beta blocker rise

Hi Berdoo/Arkansas and welcome! My first thought is why your blood sugar is running high. Yes, some meds can increase blood sugar. Are you on blood pressure medication? My doctor has me on an ACE inhibitor for blood pressure (benezapril) because this class of drugs helps to protect kidneys. Kidneys are damaged by high blood sugar as well as high blood pressure, a common problem with diabetics unfortunately.

Since you are on three diabetes meds now, I'm going to ask you what you are eating at meals. Food has a direct impact on blood sugar.

So, two things here: blood pressure and blood sugar. These are what I'm dealing with, too. Recently my blood pressure was very high and the cardiologist and my primary doctor said my anxiety was driving it up. So, now after 30 years on BP meds (I just turned 70.), I learn that stress, anxiety and our nerves in general can raise our blood pressure. And of course the doctors tell us to cut down on salty food. The cardio also told me that pain can raise our BP. I broke my big toe last month (long story about that) and he felt that my BP was very high because of the combination of the pain, stress and the anxiety that resulted. I have a nuclear ECHO and treadmill test this week to confirm the heart is not involved though. So there are several external factors that can raise blood pressure, including being overweight.

Blood sugar can also respond to stress and pain as well as being sick. These can raise blood sugar just as some other medications can - which is why diabetics need to be aware of the side effects of the meds they're on. However, the biggest factor in our blood sugar is the food we eat. I know what the ADA says and I've also been to classes for diabetes nutrition but what I have found is following their guidelines made my blood sugar very very high. I am not a doctor but it is well-known that carbs raise blood sugar high - they include bread, pasta (anything made with flour), potatoes, rice and anything that has sugar. Cereal, beans, crackers all raise blood sugar. By avoiding these, I have controlled my blood sugar to where I am only on metformin and my last A1c was 5.9. For more information about blood sugar, you can read the link in my signature below. One thing to keep in mind is that if you change what you're eating and your blood sugar comes down, then your diabetes meds may have to be adjusted. I would talk this over with your doctor.

thanks for the info. I see no reduction in bp from my lasix. I take 1/2 a tab.
doc said I can stop. and my sugar and bp are sure related. and salt is a real kicker.

I'm good on diab diet, I've just has a second 7 week diab class at the hospital. my a1c has gone from 7 to 6.7, so I am getting there. that 45-60 carbs is a biggy. I am working on the salt limit of 2000 from my cardio doc.
i take lomotil amaryl ropinole irbesartan metformin 2x500 carvedilol 2x25 fenofibrate clonodine dicyclomine b12 d2 lasix 40mg pot 20 and more comming??? the docs seem egar to presribe.

Ok, first, you understand I am not a doctor but I have lived with diabetes for over 10 years and diabetes runs in my family. I will tell you from my personal experience that eating that many carbs (45 to 60) will definitely keep your blood sugar high all day and give you high fasting. Please read this link. It's from the website that's also in my signature. https://www.bloodsugar101.com/what-is-a-normal-blood-sugar In order to get blood sugar down to real normal levels, we cannot eat 45 to 60 grams of carbs a day. Eating like that will keep blood sugar very high and necessitate different diabetes meds. My suggestion is to cut way down on those carbs: cut down on bread and don't eat cereal or crackers, anything made with flour. Potatoes will keep blood sugar very high, too. By cutting back on carbs, you will also lower your triglycerides and cholesterol.

I don't know why your bp is that high. I do know that steady exercise like walking, swimming, using an exercise bike, etc. can help bring bp down. Also, be aware that processed food has a lot of salt already. Anxiety and physical pain can also raise bp - I know this from my own personal experience. Losing weight (if you are overweight) will bring down both your bp and your blood sugar but I don't know if you are overweight.

I will tell you that if you do change what your eating, you need to test your blood sugar more often. If you cut back on carbs, you will definitely not need as many diabetes meds but this is something you need to talk to your doctor about. For your information, we do not need to eat bread products or potatoes for nutrition or energy. We can get plenty of nutrition and energy from fresh vegetables and other food.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

yes, I agree bread, potatoe, pasta was one of the many things I had to get rid of. I have a long list of nono's.
exercise and weight loss would be wonderful, unfortunately my leg has given up, sharp pains, so moving around is difficult. I have had diab diagnosis for at least 20 years. so I have learned a lot and am still learning. I have just discovered jardiance which causes the kidneys to flush more sugar. especially for my morning fasting highs at 190. so it is helping. I have about 10 doctors, one for each speciality. But only my GP, for diab. and he is a type 1. so he knows what he is talking about. I have seen a few nurse pract that are diabetic and also helpfull. My cancer is slowly creeping back, that can upset my eq. with a 6.7 a1c my doctors are hesitant to extend and add meds, they just say I am doing fine. I realize there is some controversy regarding a1c, but I have to stick with the docs I have. at 76 changing midstream is hard to do.

Diabetes killed my grandmother and my mother (after they had to amputate her leg due to diabetes); my brother had triple by-pass surgery due to heart disease caused by diabetes per his cardiologist, and my sister is on the verge of dialysis because of long denying that she should change her eating plan for her diabetes. She was following the American Diabetes Association's diet plan. So I have lots of reasons to keep my blood sugar as close to normal as I can. The website in my signature and link is totally about diabetes which is about blood sugar.

I eat protein (beef, chicken, fish, pork and lamb), lots of fresh leafy greens, fresh or frozen vegetables but no potatoes, nuts, cheese, peanut butter but nothing made with flour or sugar. On some rare occasions, I will eat a piece of really great French or Italian bread or an ice cream treat but rarely as I said. My cholesterol and triglycerides are good. I'm 70 and I was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago but I know my blood sugar was elevated before being diagnosed - however back then I didn't know anything about what normal blood sugar was. I do now though.

Berdoo, I wish you the best of health and I hope you and the family have a great holiday, Christmas and New Year in Arkansas or California, wherever you live! We're outside of Memphis where it's 52 and sunny on this beautiful day!

I am type two insulin dependent 20 yrs. Double by pass.. surgeon said, smoking and diabetes.bi have diabetic retinapathy. One blown...two yrs of laser, intraocular injections. Many bleeds, left vitrectomy.

Diabetic neuropathy...sounds maybe you. Feet first usually xx legs, limbs, now peripheral neuropathy. went into acute renal failure and inotropic heart failure, post surgery. Still at hosp.ni stopped urinating.

My kidneys on the improve. Diabetes wrecks them. I am the poster child of overweight, but good Triggs and Chol. Did bloods, got endo first of Jan. A1c fasting glucose etc will be known. I was using a mobility scooter that died. Stick many yrs fighting it.

Diabetes a creeper. Does damage and damage presents when it has already damaged ya. Kidneys get wrecked..BP gets messed up. D by pass wrecks ya breathing if ya carrying weight .bi struggle with reading long posts. Two new glasses. Lucky keys on pH BB are vision enhanced.

HT

I do believe it's never too late to turn our lives around. Seriously. If I had continued on the path given to me by the dietitian I was referred to, I would have been on more diabetes medication and my average blood sugar would be higher because of their diet. Fortunately, I was told about the website in my signature and the book Diabetes Solution by Richard Bernstein, M.D. He is a type 1 and a medical doctor.

If our blood sugar is high or even just "elevated" according to the charts on that website, we do run the risk of serious complications. This is why it is imperative to bring our blood sugar down to as near normal as we can NOT the suggested guidelines or goals for diabetics that we find in pamphlets distributed from medical offices.

Uncontrolled high blood sugar can cause blindness from glaucoma or retinopathy if these conditions are not treated and this is why all diabetics (and older people) need to see an ophthalmologist to check the health of their eyes at least once a year. Also, twice a year we need lab work for blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney and liver function.

And finally, we need to help ourselves and the best way to do that is by what we eat. If we know that carbs raise blood sugar, don't eat them. No white food except cauliflower!

Good for you, Berdoo! I wish you strength and good luck with your goal! If you have any questions or just need an ear (or a shoulder), just come and post!