Diabetes can damage the nervous system. Explain how this may alter the response of heart rate to changes in blood pressure.

Changes in blood pressure are measured by primarily by baroreceptors (pressure receptors) in the carotid body within the aorta, which send signals to the medulla in the brain. Damage to the autonomic nervous system can mean these receptors do not work as well, or the number of impulses sent to/from the medulla are changed. The autonomic nervous system has two components; damage to the sympathetic system can lead to heart rate not increasing when blood pressure falls, while damage to the parasympathetic system can lead to heart rate not decreasing when blood pressure rises.