TITLE:
Diabetes Mellitus and High Blood Pressure: Common Risk Factors, Comorbidities, Nutritional and Dietary Approach
AUTHORS:
Moubarack S. M. A. Yoda, Augustin N. Zeba, Roland N. T. Meda
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes Mellitus, High Blood Pressure, Micronutrients, Antioxidants, Lifestyle
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.17 No.10,
October
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure, chronic diseases affecting more and more people worldwide, have several common risk factors. The coexistence of these diseases in a significant proportion of people increases the risk of complications. Diet and lifestyle are key risk factors on which interventions contribute to reducing or preventing the occurrence or manifestation of other risk factors that also present nutritional issues. In general, diet has beneficial effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, improvement of blood glucose sensitivity, improvement of lipid profile, improvement of blood pressure and reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia. Dietary interventions that have consisted of increasing the intake of micronutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin C bear witness to this. Antioxidants, namely polyphenols and dietary fiber, are also of interest in increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing blood pressure. Adopting a healthy lifestyle through physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption and smoking cessation improves glycosylated hemoglobin levels and lipid profile. It also decreases abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, blood sugar and blood pressure. The scientific evidence presented by these numerous studies can be used in the development and/or strengthening of the nutritional and dietary management of diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.