Beta blockers and Diabetes

[Suzy1954]

Hi everyone. I’ve been taking Atenolol for 3 months after coming off Bisoprolol and feel so much better. I have to go for a medication review later with GP and have been reading up on both of these beta blockers. It appears that most of these can cause diabetes which I have now been diagnosed with! I’ve also read that Carvedilol has no effect on blood sugar maintenance. The same goes for calcium channel blockers. With this in mind I am going to ask the GP his views as I feel I’m in a catch 22 situation. It was a shock as I’m not over weight and eat a good diet.

Has anybody else had experience of this?

Thanks.

[Mike11]

Yes I went from a calcium blocker verapamil to a beta blocker nebivolol and was surprised when my GP ordered 6 monthly diabetes tests. But sure enough in 3 years I was pre-diabetic. As I need the beta-blocker, I've had to make major dietry changes but have got it under control and am not below the pre-diabetes level again. Hope you can do the same.

[Suzy1954 in reply to Mike11]

Hi Mike. After seeing GP yesterday I’m now on Carvedilol. Apparently that beta blocker doesn’t affect blood sugar. I was told I’ve been pre diabetic for years but they never told me that until they said I’m now diabetic! Beta blockers?

It’s been 3 months since I had first blood test and the second one has come back the same. So no better despite sticking to a low GL diet, but no worse. So doctor not starting me on medication for it yet. Got to have another blood test in 3 months.

That was good news for you then 👍 keep it up.

Sue.

[Mike11 in reply to Suzy1954]

Hmm - not good of your doctor not to warn you when you went pre-diabetic. The first time I went over I was automatically booked in for a grilling from the practice nurse on how to get my blood sugar down But she helped me a lot.

[Suzy1954 in reply to Mike11]

Be grateful for any tips you might have. I have been watching what I eat and have lost a few pounds in the process. Im just hoping I have no problems on Carvedilol as I was fine on Atenolol.

[Mike11 in reply to Suzy1954]

Mostly changing anything I could to things using Stevia rather than sugar. For home baking, use a 50-50 mix tastes ok.

[cycleman75]

Beta blockers apparently stem the production of insulin in the pancreas; so you end up

with higher blood sugar levels resulting in diabetes. Pity we cannot sue our GP's for using us as guinea pigs with all their drugs. Now that WOULD be interesting ?!

[Suzy1954 in reply to cycleman75]

Wish they would tell us these things before we take the meds 🙄