Under Pressure: High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels 

With high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the vessels. Eventually, excessive pressure in the blood vessels can cause substantial damage, contributing to several serious medical conditions, including diabetes. Work to keep blood pressure less than 120/80 by following a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. Your doctor also may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure. 

People with unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels are more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The body needs at least 40 mg/dL of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) "good" cholesterol and should have less than 100 mg/dL of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad" cholesterol. When a person develops diabetes, their cholesterol levels often worsen, leading to diabetic dyslipidemia. 

It's important to keep an eye on those tris -- triglycerides in excess of 100 mg/dL also may be a sign of diabetes. High triglycerides can cause reduced blood flow, which slows the removal of sugars from the bloodstream and the delivery of insulin to the body.