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Bisoprolol

cycleman73 profile image
19 Replies

To all those lovers of Bisoprolol, hello. Twelve months ago at my annual eye test

my optician diagnosed prediabetes. Aware medication can cause side effects I researched Bisoprolol and found that it can be the cause of prediabetes. I have since weaned off Bisoprolol and must say life has been back to healthy normal.

The good news is this; at my very latest eye examination three days ago there was clearly no trace of prediabetes and my recent blood sugar level was recorded

at 4.6 so it appears to be job done ! Anybody had similar experiences it would be

interesting to know ?

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cycleman73
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19 Replies

Interesting, what sort of AF do you have, persistent or paroxysmal? You ought to keep an eye on both your heart rate and blood pressure because Bisoprolol affects both......

I had a similar experience. I went added sugar free and kept on the Bisoprolol and my current blood sugar is around 5.2. No change to my QOL.

Suzy1954 profile image
Suzy1954 in reply to

Do you take medication for the diabetes Carneuny? I took Bisoprolol for 5 + years then late last year I was diagnosed diabetic! It was a shock as I never considered myself a candidate. If indeed there is. Apparently I’d been pre diabetic for a few years and they corresponded with the taking of Bisoprolol. Nobody told me I was pre diabetic! Anyway after that I came off Bisoprolol and went on to Atenolol as Bisoprolol didn’t agree with me. Since the diagnosis I’ve lost a stone in weight which takes me down to 8 stone where as I didn’t think I was over weight! My initial blood test came back as 51 then 49 then 48. No meds as yet. Got a first review with diabetic nurse next week. I’m wondering now was it the Bisoprolol that pushed me over the edge and are all beta blockers to blame?

in reply to Suzy1954

Hiya Suzy1954,

No I don't. I am not diabetic - however my father had diabetes which got outta control and it did finally end his life.

So, what actually happened to me was that (about 4 years ago, maybe 5) I went for my 2 years eye sight test and at the end the optometrist refused to prescribe new glasses as he considered me border line prediabetic. He wrote to my GP who then promptly organised an HbA1c blood test which confirmed the optometrists findings. I told my GP that I wanted to cut out all added sugar from my diet before we followed more conventional medical wisdom (such as it is).

I also bought an Accuchek Mobile blood sugar monitoring device and I monitor myself once or twice a year at random. Over the years I have found my readings have now stabilised and am pretty constant at around this 5.2 which from memory is about an HbA1c equivalent of 34. However, I need to add that despite my age (75 next month) I am still very active both physically and mentally and still drive a local rural bus service on a 6 day fortnight basis. Which means as I hold a PCV (Bus) licence I must pass a medical each year.

So, although I am not diabetic I monitor myself, rather than rely on feeling unwell and going to my GP. That way I can build up a personal profile on foods and drinks that cause my blood sugar to spike. Try Free From Cherry Bakewell tarts for size :-)

Now for Bisoprolol, I was diagnosed with AF in Jan 2010 and put on it (5mg) straight away. I have been on it continuously since. sure I had massive problems with it in the first 4 to 6 months but everything settled down and now, along with Warfarin, its my best buddy.

Personally, I think, as a society we tend to play the 'blame game' without examining what we are doing to ourselves by trusting food manufacturers and not reading their product labels. Not just food either, beverages too, including alcohol.

Food was my AF trigger and to cut a long story short I consulted a Nutritionist and that was a life changing moment.

I have been added salt free for over 20 years now and added sugar free for about the last 5. So, the result of that in terms of statistics is that my BP is now around 126/70; heart rate (thanks to Mr. Bisoprolol is constant around 62 to 65 bpm); my INR levels are pretty stable usually in the range of 2.2 to 2.7, and my blood sugar, as discussed above. I'm afraid food manufacturers and farmers are progressively poisoning us and unless we learn to read and understand food labelling we are for the most part doomed healthwise. Preservatives etc are a big worry. I might add my BP prior and at the time AF mugged me was around 138/80 with HR of 88 plus - all resting by the way.

Hope this is of interest.

John

Suzy1954 profile image
Suzy1954 in reply to

Certainly is john. I also watch what I eat. Have never had a sweet tooth but have changed a lot of what I eat. No processed food and eat low glycemic. I’ll wait and see what comes from next week and also next blood test. Thanks.

cycleman73 profile image
cycleman73 in reply to

Do you not think the medics are also progressively poisoning us too ?

When we have to take meds to counter side effects it becomes a snowball routine.

We have friends who on a daily basis swallow 16 pills, can't imagine the stew in

their guts. No thanks that's not for me ! Good luck.

jwsonoma profile image
jwsonoma

My blood sugar is a little high but my doctor insists I take 1.25 mg of bisoprolol to counter act potential dangerous side effects of Flecainide. It has not been getting worse so I am living with it.

maxred1 profile image
maxred1

So I have been feeling quite unwell recently. I am on 10mg per day Bisoprolol, with 320mcg Digoxin. All bloods, and I have been tested for everything, appear normal. We were looking to reduce the Digoxin level, but we are also looking at the level of Biso. Permanent AF for three years now. Will monitor with your comment in mind.

cycleman73 profile image
cycleman73 in reply to maxred1

Hi Maxred1, well I am not a medical man but I DO tend to do my own thing. I was on 5mg

bisoprolol originally and I felt as if I was in suspended animation so reduced to 1.25mg, that is until I was diagnosed with pre diabetes last year. Have been off all meds now (self imposed) and feel normal, plus I cycle every day and stay fit slim and hopefully healthy.

And no more pre diabetes thankfully. I sure don't want diabetes in any shape or form.

I experience AF very occasionally now mainly after hard cycling. If you suffer AF almost permanently then clearly that is a little more serious so your doctor will take care of you.

All the best with that and I hope you will have a more comfortable life very soon.

maxred1 profile image
maxred1

Thank you cycleman appreciate your comments. Yes it is a dilemma because is it the AF, or is it the meds that make you so miserable. I do think it is the meds, but I am on high doses which are there for a purpose, to keep my heart pumping in a controlled state. A friend, similar doses to me could not stand it any longer and has totally stopped the meds, overnight.He does tell me it was on the advice of a cardiologist who is monitoring him but I am watching him carefully. I am not convinced that is the way. In the interim I am workig with the GP to ensure I have no other issues at play, then we will look to drop the meds, initially drop 62.5 mcg Digoxin to 250mcg a day and possibly the Biso down to 7.5 mg per day. Then check the rate control with that level against how I actually feel.

seasider18 profile image
seasider18

How does an optician diagnose pre diabetes ?

cycleman73 profile image
cycleman73 in reply to seasider18

By looking round the back of the eye. Opticians are extremely skilled and apparently have

the ability to diagnose most things via the eyes. In my case this was confirmed by my GP.

Why do you ask Seasider18 , are you reluctant to pay a visit to your optician he he ?!

seasider18 profile image
seasider18 in reply to cycleman73

I was diagnosed as T2 in 2004 and control it by diet. Actually I was told that I'm glucose intolerant but that phrase was later taken out of the medical language and one must now be classed as T2.

I have regular eye checks and had my cataracts done about five years ago. I also have an annual diabetic eye check that has shown no sign of diabetic retinopathy so what's to find ?

seasider18 profile image
seasider18 in reply to cycleman73

As I've worn Specs for 74 years I've seen many an optician:-)

One strange thing is that any time I had my eyes tested and took my prescription to another optician they were never right. As glasses are so much cheaper in America I once took my prescription to New York and bought two pairs. They did not seem right but it was suggested I just needed to get used to the new prescription. I later took them back and they retested my eyes and said that the prescription was wrong.

Same another time here when I took my prescription to Boots. They asked the other optician to recompense them for their work. She disagreed and wanted to test my eyes again and argued that hers was still right. Eventually she paid up.

in reply to cycleman73

Exactly so. Some months after my AF diagnosis I went for eyesight examination and the optometrist asked me if I had or was experiencing heart/cardiac issues. I asked why and she said from the map of the eye at the back she could see there was an issue. I explained to her about my AF diagnosis some months earlier.

John

Morzine profile image
Morzine

I know it definitely upset my eyes for a few months on 2.5 and getting used to being in the tablets.......it was Making my usual distance eyesight blurry......my chum was on it too and had the same problem.....we both calmed down with our eyes when on a lower dose.......1.25.....I’m not sure if it was lowering the dose or just body adjusting......but very interesting what you’ve said , I’ve not had a blood test since I started these tablets a year and half ago......

Sue

cycleman73 profile image
cycleman73 in reply to Morzine

No Morzine, it's not the effect Bisoprolol has on your eyesight.

Biso can bring on prediabetes by messing about with the insulin production thus

increasing blood sugar levels which then leads to diabetes.

The optician examines the backs of eyes and detect their state of health.

In my case my optician sent me away with a letter addressed to my GP declaring

prediabetes. My conclusion was that bisoprolol had brought on the prediabetes.

Morzine profile image
Morzine in reply to cycleman73

Ah ok......

Zezee profile image
Zezee

Very true ....it looks like all beta blockers can bring on diabetes...I was on bisoporlol changed to Nebivolol on 10mg (Yes am diabetic now) tried to wean myself of slowly down to 2 but when I went for pacemaker check my HR was sky high was told to go back on ....back to 10 mg ...truth be told I really feel unwell with all the meds ...no q.o.l ...am hoping to see g.p. for review soon. On 10mg Apixiban..25mg spirolactone..6,25 digoxin..plus h.b.p. pill .....recently been put on metformim ER for diabetes .....anyone on similar would be grateful to hear from how they feel.

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