Curious to know what type of blood pressure medications are you taking that don't cause major side effects for diabetics. My A1C is 6.5. Not on medication yet but watching what I eat. Have had on occasion elevated blood pressure and at times racing heart. Can anyone relate? Thanks for info

High blood pressure (& cholesterol) tend to go with diabetes. Although my BP wasn't really high, I ended up on a low dose of BP medicine because of my kidneys. I started with lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, and got a bad cough. I'm now taking Benicar, an ARB, which has fewer side effects (but is more expensive, so it's a second choice). Both can raise blood sugar, but I haven't seen any problems. It is important to protect your kidneys, so some doctors routinely put diabetics on blood pressure medicine. Good luck.

Most blood pressure medications do not interfer with diabetes treatment or with blood sugar levels.

Having said that, it is thought that ACE inhibitors, which are one class of BP medications, also offer some protection to the kidneys of diabetics, so they are usually the first course of action for a diabetic who develops high BP.

It is extremely important that you get your BP under as good control as possible, as high blood pressure is another thing that can do damage to all the organs. Since you've already got diabetes, this could be a double whammy if you don't take care of it.

Racing heart may not necessarily have anything to do with the blood pressure itself, but may in fact be a glitch in the electrical system of the heart.

Bottom line: make sure your doctor is aware of this, and get it taken care of.

Ruth

I take glucotrol for diabetes and diovan (ace inhibitor) for blood pressure. I also take a small amount of a water pill as I am a salt retainer.
I actually need more of a water pill for better BP control. but with diabetes the doctor doesn't like them at all. I do watch my salt intake, but must be getting too much anyway.
I walk every night to help with BP and diabetes. I have the diabetes under very good control (5.7 A1C) but the blood pressure still spikes. The diastolic is alweays fine (sometimes in the 60's) but the systolic is too high a lot of the time. (can spike into the 170's)
Doctors do like to keep you on the ACE inhibitor because it does help protect the kidneys and the liver.
It's a fine line....

I may be lucky here, but I only have to take a 25 mg Tenormin (Atenolol) tablet in the morning and it keeps my BP in check. The good thing is that it's the lowest dose and even the non-insurance price is only about $6 a month.

wb

You are lucky. The diovan is $60.00 a month co-pay. There is no generic. I need one in the morning and another at night.

I couldn't take the Atenolel. It blurred my vision. It did wonders at stabilizing my palpations though and it also slowed my heartbeat so it helped with anxiety.

Cher-

My vision gets a bit fuzzy on occasion, but I'm hoping that because I take such a low dose, that it won't affect me that much. I've actually been on the stuff for 12 years now, so I think my body may have adjusted to it. Thanks for pointing out that side effect. I never looked at Tenormin side effects since I've taken it so long and it's never caused me any problems.

wb

Some beta blockers can mask glucose readings and not to mention the weight gain. I wish my dr was more cautious with the diuretics. I've been on lasix, hctz and torsemides. they all causes glucose and cholestrol levels to rise.

Some calcium channel blockers also protect the kidneys, such as verapamil.

I take Norvasc. I can do well on it, but it does cause me sadness, depression. I take it at bedtime right now, so I can sleep through that part.
But that's what I would say to watch for. It seems like a good pill other than that. I am undecided if it's what I will stay with. :cool:

Some beta blockers can mask glucose readings and not to mention the weight gain. I wish my dr was more cautious with the diuretics. I've been on lasix, hctz and torsemides. they all causes glucose and cholestrol levels to rise.

Some calcium channel blockers also protect the kidneys, such as verapamil.


HI can someone please explain this how does it mask glucose readings and I didn't know it caused weight gain.

Thanks D