High blood pressure is a condition 73 million people deal with on a daily basis.ⁱ People with diabetes have an even greater chance of having high blood pressure. Frequently checking your blood pressure at home with a blood pressure monitor is important for people with diabetes. Not only can it help you achieve your own health goals more quickly, but can also helps in the prevention of health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

A new joint statement by leading medical institutions stated that home monitoring of high blood pressure could help manage the disease better.ⁱ Because it is very difficult to treat high blood pressure, some doctors believe that home monitoring could help improve blood pressure measurement and tracking. Although it is still necessary for people with high blood pressure to visit their doctor every few months for monitoring, experts believe it’s simply not enough to only check high blood pressure at the doctor’s office.

One reason why home monitoring is important is because of what doctor’s call “a white coat effect.” This means that some people’s blood pressure rises in medical settings, but is normal under other conditions. Studies show that 10 to 20 percent of people who are diagnosed with high blood pressure actually have this white coat effect.ⁱ People with diabetes, along with the elderly, people with kidney diseases, and pregnant women, are especially prone to the white coat effect. Routine home monitoring allows people with diabetes to check their blood pressure in various situations so that a true picture of their blood pressure can be shown. Some other benefits of home monitoring are that it helps you keep track of your blood pressure treatment, controls your blood pressure better, can cut health care costs, and reduces the risks of other diseases, such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.ⁱⁱ

When monitoring at home, it is important to use the correct equipment. An oscillometric monitor with a cuff that fits on the upper arm is best to use. You may also want to check if the monitor you choose has passed the proper validation tests. A current list of monitors which have passed these tests can be found at http://www.bhsoc.org/default.stm. Make sure you are routinely checking your blood pressure at home. Consult with your doctor with any questions you have about choosing a monitor or any unusual results you receive from home monitoring.

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ⁱ http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=425

ⁱⁱ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00016

Home monitoring of high blood pressure is important in achieving your health goals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is important to choose a good monitor from a reliable company. American Diabetes Wholesale offers a wide variety of the top brand-name monitors at discounted prices.

Omron Blood Pressure Monitors
Omron is one of most recognized brands for blood pressure monitors. American Diabetes Wholesale has a variety of different monitoring devices at prices starting at $29.99. Omron monitors are independently validated to ensure that you get accurate results. Monitors also come in a variety of cuff sizes and styles for comfort and proper fit. Many of Omron’s monitors come with IntelliSense Technology, which gives the right amount of pressure to quickly and comfortably monitor your blood pressure.

Mabis Blood Pressure Monitors
Mabis is another top brand-name maker of blood pressure monitors. ADW sells a variety of these monitors starting at $14.99. Some of Mabis’ digital models take readings as set by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards. All of Mabis’ monitors are comfortable and easy to use, with most requiring only 3-4 steps in order to take your blood pressure reading. Mabis also offers blood pressure management software, which allows you to hook up your blood pressure monitor to your PC in order to create graphs, compare, and average all of your blood pressure readings.

HoMedics Blood Pressure Monitors
Another of the top brand-name monitor makers is HoMedics. ADW sells two models of BPMs made by HoMedics. The talking digital model features a one-size fits all cuff, along with several other features including a large display and memory for up to 2 users to save 120 readings. The digital wrist model features SmartSense Technology to ensure accuracy of readings.

Clever Chek Digital Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
If you’re looking to save some money on a digital BPM monitor, Simple Diagnostics is a great brand to consider. ADW sells their Clever Chek Digital Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor at a low $23.79. The Clever Chek has simple one-touch operation and also has PC downloading capability.

Digital Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor - Heart Sense YS-760
Another great brand that will save you lots of money is Home Aide Diagnostics’ digital wrist blood pressure monitor. ADW offers this affordable model for $18.99. This monitor offers easy one-touch operation, takes only 30 seconds to take a reading, and has an automatic shut-off system after 3 minutes.

Sylvia Wood's Southern Stir-Fry Veggies

Complement your entree with a sweet southern side dish.

Serves: 4

Nutrition Information Per Serving (1/8 recipe):
Calories: 90; Calories from Fat: 60; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 310mg; Total Carbs: 7g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugars: 2g; Protein: 2g

Food Exchange: 3 lean meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 1/2 Fats.

Ingredients:

• 1 (1 pound) package collard greens
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 pound cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• 1/2 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Preparation:

1. Remove and discard stems from greens. Tear leaves into 1 to 2 inch pieces.
2. Bring water to a boil in a large Dutch oven; add greens and return to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes; drain and set aside.
3. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or wok at medium-heat for 2 minutes. Add cabbage and carrot; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add collard greens, SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener, salt and pepper; stir-fry 2 additional minutes. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, or until greens are tender.

Visit www.CooksRecipes.com for many more delicious diabetic recipes.
Recipe courtesy of Splenda, Inc. Splenda® is a no-calorie sweetener made from sugar that is suitable for diabetics. For more information regarding this product, please call 1-800-777-5363 or visit their website at www.splenda.com.