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Measuring and monitoring of blood pressure in diabetes

It is important to measure the blood pressure at appointments and do self-measurements at home in order to identify elevated blood pressure and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Continuous blood pressure fluctuations are both individual and normal. It is not uncommon for blood pressure to be higher at the clinic than when you check it at home. If you have diabetes, it is recommendable to get your own blood pressure monitor and use it at home on a regular basis.

You can ask your treatment centre about borrowing a blood pressure monitor, if you do not have one of your own. You can also check your blood pressure at self-care points in health clinics or pharmacies. If necessary, a separate 24-hour blood pressure monitoring can be performed, during which blood pressure is monitored with a portable blood pressure monitor.

If you are elderly or if you have vertigo, you should check your blood pressure while sitting down and a minute after standing up.

Important

If your blood pressure is measured to be elevated at an appointment, blood pressure should be monitored after the appointment with repeated home measurements. To determine your blood pressure level, you need to check your blood pressure on at least four different days, in the morning between 06–09, and in the evening between 18–21. Take your blood pressure twice in a row at an interval of 1–2 minutes. Make a note of both results or store them in an app on your smartphone. If you have blood pressure medication, measure your morning blood pressure before your medication. Also, avoid heavy physical exertion, smoking, caffeinated beverages, and heavy meals at least half an hour before measuring.

When the hypertension treatment is intensified, the appropriate monitoring frequency is one day per week. When your treatment target has been reached, the appropriate monitoring frequency is 1–4 days per month. Before your next appointment, it is a good idea to carry out the above-mentioned intense four-day monitoring.

You can read more of measuring blood pressure at home from Heart Associations website (sydan.fi, in Finnish).

Blood pressure monitoring forms are available from your own healthcare provider and online, including from the Terveyskirjasto.

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Updated 30.5.2025