A number of newer, effective blood pressure medicines don't cause as many side effects as older ones. Follow a routine of regular aerobic exercise, watch your salt intake and keep your weight down. I like my patients to check their pressure and write down the numbers so I can better adjust their medications. If you have any history of elevated blood sugar, take it seriously. Diabetes is associated with eye, heart, kidney, nerve and vascular disease.
Effective drugs keep the sugar readings treated, and lifestyle changes do the same.
Regular exercise, diets low in saturated fats and sugars, and appropriate weight all help. Also, there are wonderful home glucose monitors that can be bought at the pharmacy. Get regular checkups. You can do many things on your own to reduce your health risks, but it is important to work with your doctor to be appropriately screened for illnesses. As with your car, you have to maintain the machinery with annual checkups.