Question

Drugs Affecting the Autonomic Nervous System A 47-year-old female patient is in for a follow-up visit to monitor her treatment for type 2 Diabetes. You added regular insulin to her treatment regimen last month. She tells you that she has not had any symptoms of hypoglycemia with the new plan and her glucose levels have been between 60 and 80. She tells you that her visit to her cardiologist went well and she was prescribed a new medication, atenolol.

1. Discuss the possible complications when patients with diabetes are treated with a beta blocker. Are certain beta blockers more likely to create problems more than are others?
2. What action of beta blockers is a concern if taken by patients with a diagnosis of diabetes? What educational measures must be discussed with this patient if a beta blockers is medically indicated?
3. Describe any changes to the treatment plan that are important to address considering her glucose reading.

Answer 1

Beta blockers can complicate diabetes treatment by masking symptoms of hypoglycemia and impairing glucose metabolism. Non-selective beta blockers like propranolol are more likely to create glucose-related problems. Patient education on hypoglycemia symptoms and blood sugar monitoring is crucial if a beta blocker is medically indicated.

Step-by-step explanation:

When patients with diabetes are treated with beta blockers, there can be several complications. Beta blockers can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it difficult for patients to recognize and treat low blood sugar levels. Some beta blockers, such as propranolol, can also worsen insulin resistance and impair glucose metabolism, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.

There are certain beta blockers, like propranolol, that are more likely to create problems in patients with diabetes. These non-selective beta blockers can interfere with glucose regulation, whereas selective beta blockers like atenolol have a lower risk of causing glucose-related complications.

If a patient with diabetes needs to take a beta blocker, it is important to discuss the potential effects on blood glucose levels. The patient should be educated about the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and taught how to monitor their blood sugar regularly. It may be necessary to adjust the diabetes treatment plan, such as insulin dosage, to accommodate for the interaction between the beta blocker and glucose regulation.