And, at the tail end of our conversation with Dr. Cuellar, we found out why certain ethnic groups should be even warier about protecting themselves from the ravages of pressure and diabetes.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Medical Doctor
"Given the 30 years I've been practicing, I've come to realize that blacks or the black population - they have high blood pressure in some really frightening numbers."
Reporter
"45 years of an African persuasion and I am aware that I have both diabetes and high blood pressure. What should I do?"
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Medical Doctor
"You should have a very thorough discussion with your care giver, what would be the plan forward. The two pillars of course, is eat healthy and exercise regularly. If you smoke, please stop right away, because that is another risk factor that increases your risk a whole lot."
Reporter
"Then they will ask you if smoking weed good."
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Medical Doctor
"Well, better you smoke weed than tobacco, straight up. But you have to manage these things - you lower your salt intake, you lower your fat intake, you lower your carbohydrate intake, you take your medication when necessary and there is always a strange an anecdote that I see especially in Belizean men that oh, I don't want to be on medication for the rest of my life. Oh, I don't want to take medication, because I will get hooked on it. But sometimes you do need to take medication indefinitely to help control your blood pressure and oh, I don't want to be on medication, because it will kill my manhood."
Cuellar says that while those with African ancestry are predisposed to high pressure from his experience, they somehow handle it better than those from Latin and indigenous backgrounds.
Later on, we'll have the perspective of another medical professional, Dr Marvin Manzanero as he speaks about high blood pressure and stroke risk.
