I came across some interesting info yesterday while browsing through a book on Diabetes and causes, etc. In there it said that there is one blood pressure med that can raise glucose levels and that one is hydrocholothiazide which is a generic of Dyazide. I called my regular phamacist and asked if their info also lists that as a possible side effect. She said that for people who have been on it a long time, it's a very strong possibility. Since they have my meds records there for the past 20 years, she said that I have been on this drug for a very long time (over 10 yrs. ) and could indeed have an effect.
I will check with my dr. the next time that I visit since I do now have slightly elevated blood sugar readings.
If anyone else has heard of this, please let me know. Thanks.

Hi!

I have a very interesting article on the role that insulin resistance plays in hypertension and it does mention that this has to be kept in mind with the choice of bp meds. I thought it meant that they can increase insulin resistance but maybe they meant that they increase blood sugar and this is a problem if the patient is also insulin resistant (and it added that most hypertensive patients are) I read that calcium channel blockers can also do this. I am concerned about this because i was thinking of switching to one of them to replace the 2 meds I now take. Maybe not.

CHris

A low carbohydrate diet like that recommended in "Protein Power" by Dr. Eades is probably the best thing you can do if you have insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol/triglycerides. The book is a good read and only costs about $6.oo at any bookstore.

Alan

Hi Chris, Diabetes, or high blood glucose leads to glycation and also causes crosslinking of the collagen molecules in the artery and vein walls. Molecules in any elastic plastics lie alongside and interlace with each other and are held in place by their own molecular adhesion. When crosslinking takes place, oxide, hydroxyl, and carboxyl radicals form bonds between them; in essence creating bigger molecules. The result is loss of elasticity. Inelastic arteries cause the first (systolic) pressure numbers to rise because the arteries don't give. The second number is how the veins give under the arterial pressure as arteries return to size and , in effect, give you the elastic condition of your veins. Veins have much thinner walls than arteries and if crosslinked, are more prone to leak or rupture. This is the fear that occurs when you have a high second number (diastolic). It's stroke time when over 100. What Arkie says about low carbs is the best way to stop crosslinking due to glycation and crosslinking. The first number can be high due to a nervous condition where the smooth muscles of the arteries are tight. Meds relax these muscles, or reduce the force of the heart. Veins are what they are and meds cannot soften them. There is a med available in Europe called Aminoguanidine that helps stop glycation, but it's not here in the states. I give it to my wife to save her kidneys, and eyes. Despite what Alteon says, it is 87% effective. (Alteon is a diabetes oriented consortium that does work on diabetes.)(But it's not patentable, why would they want it on the market if they are testing several of their own?) I've lost my source and am now looking for a new one I can afford. I can only say, KEEP THE SUGAR DOWN IN ANY WAY YOU CAN! It's vital. Bad cholesterol and triglycerides are not as damaging as high blood sugar, but they go hand in hand, and so does atherosclerosis. Plaque forms on the inside of the arteries due to glycation and glycosylation as well as from bad lipid numbers. You can have low lipid numbers and still have atherosclerosis due to high blood sugar. Rgardless of the sacrifice, follow the low carb way. God bless and care for you,,,,,Oldguy

Hi Old Guy:

Great explanation. When I went into my doctor's office and told him that I found out my bp was 160/105 he repeated it and at that time it was 170/110. That was 2 years ago. I finally got it down to an excellent reading (on toprol and imdur) even before I started low carbing.

I'm still collecting data on which foods do what on my blood glucose. Can't remember if it was this forum, or another, I apologize if I am repeating myself. A bagel is bad, as is raisin bran. Graham crackers and peanut butter and oatmeal (old fashioned) appear to make excellent snacks. Tonight for dinner I did an experiment and ate a moderate amount of pasta (not what is usually called a serving, but not exactly pigging out either) with a good helping of meat sauce and a dish of ice cream for dessert. At one hour my glucose was 190 and at 2 hours it was 200. I repeated it 12 minutes later and it was 166. I have never gotten anything but normal at 2 hours before. I happened to have some glucose dip sticks around for urine and that was negative. My husband's blood glucose was 132 and that was right after a glass of juice. So I guess pasta isn't so good for me.

I'm working on it!

Chris

Originally posted by chrismth:
Graham crackers and peanut butter and oatmeal (old fashioned) appear to make excellent snacks

Even better snacks for those that are insulin resistant are sliced turkey breast and hard cheese, or low sugar peanut butter w/celery sticks, or raw nuts, or pork rinds w/sour cream. Anything you do to keep that bloodsugar in check will pay major dividends down the road. Things made from wheat and other grains are best avoided in my opinion.

How does that saying go? "If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself".

Alan

I found another article on a diabetes website describing studies which have found that people on beta blockers, commonly prescribed for hypertension and other heart disorders, have a 25% increased chance of devleoping type II diabetes. It recommended those with a strong family history and members of ethnic groups at risk for diabetes not take beta blockers for these problems. Apparently calcium channel blockers do not seem to put people at increased risk. It didn't say if the condition was reversible if a switch was made from beta blockers to a calcium channel blocker.

CHris

Hi JB

You mentioned that you have slightly elevated blood sugar readings. Have you actually been diagnosed with diabetes? If not, what does your doctor think of your elevated readings?

Chris

Hi Chris--to answer your question, I have not been formally diagnosed yet, but I know by my own testing that whenever I break the eating too many carbs rule, my blood goes high--3 slabs of thin crust pizza, for example, and 2 hours later, it was 192. My 3 mo. test has recently been 6.4 which is, I think, very very close to over the edge.
What does my dr. say? Absolutely nothing!!!!I have been the one to ask him if I can have the blood tests to keep tabs on it. Apparently, he has a different thought on the matter or is taking into consideration some of meds I am on for bp, etc. I know, I can't believe it either. I finally got tired of not knowing where I was in numbers except every three months and began self-monitoring. Now I KNOW. He has been monitoring the 3 mo. test only once every year or maybe a little oftener. For the past three years, it has stayed around 6.3.
Anyway, hope that answers your questions? Do you have any thoughts on the drs. reaction? Or the test results? Anyone's thoughts are sure welcome as I am new at this.
Thanks for the interest.

Hi JB:

That's very interesting, your situation sounds identical to mine. I'm curious about why your doctor did a hemoglobin A1C in the first place. Mine did one because my trigs kept going up, so he did a fasting blood sugar and a hemoglobin A1C. The fasting was 90 and the hemoglobin A1C was 6.3-almost identical to yours! He said everything was okay, but I got to thinking about that 6.3. that is about an average of 120-130 and I thought that seemed a little high for someone who is not supposed to be a diabetic. (A hemoglobin A1C is not meant as a diagnostic test, but as an evaluation of control for diabetics) I did a little research and read that most nondiabetics test at about 5. I bought myself a glucose meter and started testing. Like you, I have found that when I eat too many carbs my 2 hour reading is way above normal. I find when I am careful about portions and choices, I get normal readings. I'm not surprised by your doctor's reactions and I am expecting similar. (I see him in a couple of weeks)I take it your fasting levels are normal. I don't think a doctor would disregard that. I think what we are describing falls into the category "impaired glucose tolerance".

Chris

Hi JB again:

I thought of another question. How long have you been testing yourself? The reason I ask that is because you said your doctor has been ordering the hemoglobin A1C for 3 years. Have you been testing yourself all this time?

What if you stopped following your carb restrictions to see what the test shows?

Chris

Hi again Chris
I just started testing myself about 2 mo ago after my last 3 mo. test. Before that I watched somewhat what I ate, but was more concerned about fats because of the high cholesterol thing and only limited carbs and sugars as an overall reduction of calories so as not to gain any weight.
Yes, my fasting tests are mostly normal now in the morning IF I am not overeating carbs the night before. I still cannot believe that the dr. doesn't show any concern. My fasting test in each of the last three year tests done by the lab were above 140 except for the last one which was done AFTER I started really getting serious about counting the carbs. Then it was 115. I think that I will ask him for yet another 3 mo test in May just to see where it is 3 mo. after limiting carbs and being serious about it. Should be interesting.
I have a question--what is the difference between diabetes and glucose intolerance? It so much sounds the same to me, but is there indeed a difference? Maybe you could help me there with some knowledge or anyone else also.
Thanks and all of this talking back and forth does help one to learn alot.

Hi JB:

According to the discussion board of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, there are 3 ways to diagnose diabetes.

1. A fasting plasma glucose 126 or higher on
2 different days
2. A random plasma glucose (without regard
to meals) over 200 with signs of
diabetes. (I don't know what it means
if you have a random over 200 with no
signs of diabetes, probably warrants
further investigation)
3. A plasma glucose level over 200 at 2
hours after the glucose challenge
test.

It would appear to me that with 3 fasting levels of 140 you fit category #1. The normal result you got last time may be a reflection of controlling your blood sugar by diet, just the way any type II diabetic is told to do at first. It would seem that you should at least have a 2 hour glucose test as a further workup, I can't understand why your doctor hasn't done this. Why don't you ask him/her?
Values of 140-199 2 hours after the glucose challenge is considered impaired (as is a fasting level of 115-126) and they have found that those people often suffer the same complications over time. I would think (I'm saying that because I am not an expert on this) that it doesn't matter *why* your blood glucose is elevated, whether due to the drugs you are on or whatever, the fact that it is is what is dangerous for you. You will get the same effects from elevated blood sugar, no matter what the cause.

You asked about "impaired glucose tolerance" vs. diabetes. "Impaired" tolerance is the results described above (fasting between 115 and 126, 140-199 at 2 hours post glucose test) It used to be what they called "borderline diabetes". From my reading, it is not considered true diabetes but places the patient at risk for diabetes. Who knows, it may be the way that diabetics start with the disease. And research has shown that impaired glucose tolerance can cause similar complications as diabetes. The fact that you have two other risk factors, hypertension and elevated lipids, is more cause for concern. I think you should push your doctor for something more than the Hemoglobin A1C. It is not intended for diagnosis, nor is home glucose testing. I plan to ask for the 2 hour glucose test when I see my doctor in a few months.

Chris