Pharmacotherapy Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 4, 02/09/2009

Question

Why can diabetic patients taking beta blockers use diaphoresis (sweating) as a sign of a hypoglycemic episode but possibly not tachycardia or tremors like other diabetic patients who are not receiving beta blockers?

Answer

There are 23.6 million children and adults (7.8 percent of the population) in the United States alone that have diabetes mellitus (DM).¹  Unfortunately, 65 percent of the deaths in diabetic patients are due to heart disease and stroke.  In fact, adults with DM are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease and/or a stroke than adults without diabetes.²  The elevated cardiovascular risk in diabetics is partially due to the high prevalence (about 73 percent of all diabetics) of hypertension (defined as ≥ 130/80 mm Hg) for which treatment with beta blockers is indicated. ²  Thus, the use of beta blocking agents is relatively common in those living with DM.