Glucose metabolism and antihypertensive medication - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

flowergirl2day · 12-11-2007, 05:28 PM

Blood pressure medications affect our blood glucose levels. ACE inhibitors and ARBs have a beneficial effect on glucose metabolism and suppress new onset of diabetes mellitus.

Thiazide diuretics increase our fasting glucose levels and have been associated with the development of glucose intolerance and diabetes. Beta blockers also lead to decreased insulin sensitivity in hypertensives and can contribute to the development of DM. Fasting glucose levels increase in older people with hypertension somewhat, regardless of the antihypertensive treatment used. Interestingly, in people with hypertension blood glucose levels and plasma insulin rise together as a result of a reduced insulin sensitivity.

I picked up a copy of a partial preliminary lab report (page 2 missing) at the hospital today. The fasting glucose was one of the flagged items. I talked to my pharmacist about how my medications might be affecting these and other lab values. He suggested lifestyle modifications regardless....I don't think I can modify anything more than I already have.

What is your experience with blood glucose levels and antihypertensive medication? How can the elevations in blood glucose be reduced?

flowergirl

famnd · 12-11-2007, 09:29 PM

Sorry to hear that you got an increase. It maybe a mistake so another test needs to be done before putting you on meds if it is that serious. Remember there is a certain % of error either way with the numbers.

Didn't you just increase your BB in the last 4-6 months? What about your exercise level-hasn't it had to decrease since starting work? I'm sure your diet is great but I think you said you had to decrease your veggie & fruit intake for lack of time.

I'm always concerned that my blood sugar will increase every time I get a test back. So far mine is usually under 100 which is alright with me.

Did you get that blood test right after your Dr's appointment? If so maybe the stress hormone level was high which puts a lot of sugar into the blood stream. Fam

flowergirl2day · 12-12-2007, 12:12 AM

You are right, of course. There have been too many changes to my diet and exercise routine. I don't go for my walks. I don't eat oatmeal for breakfast anymore and stopped using the flax seed and apple cider vinegar. I eat less fruit, berries and veggies and too much bread and yogurt. My cholesterol is not so good anymore. Neither is my ESR or urea. I have a feeling I'll be hearing about that. My potassium level has gone down, creatinine up...I'll see what the doctor thinks.
I have no doubt that the meds affect some of the lab values. I wonder if one develops a tolerance for cholesterol medication? I'd hate to have to take more of it in order to get acceptable results. You asked if I had the tests done right after my appointment. I did not. I had to fast for some of the kidney stuff and the glucose tolerance so got it done the following morning. I am getting tired of trying to do the right thing and not getting very far. I wish I could eat anything I want to without worrying about the lipids or stomach issues or the kidneys or other stuff. I guess I should be glad I won't have to worry about doing any holiday baking this year!

I asked the pharmacist what glucose levels require medicating. He said that implementing the lifestyle changes, as with so many other conditions, should be tried first. Failing that and with the glucose levels exceeding 10, medication must be started. I guess a lot depends on each individuals' health profile. Hubby's glucose readings were high at the time of his diagnosis and he was put on the meds rightaway. I am not as worried about the glucose as I am about the cholesterol levels. I know that losing weight would help with everything. How do I go about it? I don't eat much pasta, rice, fats, meat or sugars but have to have my bread. I wonder if the fruit sugars can contribute to a weight gain or, rather, stop a person from losing weight? Are they converted to glucose and stored as fat? Another thought: can consumption of fruits high in natural sugars (such as grapes!) contribute to elevated glucose levels? We eat grapes daily.

flowergirl

famnd · 12-13-2007, 09:49 PM

Hi FG,

Good luck with your Dr's appointment tomorrow. I can certainly emphasize with you about wt. issues & having to be so careful what & when you eat. I've been doing it so long that the biggest problem for me now is the lack of understanding of friends & family to say nothing of strangers. One of my son's girl friends got so freaked out that I couldn't eat what they were eating. He dropped her right away due to her lack of maturity by not understanding that health comes before going along with the crowd.

I don't have a clue how to lose weight but I know for me I must keep a food journal to get anywhere. I've started to work on my own cookbook for the grandkids complete with my revised recipes
complete with calorie counts. I'll include stories to go along with the recipes.

I know that we have to have foods we like to make it keep on a strict diet. In most cases we have to make the dishes ourselves.

I've come to the conclusion that my calories may have to be less than what is considered safe in order to lose weight. I'll take to the Dr. about that.

Since I have been reading the thyroid board, I've found others who have gained weight since being on Synthroid as I have. I'm not going to rush to blame it on that along with the apha/beta blocker but there might be some relationship.

Exercise is key even if we can't do it to the target rate.

I'll think about your other questions. Right now I have a daughter who is due any day & has some health issues-I can't be there because of thyroiditis & the possibility of getting another infection from the kids. Then my other daughter is struggling with the decision of whether to risk one of the treatments for Thyroid cancer which could result in other cancers. She has to wait a whole month to get her the rest of her thyroid removed. Then my son has stressed his back (he fell & injured his back 5 yrs old) even more by doing stuff he should not have done. Everywhere I look it seems people are sick. My thyroid is still acting up-hope the Dr. doesn't get too mad when I see him in Feb. & he finds out I didn't call him. I know he would put me on Prednisone which I don't want.

I'm trying to do what I can to help my family & myself at the same time. I have to keep on even keel so I can keep my b/p under control.

Fam

flowergirl2day · 12-13-2007, 11:42 PM

Hi,

Parents, by virtue, are expected to always be there for their children. We are the ones providing a shoulder to lean on and an emotional support in their time of need. I find that when we ourselves could use a little bit of encouragement, we often have to rely on our own inner reserves of strength. Though somewhat dissapointing, that's life.

I am sorry your family is going through such hardships and that you are forced to deal with painful flareups of thyroditis. How does one avoid experiencing periods of anxiety with new issues and concerns arising daily? Finding a way to manage our emotions and maintain a positive attitude is extremely important for our well being and long term prognosis. I have my own way of coping which works most of the time and helps keep the stress away.

I am doing my best to continue eating healthy food. I have actually lost some weight - even around my waist- without realizing it. My clothes and belts fit much better. I had to try on different outfits when deciding which one to wear to our Christmas party this weekend. I think some of my "fat" were excessive fluids from my last peripheral edema. Whatever I've been doing seems to be working (except for maintaining good cholesterol levels). For this reason, I will not change anything.
I find that our families are not as supportive of our diets and emotional needs as they could be. We always seem to have forbidden foods around. I avoid grocery shopping, because I don't want to take the time to read the labels and be tempted to buy the foods I know I should not eat. So my hubby buys them instead. I end up throwing a lot of the stuff out. You are right, exercise is the key to losing weight. A lower calorie intake combined with a higher calorie output is the recipe for a weight loss and the way it works. Achieving the correct target heart rate during exercise is not an attainable goal for those of us on certain medications. I don't worry about this at all. I'll ask tomorrow whether I should.

Thank you for the good wishes.

flowergirl