Health News
Beta Blockers and Diabetes
June 28, 2006
Beta-blockers are often prescribed to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. New finding suggest that beta-blockers may in fact increase a persons risk of developing diabetes. The newer drugs that are not beta-blockers are better at treating hypertension help protect against heart attack and stroke and are not prone to causing diabetes.
About 40% of adults have high blood pressure. For a person with diabetes, high blood pressure is twice as likely to develop. When high blood pressure is not treated it can lead to heart disease and stroke due to damaged veins and arteries.