Post by Steve on Nov 16, 2017 16:14:42 GMT -8
Diabetics are prone to cardio problems. High blood pressure is a common problem. Cholesterol can be a problem, so statins become part of your vocabulary, along with ACE inhibitors, and possibly metoprolol, a beta-blocker!
What is a beta-blocker? There are beta cells in the adrenal glands that secrete epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, the stuff that makes you react to danger! That affects both your heart rate and blood pressure. Blocking the beta-cells from doing that keeps you relaxed and that is easier on the body. Being so relaxed, you might just yawn if a lion jumps out at you! A beta-blocker is common for a diabetic dealing with the threat of heart problems.
Technical Explanation
"Nearly all type 2 diabetic patients are suffering from arterial hypertension. The latter usually becomes manifest earlier than the diabetic metabolic disturbances. Adequate treatment often requires a combination of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. Metoprolol is still the most frequently used beta-adrenoceptor antagonist in this setting. Some clinical trials have shown carvedilol to be superior in improving the metabolic situation and prevention of secondary disorders caused by diabetes. Therefore carvedilol may be the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist of choice for treatment of patients at high cardiovascular risk and especially for diabetes type 2. As comparisons to metoprolol succinate as well as to optimally dosed metoprolol tartrate are missing, a definite superiority of carvedilol cannot be assumed." —PubMed (a government site)
Did you get all that? Did your doctor ever discuss the option for carvedilol? or were you just sent off to get metoprolol?
Now,in Plain English:
"This drug works by blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in your body (such as epinephrine) that affect the heart and blood vessels. This lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and strain on the heart." —WebMD
Much better, huh? What I now wonder is why I used to use metoprolol but was taken off it after maybe a year? When I only see the doc every several months and my BP is checked then, what indicated I was better?
What is a beta-blocker? There are beta cells in the adrenal glands that secrete epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, the stuff that makes you react to danger! That affects both your heart rate and blood pressure. Blocking the beta-cells from doing that keeps you relaxed and that is easier on the body. Being so relaxed, you might just yawn if a lion jumps out at you! A beta-blocker is common for a diabetic dealing with the threat of heart problems.
Technical Explanation
"Nearly all type 2 diabetic patients are suffering from arterial hypertension. The latter usually becomes manifest earlier than the diabetic metabolic disturbances. Adequate treatment often requires a combination of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. Metoprolol is still the most frequently used beta-adrenoceptor antagonist in this setting. Some clinical trials have shown carvedilol to be superior in improving the metabolic situation and prevention of secondary disorders caused by diabetes. Therefore carvedilol may be the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist of choice for treatment of patients at high cardiovascular risk and especially for diabetes type 2. As comparisons to metoprolol succinate as well as to optimally dosed metoprolol tartrate are missing, a definite superiority of carvedilol cannot be assumed." —PubMed (a government site)
Did you get all that? Did your doctor ever discuss the option for carvedilol? or were you just sent off to get metoprolol?
Now,in Plain English:
"This drug works by blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in your body (such as epinephrine) that affect the heart and blood vessels. This lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and strain on the heart." —WebMD
Much better, huh? What I now wonder is why I used to use metoprolol but was taken off it after maybe a year? When I only see the doc every several months and my BP is checked then, what indicated I was better?