People with diabetes are often aware of things that can raise their blood glucose: eating too many carbohydrates, or not getting enough exercise, for example. However, in addition to this, certain medications can also cause blood sugar to rise.
Understand the medications you take
For patients who need to control their blood sugar, both hospital-prescribed medications and medications purchased directly from the pharmacy (OTC) can raise blood sugar.
Prescription drugs that can raise blood glucose include the following.
- Steroid drugs. Used to treat conditions caused by inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and allergies. Common steroid medications include hydrocortisone and prednisone. However, steroid creams (for rashes) or inhalers (for asthma) do not raise blood sugar.
- Medications for anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, other mental health problems, including clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine.
- Contraceptive pills.
- Medications used to treat high blood pressure, such as beta-receptor antagonists and thiazide diuretics.
- Statin drugs used to lower cholesterol.
- Epinephrine used for severe allergic reactions.
- High-dose asthma medications, or injectable medications needed for asthma treatment.
- Isotretinoin used to treat acne.
- Tacrolimus needed after an organ transplant.
- Some drugs used to treat HIV and hepatitis C.
OTC drugs that can raise blood sugar include the following.
- Pseudoephedrine: A decongestant added to some cold and flu medicines.
- Cough syrup: Ask your doctor if you can use it regularly or switch to a sugar-free form.
- Niacin, one of the B vitamins.
Countermeasures that can be taken
Even if it raises blood sugar, it does not mean that the use of these drugs is completely prohibited when the condition requires it. The most important thing is to work with your doctor to figure out the right course of use.
People with diabetes or who are monitoring their blood glucose, even for a cold or cough, need to ask their doctor before using a new or changing medication (remember, just being sick can cause blood glucose to rise).
Tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking for diabetes or other reasons. If you are taking a medication that affects your blood glucose, your doctor may reduce the amount or duration of that medication, and you will need to monitor your blood glucose more frequently while you are taking it.
In addition, try to do things that can help control your blood sugar levels, such as getting more exercise, eating right, and staying on the medications you need to control your blood sugar.