• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Blood pressure

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
My machine should be here Thursday so I’ll check it again then. I might even pop to the drs and use theirs before. I knew I was quite anxious before I took it but was still shocked to see the numbers that high. I’ve lost 4 stone since I last had it checked at the drs and it was fine then so hopefully that works in my favour
 
My machine should be here Thursday so I’ll check it again then. I might even pop to the drs and use theirs before. I knew I was quite anxious before I took it but was still shocked to see the numbers that high. I’ve lost 4 stone since I last had it checked at the drs and it was fine then so hopefully that works in my favour

I hope the BP monitor works well for you @bakebeans - and you get some Doc-friendly results from the comfort of your own home 🙂
 
If you do it on both arms you will get different readings. Worth investing in your own machine. They are only £20 for a decent one. Mine was £35 but feel its money well spent.
 
It’s meant to be there Thursday but I hope it arrives early I had an awful migraine last night, only the second I’ve ever had and they start out of no where with bright fuzzy lights in my sight then a stinking headache about 20 mins later. I’ve had a really stressful week so that was the icing on the cake
 
I went to the drs and checked mine again today
151/80
120/70

then checked it at my parents and it was
117/80

do these sound ok? I’m still quite worried about seeing such high numbers on Friday. Thought it might be a good idea to wait a few days until my machine arrives and have a few numbers from that before I speak to my dr
 
The 151 is a bit high but other readings are fine.
 
Thank you I’ll see what I get at home next week, trying not to over think things
 
They don’t tend to panic too much about the top number if the bottom is relatively stable and in normal range.
I have been told the systolic number (top number) is the most important as this tells you about risk of stroke or heart attack
Thirty years ago when I had BP taken regularly during pregnancies, they only seemed to worry about the bottom figure. Then I didn’t get tested for years, until I got Diabetes, and they now seem much more concerned about the top figure. Like most things medical, the experts change their mind over the years, (and as often as not change them back again)
 
I went to the drs and checked mine again today
151/80
120/70

then checked it at my parents and it was
117/80

do these sound ok?
When I was getting figures around 130/80 and 120/70 medical people weren't bothered at all. Nor are they bothered by the lower figures (100/60? and lower) that I get now.
This depends on your personal circumstances of course. I have a history of hear problems, continuing condintion & incidents last November.
 
Thirty years ago when I had BP taken regularly during pregnancies, they only seemed to worry about the bottom figure. Then I didn’t get tested for years, until I got Diabetes, and they now seem much more concerned about the top figure. Like most things medical, the experts change their mind over the years, (and as often as not change them back again)
In pregnancy the Diastolic (lower figure) is the one that rise in is linked to pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.
 
In pregnancy the Diastolic (lower figure) is the one that rise in is linked to pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.
Oops, in that case, it was a bad example for me to choose! I remember it being generally accepted that the bottom figure was the one that counted, and it seems that was the case, and the pendulum may swing back, according to this article.
 
Hi - I have BP issues and bought an Omron M3 IT a few years ago (the same as was on the Doctor's desk) and I get consitent reading of c. 130/80 syst/dia at home but when I go to the surgery the readings come out at c. 180/95 - a lot higher. I assumed this was white coat syndrome, but I had a physiotherapist bring his machine to my home, and the discrepancy remained. I think my machine is broke - can they be calibrated/fixed, or do I get another? Any recommendations? Thanks
 
Hi - I have BP issues and bought an Omron M3 IT a few years ago (the same as was on the Doctor's desk) and I get consitent reading of c. 130/80 syst/dia at home but when I go to the surgery the readings come out at c. 180/95 - a lot higher. I assumed this was white coat syndrome, but I had a physiotherapist bring his machine to my home, and the discrepancy remained. I think my machine is broke - can they be calibrated/fixed, or do I get another? Any recommendations? Thanks
Has anyone else used your machine who also gets a very different reading? If not may be worth a try?
i just have the basic Boots machine, it works fine and seems fairly consistent with the GP readings.
My husband gets a much higher reading at the surgery than at home though?
 
I bought a reasonably priced machine from Amazon the nurse told me to measure my BP in both arms morning and evening for 7 days, I sent in the results and they worked out an average over the week and as a result my meds where increased, it is worth doing this, one days results would not be enough for the average work out.
 
My GP gets me to measure at home from time to time. Two readings one minute apart in the morning and the same in the afternoon. Then I send in a seven day table of numbers. By coincidence I've just done a seven day chart for him.
 
So sit in an upright position with the BP cuff around your arm and relax, don't try and have a conversation with anyone let alone move - deep breathing! Then take the first reading, then wait a minute or two and take a second one. Use the second one!
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top