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Beta blockers

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
AJLang

AJLang

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
ive had to increase my calcium channel blockers because my heart rate increased again. However since increasing the tablets I keep feeling dizzy and weak. The only alternative is beta blockers but the potential side effects look awful. What experiences have other diabetics had with beta blockers please? I'm seeing the go at 9am tomorrow.
 
Hi AJ I been taking Beta Blockers for pass twenty years, only side effect is that I am alive, and my heart functions OK, I have been recently diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes, my heart medication as been adjusted,
Metfortmin and Gliclazide are controlling my Diabetes. I read about the views of the Alternative Medicine People to Beta Blockers and Statins and I have to disagree with them. Best of Luck with what ever you decide to do. Cheers clive55555
 
AJLang said:
ive had to increase my calcium channel blockers because my heart rate increased again. However since increasing the tablets I keep feeling dizzy and weak. The only alternative is beta blockers but the potential side effects look awful. What experiences have other diabetics had with beta blockers please? I'm seeing the go at 9am tomorrow.
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Hi Amanda, I was put on beta blockers after my diagnosis because they thought I'd had a heart attack. Unfortunately, at the same time I was put on 10 other medications, so it's hard to single out whether they had any particular side effects or whether other meds were the cause (I often felt nauseous). One side effect I did become aware of (which may not be a problem for you!) was when I tried to start running again - basically, they restrict the upper limit of your heart rate to around 100 bpm, so for more strenuous activity I found I ran out of energy (I would normally have a resting heart rate of around 50 bpm, but running at a maximum 170 bpm - my heart couldn't work hard enough). In your case, I think they would be worth a try, you may not get any side effects, or they may not be as bad as your current meds.
 
Hi Amanda. I've been on beta blockers (Propranalol) for about 18months following a massive internal bleed and I can't say I've noticed any problems. Reading Northie's post though, they may explain why my resting heart beat is now 50bpm which the nurse wants me to keep an eye on.
 
Thank you everyone. Your posts have all given me lots to think about. I think my main concerns are what you said about nausea Alan because I'm already on very high doses of anti-nausea medication. Plus when I was in hospital just over three years ago when the SVT tachycardia started the heart registrar said that beta blockers can prevent hypo awareness which worries me a lot. Has anyone had any experience of this?
 
AJLang said:
Thank you everyone. Your posts have all given me lots to think about. I think my main concerns are what you said about nausea Alan because I'm already on very high doses of anti-nausea medication. Plus when I was in hospital just over three years ago when the SVT tachycardia started the heart registrar said that beta blockers can prevent hypo awareness which worries me a lot. Has anyone had any experience of this?
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I imagine the concern is that they suppress the adrenalin response, which is a factor in producing hypo symptoms, and now you mention it I think this was a concern of mine at the time. It might be worth bringing the possibility of a CGM up, which could warn you, I think you ought to be a very good candidate, particularly with your gastroparesis.
 
Thanks Alan. I've tried for a CGM before but my clinic has been totally against them....and things have worsened there. At the moment they're even having difficulty with pump appointments - I haven't had one for 13 months and won't get one until the new year. Because they class me as having excellent control and, touch wood, no problem with hypos, they're not interested about CGM.
 
AJLang said:
Thanks Alan. I've tried for a CGM before but my clinic has been totally against them....and things have worsened there. At the moment they're even having difficulty with pump appointments - I haven't had one for 13 months and won't get one until the new year. Because they class me as having excellent control and, touch wood, no problem with hypos, they're not interested about CGM.
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I'd forgotten that I ask at the beginning of this year when my pump was being renewed and was told that if I wanted the CGM part I would have to pay for it, which I couldn't afford, so I kept with the Accu-Chek pump.
 
I was on Propanalol for decades. I think it's caused my heart failure, causing heart trouble when supposed to be curing it! Also, you pile the weight on. I've seen it happen with other people. Wish I'd never taken them. I should have read the leaflet but I was the kind of person that thinks the docs are godlike. Not any more!
 
Hi AJ

I was briefly on beta blockers. I felt permanently exhausted and slept each afternoon.
I also spent a lot more time on the loo and felt sick after eating. I also lost weight.
I switched to aspirin to protect heart (I know that has other side effects)
in preference to continuing with the Beta Blockers.

It is different for each of us.
 
Hi. I’m on Bisoprolol. I’ve not noticed any problems with hypo awareness or had any side effects from it .
 
Thank you everyone. Definitely different experiences with beta blockers to reflect upon. Fortunately I feel much better today on the increased dose of calcium channel blockers, so hopefully I will be able to keep with them.
 
Ljc said:
Hi. I’m on Bisoprolol. I’ve not noticed any problems with hypo awareness or had any side effects from it .
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Good grief, I'm on that now and have been since they whipped me into hospital with a blood pressure of 200 something. I didn't know it was a beta blocker. Right that's it, I'm getting my weight off and getting off all these flipping drugs. 😡
 
AJLang said:
Thanks Alan. I've tried for a CGM before but my clinic has been totally against them....and things have worsened there. At the moment they're even having difficulty with pump appointments - I haven't had one for 13 months and won't get one until the new year. Because they class me as having excellent control and, touch wood, no problem with hypos, they're not interested about CGM.
Click to expand...
I got round this by asking for a half hour appointment with my Consultant during any of his clinics and not worrying whether it was a pump one. It means I don't see the DSN along with Consultant, but I can always get hold of them if necessary.
 
I'm glad that you managed that SB2015. Unfortunately we seem to be short of diabetic consultants. I did have a non-pump appointment at the diabetic clinic last month but the consultant knew absolutely nothing about pumps and then his letter from the appointment had several mistakes, including medication errors. It was then that I realised he was a locum. I phoned the clinic about the mistakes, asking them to call me and nobody has. I need to chase that up. Fortunately I'm able to deal with the pump myself but need to keep in the pump clinic "system". Hopefully I will get a pump appointment in four months.
 
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