Beyond the Numbers: Why Regular Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Checks Matter

By Dr Aung Tun

Modern life surrounds us with numbers. We check the time, weath­er, bank balances, and even the number of steps we take each day. Yet two numbers that can have a profound influence on our fu­ture health – blood pressure and blood glucose – are often over­looked until illness develops. High blood pressure and diabetes are major noncommunicable diseases, and both can progress quietly for years. Regular checking is there­fore not about becoming anxious over every reading; it is about rec­ognizing risk early enough to act.

The danger of silent disease

Hypertension is often de­scribed as a “silent killer” because many people with high blood pres­sure have no obvious symptoms. Persistently raised pressure can gradually damage blood vessels and increase the workload of the heart, contributing to heart at­tack, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease and other complications. Blood pressure is written as two numbers: systolic pressure, when the heart contracts, and diastolic pressure, when the heart relax­es. A proper diagnosis should be based on correctly performed measurements and clinical as­sessment rather than on a single isolated reading.

Diabetes can be similarly si­lent, especially type 2 diabetes. Some people experience thirst, frequent urination, tiredness or unexplained weight loss, but oth­ers may remain unaware for a considerable period. Persistently high blood glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves and con­tribute to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, visual impairment and lower-limb complications. The value of screening lies in finding risk before irreversible damage occurs.

What Myanmar’s STEPS Sur­vey 2024 tells us

The Ministry of Health’s STEPS Survey Myanmar 2024 provides important current na­tional evidence. Among adults aged 18-69 years, 24.4 per cent had raised blood pressure, defined in the report as systolic blood pres­sure of at least 140 mmHg and/ or diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mmHg, or currently taking medication for raised blood pres­sure. The prevalence was 27.3 per cent among men and 21.1 per cent among women.

The survey also reveals an important gap between having a condition and having it adequate­ly controlled. Among adults with raised blood pressure, 58.1 per cent had been previously diag­nosed, 43.6 per cent were receiving medication, and only 21.6 per cent were controlled. These figures show why measuring blood pres­sure regularly remains important even when a person feels well.

The blood glucose findings carry a similar message. Raised fasting blood glucose, defined as fasting blood glucose of at least 126 mg/dl or current medication for diabetes, was present in 7.9 per cent of adults aged 18-69 years – 6.5 per cent of men and 9.6 per cent of women. Prevalence increased markedly with age and reached 21.9 per cent among those aged 60-69 years.

In addition, 12.3 per cent of adults had impaired fasting gly­caemia. Among those with raised blood glucose or currently taking diabetes medication, 56.5 per cent had been diagnosed, and 50.4 per cent were currently receiving treatment. The figures underline a simple public-health lesson: many people can benefit from earlier de­tection, appropriate confirmation of diagnosis and continuing care.

Why blood pressure and blood sugar should be considered together

Blood pressure and blood glucose should not be viewed as completely separate health issues. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes frequently share risk factors such as increasing age, excess body weight, physical inactivity and un­healthy dietary patterns. When they coexist, cardiovascular and kidney risks become especially important.

The 2024 STEPS findings re­inforce this broader risk picture. More than one quarter of surveyed adults were overweight or obese by the report’s BMI ≥25 kg/m² classification, and 25.9 per cent did not meet WHO recommendations for physical activity. These factors make prevention, screening and long-term risk reduction particu­larly relevant for Myanmar.

Check before symptoms ap­pear

A useful change in health behaviour is moving from “I will check when I feel sick” to “I will check so that I can stay healthy”. Blood pressure measurement is quick and non-invasive. Blood glucose assessment is also widely available through health facilities and laboratories. The appropriate frequency of screening depends on age, previous results and indi­vidual risk factors such as family history, excess weight, cardiovas­cular disease or kidney disease.

A health professional can ad­vise how often an individual should be checked. The central message is that feeling well does not guar­antee that blood pressure or blood glucose is normal.

Home blood pressure mon­itoring – useful when done correctly

Home blood pressure moni­toring can be valuable, particularly for people already diagnosed with hypertension. Repeated measure­ments taken under standardized conditions can provide a better picture than an occasional reading taken when a person is hurried, anxious or unwell.

Technique matters. A vali­dated upper-arm monitor with a correctly fitting cuff is preferable. Before measurement, the person should rest quietly, sit with the back supported and feet on the floor, and support the arm at heart level. The cuff should be placed on bare skin. Talking during the measurement should be avoided. When advised, taking two read­ings separated by about a minute and recording the results can help clinicians interpret the pattern.

Home monitoring comple­ments professional care; it does not replace it. People should not stop, start or change prescribed medication solely because of one home reading.

Understanding blood glucose checks

Home glucose meters are indispensable for many people living with diabetes, but the pur­pose and frequency of testing vary according to treatment and individual circumstances. A single home glucose value should not be treated as a complete diagnosis. Laboratory assessment, including fasting plasma glucose and, when appropriate, HbA1c, may be used by health professionals to confirm and monitor diabetes.

Correct technique is also im­portant: hands should be clean, strips should be stored proper­ly and used within their expiry period, and the manufacturer’s instructions should be followed. The value of a reading comes from interpreting it in context — meals, activity, medication and illness can all influence blood glucose.

From measurement to pre­vention

Knowing the number is only the first step. The goal is to turn information into action. Regular physical activity helps prevent and manage cardiovascular disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. WHO recommends that adults un­dertake 150-300 minutes of mod­erate-intensity aerobic activity each week, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous activity, or an equivalent combination, together with mus­cle-strengthening activity on two or more days where appropriate.

Diet is equally important. Reducing excessive salt intake, eating more fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy body weight, avoiding tobacco, and avoiding harmful alcohol use all contribute to cardiovascular health. For peo­ple already diagnosed with hyper­tension or diabetes, adherence to prescribed treatment and regular follow-up are essential.

The STEPS Survey Myanmar 2024 also shows room for im­provement in these everyday behaviours. About

92.4 per cent of adults con­sumed fewer than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, while 31.2 per cent reported always or often adding salt during cooking or food preparation at home. Pre­vention therefore requires not only medical services but also practical changes in homes and commu­nities.

Creating a culture of “Know Your Numbers”

Myanmar can strengthen a simple health message: know your numbers, understand your risk and act early. Blood pressure measurement and appropriate diabetes screening can be incor­porated into routine health visits, workplace health activities and community NCD programmes. Screening, however, should never end with the discovery of an abnor­mal value. It needs to be connected to confirmation, counselling, af­fordable treatment and follow-up.

This continuum is particu­larly important because the 2024 national data show that diagno­sis does not automatically mean treatment, and treatment does not automatically mean control. The public-health pathway should therefore be clear: screen, con­firm, counsel, treat and follow up.

Beyond the numbers

A blood pressure or blood glu­cose reading may look like nothing more than a number on a monitor or laboratory report. In reality, it can be an early warning about future health. A blood pressure check may identify hypertension before a stroke occurs. A glucose test may reveal diabetes before serious kidney, eye, nerve or car­diovascular complications develop.

Regular checking should therefore be understood as a form of prevention, not a reason for fear. The aim is not to chase perfect numbers from hour to hour, but to identify persistent risk and re­spond appropriately.

The message is simple: do not wait for symptoms to discover a silent disease. Know your blood pressure. Have your blood glucose checked when appropriate. Under­stand what the results mean, and work with health professionals to keep risk under control. Behind every number is something far more valuable – the possibility of a longer, healthier, and more pro­ductive life.

References

1. Ministry of Health, Myan­mar. STEPS Survey Myan­mar 2024. Final Report.

2. World Health Organization. Hypertension. Fact sheet. Updated 25 September 2025.

3. World Health Organization. Physical activity. Fact sheet. 26 June 2024.

4. World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Fact sheet.

5. Centres for Disease Con­trol and Prevention (CDC). About High Blood Pressure. Reviewed 28 January 2026. Available at: https://www. cdc.gov/high-blood

pressure/about/index.html