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Blood Pressure with Electronic Manometer

• The patient should be seated for at least 5 minutes, relaxed and not moving or speaking
• The arm must be supported at the level of the heart. Ensure no tight clothing constricts the arm.

View image of the arm which must be supported at the level of the heart

• Place the cuff on neatly with the indicator mark on the cuff over the brachial artery. The bladder should encircle at least 80% of the arm (but not more than 100%)

View image of placing the cuff on neatly with the centre of the bladder over the brachial artery

• Most monitors allow manual blood pressure setting selection where you choose the appropriate setting. Other monitors will automatically inflate and re-inflate to the next setting if required
• Initially test blood pressure in both arms and use arm with highest reading for subsequent measurement
• Repeat three times and record measurement as displayed

• If checking against a mercury sphygmomanometer the blood pressure may differ slightly between devices.
• It is good practice to occasionally check the monitor against a mercury sphygmomanometer or another validated device.
• It is important to have a monitor calibrated according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Blood pressure should be taken – preferably with the same device each time it is recorded. The arm it has been taken on should also be noted. Particular care should be taken of the size of the cuff ensuring that it is the right size for that patient.
• The blood pressure should ideally be 130/80 or less,especially if there are complications of diabetes as well as to help prevent future complications from diabetes.
•  Blood pressure targets may be lower in those with proteinuria or progressive microalbuminuria(120/70), or younger patients with complications, especially young woman (110/70). 
• Any reading above 130/80 should be taken twice more over the next month to establish an accurate reading and then treated according to the blood pressure care pathway. It is important to establish why the blood pressure might be high and to try to address any alternative causes of blood pressure rising.
• Good control of blood pressure has proven to be beneficial for people with diabetes.

This work has been completed with the support of Lilly UK through an educational grant, which includes permission to use the basic IT structure and design of the website and the provision of Project Management training to the project team.