Mrs. D, question please?
 

I was on another forum for people with hypertension. There is a long thread about the dangers of using beta blockers,and they are causing diabetes. One perosn claimed that they had diabetes becuase of their Beta Blocker use.

I have been on Beta blockers (minax) for a combo of reasons which include migraine,hypertension and anxiety. I don't know how I can do without them.

Is there significant merit in these claims that they cause diabetes? How common is this?



Thank you

here is a good overview on beta blockers:
 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/beta-blockers/HI00059

I don't recall reading that they CAUSE diabetes in the past

H. But they can affect how people perceive low blood sugar, and so they have a warning for diabetics. The drug blocks the signs of hypoglycemia. That does not mean it changes blood sugar, only blocks the nervous system's symptoms. So a person gets no warning when blood sugar dips, and may faint, etc.

The only major thing I have seen over the years is the effect on blood lipids.

Beta Blockers are no longer considered "first line" in primary hypertension treatment in USA. The trend is to ACE inhibitors now.

But beta blockers are still used very frequently.
The older propranolol does cause depression and memory loss, esp in older patients. But the newer cardioselective ones do that less so.

There are some new concerns.... however:
http://www.informationaboutdiabetes....e-diabetes.php
I don't know if this worry, is because people with high blood pressure already are insulin resistant, or
that the study pool was pre-diabetic. If you have good dietary habits, that would be a plus for you.
I don't think it is cast in stone however, that you could get diabetes. (until more information is gathered)

Here is a very new article on the topic:
Here is an article on various drug combos and diabetes incidence:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum

We will have to wait for more I think on this subject. Watch your diet in the meantime.

Thanks Mrs. D,
 

I don't want to start to panic, but Lord knows I don't need anymore health problems at this stage of my life. I am on a diet right now, I have been going well. I beleive Minax is a selective beta blocker, and less likely to cause diabetes. (I think)

But my doctor has never mentioned this to me, and I have been concerned because of what I have been reading.

Could you call your doc and maybe ask on the phone even so you feel more comfortable?

I can't call my doctor.
 

He has become a premodonna of sorts. He demands to see me where he can say "don't worry about it",and then bill me $80.

So understand. I had a doc I had just seen a few weeks before and needed a note and they said I had to make another apt before he would write it. It was for my apt complex. Greedy and just adds to agervation which is not good for the physical health.

"He has become a premodonna of sorts. He demands to see me where he can say "don't worry about it",and then bill me $80."

This is ridiculous! Can you find someone else who is not quite so impressed with himself? I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to get a simple question answered without having to go in and incur extra expense.

My friend here, has a doc with a Nurse Practioner working with him. The NP answers things like this, and is an angel about returning calls. When I hear my friend describe some of the things the NP has addressed, or taken care of, it sounds like she knows more than the doctor she works for...

Cathie

The good bit is that
 

He is my regular GP and has alot of understanding and experience now with PN,he has managed my case from go,and has all my specialist notes and such. The problem I have is due to my vocation, when someone, be it a doctor,a new aquaintance (sp?), my husban'd boss etc... find out what I do, all of a sudden they are asking me for advice (free advice), and it somehow turns into me helping them.

I just had enough of my son's coach for this reason, I am looking for a new coach. Not only does he charge a small fortune for 30 minute lessons, and finishes exactly after 28 minutes, but 10-15 minutes he spends trying to extract information off of me consistantly.

I have had other doctor's do the same thing. I have had parents at swimmng latch on to me, and follow me around asking me questions. It's almost crazy.

People assume that everyone in my line of work is loaded, but what they don't realise is that I am actually loaded with mortgage debt and that's about it!!

I know the doctor over charges me. 10 minutes and I am being charged for a long consultation, Yeah Right!! But no matter where I go it's bound to happen again. Plus he is a good doctor so I stick with him.

Our medical standards are way below America's. You only need attend university here and graduate with a 4 year degree in medicine. That's it, and now your a doctor!!! Also we are in desperate need of doctor's and the medical centres are packed with GP's who barely speak English and have had medical training in "Mongolia" or "Mumbai", and they come over here and practice medicine.

It's so scarry at the incompetance of these people! The hospitals are flooded with people who have gotten low quality medical care at these medical centres and now need emergency care. So when you find a descent doctor who speaks English and graduated from a top Sydney University, and has some years behind him, believe me you stick with him.

Until they raise the bar, for these foreign doctor's that have overflooded our Medical establishments and also raise the qualifications of home grown doctor's it will be difficult to find any sort of quality around here. Top doctor's end up working in hospitals. My local medical centre is almost a joke. It stinks like curry!