Beta Blocker Warning

[Rich]

I am not an expert at this by any means, Bob H. sure knows a whole lot more than I do.
Here is the problem.
As we have discussed before, beta blockers can affect your cholesterol levels.
They can raise the level of triglycerides, and lower the level of good cholesterol.
In addition they can mask the symptoms of sugar diabetes.
My wife has been on Antenolol for about three years.
Before she went on it a doctor told her she had a very slight increase in her sugar level and to watch it, which she did.
But after going on the beta blocker, her sugar levels appeared perfectly normal, and that was doing blood tests every three months.
Recently she got off the beta blocker for a different reason.
Two weeks later she had another blood test and it showed her to be a full blown diabetic!!
So I would say if you are getting up there in years, or have a family history of diabetes and are taking a beta blocker,BE CAREFUL!!
Also I would like to ask anyone in a similar situation for any resources such as web-sites, books, etc, that would show a diet for someone fighting high cholesterol and diabetes as well.

Rich

 

[Marguerite53]

Thank you for that information. I so sorry for your wife. We have a friend who has competently managed his new-found diabetes with diet. He looks great. Very healthy. But, of course, always the blood testing strips and always conscious of everything he eats.

My triglycerides shot up several months ago and I've been on Atenolol for awhile. My good cholesterol was always on the low side. My internist mentioned that the surgery should help all of those things. Unfortunately, since I was just 2 weeks post op when she mentioned that, I couldn't have cared less about her remark and just filed it in the back of my mind. Now that I have your warning, I will keep it in mind and ask her soon. Right now I'm experiencing post surgery arrythmias and need to adjust meds, probably.

Ugh! What a chess game it is to deal with our health!! Ah well -- as everyone says.... it sure beats the alternative!!

Thanks again, Rich.

Marguerite

 

[Der Biermeister]

I may be experiencing the same thing. Been on Toprol now for about 2.5 months. Before, I was borderline diabetic with glucose in the 120 range.

Now it is 90 and all looks good. Too good for my belief.

 

[Phyllis]

Hi Rich,
Thanks for the warning and best wishes to your wife. When I was diagnosed with a borderline high glucose number, I bought this book and found it to be very helpful:
"Conquering Diabetes" by Anne Peters who is the director of a USC clinical diabetes program. Also if you do a search on Amazon you will come up with numerous books on diet, etc. The American Daibetes website is also very helpful.

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the info. I copied your post over to a word document and will take it with my on my next doctor(s) visit to discuss.

This will surely be another thing for me to have checked on a regular basis. Hope things are OK with your wife.

Rob

 

[Rich]

Thanks to all for the info and good wishes for my boss........I mean my wife.
I will pass all this along to her.
On the serious side it is a tough sistuation for her.
Time will tell,
Rich

 

[hensylee]

Ditto what Rob said. My dr recently took me off atenolol and rxed Toprol.

Hope Mrs Rich is getting on better. Please give her our best wishes.

 

[Nancy]

Thanks for this info. It might explain why Joe had an elevated diabetes test a while back. His card. was trying out several different beta blockers around that time. Fortunately, Joe cannot tolerate them and went off them. I haven't heard of any more elevated readings since.