Requesting your feedback & suggestions for a T1 friend. He’s been taking beta blockers for 15 years as advised by his cardiologist.
Have you experienced increased hypo unawareness as a result of beta blockers? Any other side effects you attribute to beta blockers? Anyone stopped taking this med & seen improvements? If so, did you replace beta-blockers with an alternative? Thanks!
I too am on a beta blocker. I see no difference in my control. I am aware when I go low. My vision starts to get blurry. Time for those damn glucose tabs. Still on the beta blockers though. No difference for me. As far as I know I don't have any cardio issues......yet. Just test, test, test. Let us know how it goes. Take care.
Thanks, Mike. If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been taking them?
I actually just started taking a beta blocker for a cardiac condition called SVT (supraventricular tachycardia). Beta blockers can indeed cause some hypo-unawareness. From what I read, they can dampen your sympathetic nervous system's reaction to low blood sugar (like sweating, fast heart rate, agitation), so you have to be really aware of other symptoms of low blood sugar you might have, and test often enough to catch a potentially bad low. I have a CGM which helps a lot. :) I do know that different beta blockers work differently for different people, so my advice to your friend would be to talk to his doctor to see if he can try a different one that might not have the same effect on him.
Good suggestion. Thanks!
My cardio prescribed a beta blocker for me on an "as needed" basis.
My heartbeat is naturally fast...must be a genetic thing because my siblings have the same thing. When I began having the lovely hormonal issues that come with pre-menopause, I began having heart palpitations which, coupled with an already fast heartbeat, caused me great worry. Cardiologist checked everything out and diagnosed as tachycardia that wouldn't kill me but might scare me to death.
Cardio was going to put me on the beta blocker daily but I told him that I was wary of adding any more meds unless there was really a need to, as long as I knew what the problem was. Cardio then suggested the beta blocker "for the bad days". I very rarely take them although I've also learned that the beta blocker he put me on is also used for stage fright and does help with anxiety if I feel my heart pounding.
My endo, on the other hand, stated "we prefer that you only use beta blockers as needed". He didn't go on to say why but I've read the hypo unaware thinking. I am somewhat hypo unaware but it was not caused by the beta blocker because I began having this issue before I got the beta blocker. Actually the main symptom I still have with hypos is my heart pounding.
I was on beta-blockers for about six weeks at the end of 2011 due to SVT as well. I'm off them now because I hate taking medication (especially one that has side effects like masking hypoglycemia and making anaphylaxis more severe—when I'm at risk of both!) and I didn't have any additional severe/prolonged episodes which is why the beta-blocker was originally prescribed.
I didn't notice any difference in my diabetes or any other side effects other than they made me a bit tired. It's my understanding that there are different classes of beta-blockers, some block adrenaline receptors throughout the body while others just target receptors in the heart ... I believe I was on the latter type, which is less likely to cause problems with hypoglycemia unawareness.
As mentioned above, regardless of the type of beta-blocker, it's only symptoms of lows caused by adrenaline (shaking, sweating, pound heart, etc.) that are potentially blocked. Other symptoms (hunger, irritability, weakness, inability to concentrate, vision changes, etc.) are still present, so there are still symptoms there, just might have to get used to paying attention to some new ones.
About 20 years
Thanks, Jen. Good to know the other hypo symptoms are still there as warnings. Glad you no longer take them. I hate taking meds, too.
Thanks everyone. Appreciate the info to pass on.
My mother-in-law, not PWD, was recently put on beta blockers for syncope, a fainting disorder. Greatly helped her dizziness, but made her psoriasis worse.
I would rather put up with mild episodes and go to the ER in the case of a severe one (which I'd have to do anyway) than take a medication. I basically hate taking medication unless I can't function or am at risk of dying without it ... Thankfully the doctor I am seeing about the SVT issue agreed with me. :)
I'm with you. Good to have a doctor who agrees because too many throw pills at everything & anything.
Glad you weighed in. "All meds have side effects." Very helpful recommendation when the patient is predisposed.
If he has High BP? Best take something
If has had T1 for yrs? Common to start getting Unawareness to lower BG’s , use to feel it if in the 80-70’s , now not till the 50’s
Thus more testing is required
Includng Testing Over nite as well - 3-4 hrs after taking my Bedtime Basal Insulin
Just to be sure… onyl takes about 30 sec. to wake, test and go back to sleep
Like most everything else, you get used to it.
Yep, high BP & past cardiac events. He's been T1 for a long while & tests a lot. Has an enviable A1c & excellent control. Think we reach a point of questioning how many pills we really require & what they're doing to us. Thanks!
Hope I got this question correct Gerry without googling ?? Med used for high BG ??.. if this is the case I ended up with HI Potassium , while using Ramipril and went off " it" well over 1 1/2 years ago . Interesting: my BP 's at home testing and at GP's office very acceptable ..however recent blood test required to have another Potassium test done : did this morning ...this is all soooo complicated !!
They usually don't take BP correctly either. Patient shouldn't be talking when it's taken, or 5 minutes or so before. Every time mine is checked, the nurse is asking me questions. Some haven't put the cuff on correctly.
BP is highly variable. It changes constantly. My mother was told if hers is high on her home monitor, to sit quietly & take it again in 10 minutes. Vastly different readings every time she takes it.
I can live without perky! Perky sends my BP up also:) Mammograms are quite risky & yield many false positives. Radiation from machines can be at quite high levels. Whose wonderful idea was it to subject breast tissue to radiation? Don't see them putting testicles in a vise for radiation.
Feel the same about team! Save me from teams. I've seen that cartoon:))