November is the ideal month to start stocking up on products for the holiday season and it’s also National Diabetes Awareness Month. Health monitors such as blood pressure cuffs can be a great gift idea for anyone wanting to take charge of their own health, especially with diabetes being such a major health concern for much of the population.
Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It concerns the hormone insulin, which converts sugar from food into energy for use now or later. Diabetes means that your body doesn’t make insulin or use it efficiently.
There are 2 types of diabetes. Type 1 means the body can’t make insulin. Type 2 means your body can’ use insulin well. The second type can be prevented if you make healthy lifestyle choices.
Diabetes is among the highest prevalence of chronic diseases in America. Over 37 million Americans have diabetes and 96 million Americans have prediabetes. Even if you don’t have diabetes or prediabetes, you likely know someone who does. Keeping track of your health means that you can stay ahead of diabetes in your own life.
Blood pressure and insulin don’t seem to be linked on the surface but monitoring blood pressure is important for those with diabetes. Using insulin impairs the body’s ability to lower blood pressure, meaning the person’s risk for high blood pressure increases. Also, if blood sugar goes too low, the body will try to compensate and raise blood pressure in turn. Thus, if blood sugar or blood pressure are too low, the other will go high in turn.
Monitoring blood pressure means that you’ll be able to keep track of how your body is reacting to insulin.
Omron carries several blood pressure monitors, great for tracking your blood pressure. If you’re looking for an all-in-one kit, their Self-Taking Manual Blood Pressure Kit is ideal. You can use it with one hand and it includes a professional-quality stethoscope.
Their D-Ring Cuffs come in various sizes to fit a range of arm circumferences for maximum efficiency.
If you’d prefer not to use a traditional cuff, a Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor is an option. Instead of using your arm, this cuff goes around the wrist, making it easier to use on the go.
Omron’s blood pressure monitors are a handy way to keep an eye on your health and as a gift to others for the holidays. Give the gift of peace of mind this season and help increase diabetes awareness.