People with mild high blood pressure who have trouble using insulin well also tend to have muscles that don’t take in sugar properly and don’t get as much blood flow — suggesting their metabolism and blood vessels might be struggling together.

People with mild high blood pressure who aren't taking medicine don't process sugar as well in their muscles and body when insulin is high, which suggests their body is resisting insulin's effects.

People with mild high blood pressure don't get as big of a blood flow boost in their muscles when insulin kicks in, compared to people with normal blood pressure.

In rats, eating a diet that's a bit high in fat or salt messes up blood vessel function in muscles before the muscle cells themselves become resistant to insulin — and that blood vessel problem alone can slow down how much sugar the muscles take in.

When the tiny blood vessels in muscles don't respond well to insulin, it's linked to being overweight, having insulin resistance, and getting older — and this might actually happen before the muscle cells themselves become resistant to insulin.