In the past, doctors were warned to use beta-blockers cautiously with those who have diabetes. However, today, many people with diabetes who've had heart attacks are on such drugs.
The reason for the change is that the benefits have been found to far exceed the risks, says the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed after a heart attack. They encourage the heart to beat slower and with less force, thereby reducing blood pressure and opening up blood flow. For people with diabetes, however, they may also block (or mask) the warning symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as heart palpitations or shakiness.
If you're taking medications for diabetes that could cause hypoglycemia and beta-blockers following a heart attack, test your blood glucose level more frequently and be aware that your normal warnings of hypoglycemia may be blunted.
Sweating, a common symptom of hypoglycemia, isn't affected by beta-blockers.
Reprinted from 101 Medication Tips for People With Diabetes[1] by Betsy A. Carlisle, Lisa A. Kroon, and Mary Anne Koda-Kimble. Copyright by the American Diabetes Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
- ^ 101 Medication Tips for People With Diabetes (www.amazon.com)
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