MEDICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE II DIABETES: BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION
December 23rd, 2010
Diabetes
MEDICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE II DIABETES: BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONMillions of middle-aged Westerners have high blood pressure. As a person with diabetes, you certainly are at great risk for developing this potentially dangerous condition. About half of all persons with Type II diabetes have high blood pressure problems. You also may have a couple extra strikes against you if you’re middle-aged and overweight.Although the symptoms of high blood pressure (also called hypertension) are usually silent – just like many of the symptoms of your Type II diabetes – the potential for major health problems is loud and clear. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to stroke and death.Fortunately, there are many blood pressure medications available for your doctor to prescribe. Although all these medications, when taken every day, are effective in lowering blood pressure, some of them can also affect blood glucose levels. In addition, some can cause fatigue that interferes with exercise or activity, some can raise blood fat levels, and some can damage the kidneys or eyes.Because of the potential effects on other body systems, your doctor will select a blood pressure medication that works well with your efforts to control your diabetes. (Don’t ever take any medication that has been prescribed for a friend or relative. Although that person may have hypertension just like you, the medication he or she takes may have adverse effects on you.)All the drugs used to treat hypertension have the potential of lowering blood pressure too much, leading to dizziness, especially when you stand up quickly or get out of bed in the morning. Be aware of this and take precautions to avoid taking a spill. If the dizziness or wooziness persists, talk with your doctor about it.If your blood glucose measurements go out of kilter when you start on a new medication or a different dosage, record the results in your diary and contact your doctor. A change in drug or drug dosage may be needed. The same advice holds true if you have been taking a drug at the same dosage for a while and suddenly start having abnormal blood glucose readings.Among the most popular medications used to treat hypertension are the angiotensins converting enzyme inhibitors (or ACE inhibitors). These drugs cause few side effects, don’t damage the kidneys, and are effective in people with diabetes. A group of medications called calcium channel blockers also are both effective and relatively safe for people with diabetes.Two other kinds of blood pressure-lowering medications are called alpha blockers and beta blockers. Alpha blockers tend to be used more commonly than beta blockers in persons with diabetes because they have less effect on blood glucose. Beta blockers are sometimes prescribed for persons with heart problems, so if you’re taking this type of drug you need to be especially aware of the possibility of the drug causing a low blood glucose reaction.*29/210/5*
