and he seems to be doing well. They stress diet and exercise which amazingly makes one feel better as well. With diabetes you are mostly in control. Loose the weight, walk every day and you can turn a corner. Go for a plant based diet, low sodium, lots of fiber. DH just started using the Dexcom G-6 to monitor his blood sugar. He loves it. Wishes he had gotten it long ago. It’s an expensive disease that can ruin your health if you don’t manage it. But you can live a normal life if you take the time to understand how different foods affect you. He loves all the wrong foods but he also loves fruits and veggies which really helps.
If you are overweight, you can push both problems to the curb by getting the pounds off. I know it’s not easy. Wishing you luck.

As long as you take care of yourself you should have no problems.

For ur BP you do need to cut out high sodium foods. Canned soups are especially bad. I would ask ur doctor if there is a med you can take with ur BP med. My Mom took 2.

My former mother in law was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1991, she had had high blood pressure her entire life. About 5 years ago she started to develop complications from the diabetes include diabetic nephropathy. She is 86 and have been in a AL/NH for the past 2 years.

Dad (92) has had high BP for decades, and was borderline diabetic in his 60's but he lost about 100 pounds and watches what he eats, never developed diabetes. He had a stroke when he was 86. he had had a remarkable recovery from the stroke. Dad has also had multiple skin cancers removed over the years.