Diuretics (also known as “water pills”) are a drug that is prescribed as a treatment for high blood pressure, but the problem with diuretics and diabetes is that they disrupt blood sugar control. Diuretics cause more water and salt to be removed from the body, through an increase of urine. As excess water and salt are eliminated, the heart pumps less blood and more blood will flow into the tissues of the body. This helps lower blood pressure, which decreases the risk of heart attack or stroke. While this is of great benefit for those with diabetes, the blood sugar effects are a great concern, and diuretics also cause frequent urination (in fact, that’s the point), but diabetics already have increased urination due to the disease. Other side effects of diuretics include muscle cramps, reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and fatigue. A study that appeared in the European Heart Journal (which looked at the connection between diuretics and diabetes) found a link between diuretics, metabolism of carbohydrates and glucose tolerance [http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/suppl_G/68.abstract]. They recommended that people with diabetes avoid diuretic drugs.
Diuretics, Diabetes Mellitus and the Paradox of Diabetes Insipidus
To complicate the issue of diuretics and diabetes, there is a condition known as diabetes insipidus, which vastly differs from diabetes mellitus. Both cause polyuria (excessive urination), but while in diabetes mellitus this is brought on by high glucose levels and sugar in the urine that takes excess water with it, diabetes insipidus’s polyuria is caused by a problem with the anti-diuretic hormone – either its production, or the kidney’s response to it. In the latter case, diuretics may actually have an antidiuretic effect. That is, the link between thiazide diuretics and diabetes insipidus has been found to be a beneficial one [http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/15/11/2948.full]. For people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, however, diuretics can be dangerous, and alternative treatments for high blood pressure are recommended.
Diabetes And Diuretics: Alternative Treatment For High Blood Pressure
There are healthy alternatives to treat high blood pressure, so you can avoid the health risks of diuretics and diabetes. Diet and aerobic exercise are the most important, and they have the added benefit of lowering blood sugar and preventing diabetic symptoms also. The best diet includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, healthy fats and oils. Certain minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium have been found to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure, so make sure you are not deficient in these. Herbs to avoid that may cause high blood pressure include ephedra, ginseng, licorice and rosemary oil. Stress may also contribute to high blood pressure (and other health issues). For this, yoga or some other relaxation technique is highly recommended.
