Aside from diabetes, my other chronic condition I have the pleasure of dealing with is high blood pressure.

Of course the knock against high BP is that it has no symptoms at all, yet it is just as dangerous. As with diabetes, prolonged exposure to HBP can lead to  coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems.

About 1 in 3 adults in the US has HBP and it is seems that HBP and diabetes go hand in hand and while personally I have a better handle of my diabetes, The HBP is somewhat of a challenge.

Having no symptoms whatsoever means I have to stay on top of it by checking my BP whenever I can. I have the home blood pressure kit. But I would be lying if I told you that I am as diligent about it as I am with my high blood sugars and therein lies the problem.

When I have a high blood sugar or low blood sugar episode, I can feel it and treat it accordingly but since I have no symptoms with the HBP aside from getting a continuous blood pressure monitor if any existed I am stuck with measuring every few hours which during most days is fine.

My routine consists of checking my BP every time I check my blood sugars, and every time I take my blood pressure medication which is in the morning and evening. Yet it seems like I am losing the daily battle.

A few months ago, I ran out of my BP medication on a Sunday evening, This was also my last refill and I figured that since I was supposed to see my Endo the next morning, I would be OK, the next morning during my Endo visit my BP was so high she immediately advised me to go to the ER. I always tell myself she overreacted because the ER staff was less than alarmed.

Still I wonder without any tell tale signs like headaches which sometimes occur and the fact that I was feeling perfectly fine would I just have had heart attack or stroke and that does scare me.

Last week my Endo added another BP medication and I am sure its cliche’ to think it as a result of my in capabilities to get it in check but its just the way I feel at the moment. I have been on Lisinopril from the onset  and Clonidine was added last year, now this year is hydrochlorothiazide if that is not the definition of a uncontrollable problem, then I don’t know what is.

I am sure that eventually I will get ahead of this and that the meds are supposed to help but until then, the fight continues..