Beta Blockers and Diabetes - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

CrazyLife414 · 06-30-2007, 11:20 PM

Hi Everyone...I just read an interesting article regarding beta blockers and diabetes. Basically put, it said that beta blockers can cause a person to become diabetic!
Has anyone else heard of this???? If so, is it true or just a theory?
I am calling my doc on Monday, but until then just wondering what you all know!
Thanks for your input!!!!
Crazy

penybobeny · 06-30-2007, 11:54 PM

Hi there, Crazy...

The Beta-blocker-diabetes thing has been debating in the "low dose beta blocker" thread... as with everything these days you have to take the good with the bad it seems.

Sometimes I watch TV and an ad will come on for some new drug and at the end is that same male voice talking at 10000 words a minute telling you all the side effects... it is like that new FDA approved diet pill that has hit the market by storm... yeah, you lose weight, but it is recomended that you wear dark colored pants and carry spare pants because of "accidents" (they should just sell them with depends)

The fact is that you have to decide... do you live with a lower risk of stroke and MI at the risk of insulin imbalance, sparing some organs at the risk of others. There is no win win situation...

Lenin · 07-01-2007, 06:12 AM

Crazy,
Beta-blockers, especially Beta-2 blockers have an effect on glucose metabolism and kidney function. BUT selective beta-1 blockers probably don't. So maybe a selective blockers is the better choice for someone with diabetic concerns.

In any case, studies have shown that diabetics get MUCH MORE protection after a heart attack from beta-blockers than do non-diabetics.

I doubt anyone seriously suggests that beta-blockers will CAUSE diabetes, in fact thhey are probably UNDER-prescribed becasue of this perceived kidney and sugar involvement.

But I have long said that I think beta-blockers are the WRONG class of drugs to use for simple hypertension unless it is accompanied by tachycardia, migraine, cardiomyopathy/heart failure, or ischemic angina. There are too many less bothersome alternatives for just high blood pressure.

CrazyLife414 · 07-01-2007, 11:59 AM

Thanks for the replies... I have been on 25mg of Atenolol since March of this year. 2 weeks ago when I had my bloodwork done my fasting blood sugar was 100. My doctor said that I have to work hard to correct anything that is going on in my body that might be a risk factor to diabetes because she believes that I am "pre" diabetic....(this is my first time having even a little bit abnormal blood sugar)
My 2 hour glucose numbers were not bad, my cholesterol is not bad (LDL 115 and she wants it below 100 was her only concern)...
My blood pressure is borderline, except when stressed and then it can go as high as 98/150 and that is what made my old doctor put me on the Atenolol.
I was going to have my new doctor revisit my blood pressure at my Sept appt, but I now wonder if I should not have that visit sooner than later...
Anyway,thank you again!!!
Have a great day!!
Crazy

joe86 · 07-01-2007, 02:15 PM

Beta blockers made the headlines in the U.K. last year because they were shown to be less effective for lowering blood pressure than previously believed and they increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes (when compared with other bp drugs).
The result is that they are being withdrawn in the U.K. for the treatment of hypertension, though continued for heart disease.
The connection with diabetes is not strong but it exists. I doubt if you have any risk at a minimal dose of 25 mg. But do you really need it? An episode of high blood pressure when under stress does not merit drug treatment in my book. You should monitor your own bp closely and if this is just a rare episode of stress I would insist on getting off the atenolol.