Type 2 Diabetes - Which Medications Cause High Blood Sugar and Why Are They Prescribed?

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Some medications may cause hyperglycemia, a condition in which the blood sugar becomes very high.
If you happen to have Type 2 diabetes, these medications can cause high blood sugar levels that may potentially pose some detrimental effects to your health.
Knowing about these medications and avoiding them is essential for your safety and protection.
1.
Beta-blockers:
Beta-blockers are a set of medications known for their effectiveness against hypertension, a condition caused by increased blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias or heart-beat irregularities.
Beta-blockers are also used for post-heart attack cases to decrease the overall stress of the ailing heart.
The most common examples are:
  • tomolol
  • propanolol
  • labetalol, and
  • carvidelol
However, not all beta-blockers cause high blood sugar.
There is a certain subgroup of beta-blockers that are considered to be cardio-selective or heart-specific.
This subgroup of beta-blockers is called Beta-1-selective beta-blockers.
The most well-known examples of this subgroup include:
  • metoprolol
  • atenolol
  • acebutolol, and
  • bisoprolol
However, caution must still be observed in taking these medications because some may also produce hyperglycemia in higher doses.
2.
Thiazide diuretics:
Diuretics are a group of medications that increase your urine output.
However, they can also be used for the control of essential hypertension.
Thiazide diuretics are one of the common medications for the treatment of hypertension.
In fact, they are considered as the first-line medication for the treatment of hypertension in many countries.
This type of medication usually produces lower blood pressure by increasing your urine output and by decreasing the resistance of your blood vessel walls.
However, there are certain precautions associated with thiazide diuretics...
they can sometimes trigger increased blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
3.
Corticosteroid:
Corticosteroids belong to a group of steroid hormones naturally produced by the adrenal gland, a gland located at the top portion of both kidneys.
These hormones are important for the regulation of inflammation, stress response and infection response of the body.
Corticosteroids can also be produced synthetically and they can be used for a number of conditions such as:
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • brain tumors
  • allergic reactions
  • skin diseases, and
  • bronchial asthma attacks
The most common examples of corticosteroids include dexamethasone, prednisone and hydrocortisone.
However, synthetic corticosteroids can cause hyperglycemia.
In fact, according to a study published the Endocrine Practice in August 2006, hyperglycemia usually happens in admitted patients who receive high doses of corticosteroids.
4.
Niacin:
Niacin is a type of vitamin B.
It is a water-soluble vitamin found in poultry products, fish, dairy products, meat and nuts.
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is usually used for the treatment of pellagra, a condition that results from severe niacin deficiency.
However, according to an article published by Pharmacotherapy in 2001, niacin can potentially cause high blood sugar by increasing the resistance to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
Source...
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