borderline diabetic? What medications can cause this?

[PollyDoodle]

I have been told by my GP that following my annual blood tests my blood sugar levels are raised suggesting I could be borderline diabetic. This has really shocked me as there is no known history of diabetes either side of my parental families and I am not obese, although a tad overweight. I was wondering if any meds are known to raise blood sugar levels and does anyone have any experience of the same problem. (I'm 74)

[Peony4575]

Apparently beta blockers increase your chance of developing type 2 diabetes by 50% the research is available on line . Yet more to love about beta blockers . Don’t know what medication you are on ??

[PollyDoodle in reply to Peony4575]

Candesartan - which I've just read causes a cough like Ramipril !!! at least I know why I'm coughing now, and Viazlem. Not sure if these are really beta blockers. and I've just read statins can also have an effect. I fought for ages not to take them. Good cholesterol too high. low ok

[Peony4575 in reply to PollyDoodle]

No they are not beta blockers . Calcium channel blockers were shown to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics and no causal link between candesartan and diabetes has been reported as far as I can see but bear in mind I am neither a doctor nor a pharmacist

[PollyDoodle in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you for that, my understanding from what I read, was they weren't beta blockers

[DevonHubby1]

Wife also fell into pre diabetic net once they were doing annual tests for her PAF meds. She listened to advice GP gave and changed diet slightly. Shes just had her annual tests back and shes now out of pre diabetic zone even with her meds.

[PollyDoodle in reply to DevonHubby1]

Thank you, needless to say I have been researching and have slightly changed my diet. Hopefully everything will soon go back to how it should be

[Auriculaire]

I had to have blood tests before my hip op. Unfortunately they were to be done on a stated date. The evening before I went into afib and did not revert to NSR till about an hour before having the blood drawn. My glucose level was really high - well into diabetic range whereas normally it is hovering just before or just past the end of the normal range. I have a glucose metre so I did an intensive testing - fasting , before meals and one and two hours after meals for about 10 days . Ended up with very sore fingers! All was normal . I have been doing this twice a year for nearly a decade. My breakfast post prandials have gone up a little and are higher than I would like them to be but when I showed the results to my GP who was concerned about the blood test result he was perfectly happy. What I did notice was that on mornings where I had not slept well the night before the level was higher for the fasting. I did a search and found that there are all sorts of things that can put up blood sugar temporarily and afib attacks are among them! Glucose metres are easy to use and maybe getting one and testing regularly will show whether this is a permanent problem or a temporary blip. The really important readings are the after meal ones as these show how your body is handling various foods. If you are wanting to be proactive you could try cutting down on carb intake and especially wheat products. I find bread - even the homemade wholemeal we eat puts up my readings more than anything else.

[Hidden]

Hi,My Dad was diabetic, mature onset. I have been added salt free for several decades now, and added sugar free for maybe around 8 to 10 years. For me beta blockers are irrelevant, other than the fact they do their job very, very well. Diet is totally relevant, as is a shedload of lifestyle stuff too, exercise for one.

As a precaution I have my own blood sugar meter and periodically, several times a year totally at random I check my own blood sugar. Annually my GP runs the Hb1ac blood test. I am well into the normal range and the numbers are pretty constant.

There is another reason my GP and I are cautious ..... I am a bus driver and because I'm 76 I have to have a medical each year, both optical and general, to satisfy DVLA. One year, back in the day, during such an optical test the Optician detected in my eyes seriously raised blood sugar levels. It show up like an Ordnance survey map in the eye.

So, for me at least my meds have absolutely no bearing on my blood sugar.

John

[Hatten28]

Hello, I have type 2 diabetes and was shocked when diagnosed about 10 years ago, as like you, not overweight and no family history that anyone was aware of.my symptoms were extreme fatigue and feeling unwell, I collapsed in shop when my legs failed to support me, really embarrassed as I appeared drunk.However, I dieted cutting out all sweet treats and some carbohydrates ate healthier and was told I had reversed the condition, I have never taken any medication for diabetes, however am still checked annually, because once you have it , will be with you for life unless you ensure of your lifestyle .

I don’t think there are any specific causes why some people succumb, but at least you are borderline now and if you cut out the biscuits etc, your blood count should revert back.

Good luck

[annlynne]

Phenytoin . for a start . I'm in same situation as you but my Sfib caused a major stroke 2009 . don't drop any meds without speaking to the medics.

[Tojo2020 in reply to annlynne]

Hi PollyDoodle,

From what you posted, one test only, showed elevated blood sugars . I figured out early in my medical training that before diagnosing or treating, repeat the test - it could have been someone else's result.

Having said that DM, while not glamorous like cancer or heart disease, is every bit as debilitating and lethal. Personally, I take DM very seriously. Here is a short list of medications known to elevate blood glucose:

Steroids (also called corticosteroids). ...

Drugs that treat anxiety, ADHD, depression, and other mental health problems. ...

Birth control pills.

Drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics.

Statins to lower cholesterol.

Be well. Tom

[PollyDoodle in reply to Tojo2020]

Well I can rule out birth control pills 😂☺️Statins, which I refused to take for ages, may be the cause, or maybe as others have suggested, just old age😥