Q. After my doctor prescribed the diuretic Lasix to keep fluid levels under control, I developed ringing in the ears, high uric acid levels and prediabetes. No one warned me about such side effects. Now that I have type 2 diabetes, what can I do to control my blood sugar?
A. Diuretics like furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT or HCTZ) can raise uric acid levels as well as blood sugar. Dozens of other medications from statins to steroids like prednisone can also boost circulating glucose.
Ask your doctor if there is another drug that would be appropriate. If the prescription cannot be changed, you may want to explore some of our non-drug approaches for helping control blood sugar. They include following a low-carb diet, exercising (especially with friends), managing stress, enjoying coffee and adding cinnamon to some favorite foods.
We are sending you our Guide to Managing Diabetes so that you can have all the details on these and other approaches. Yours is certainly not the first story we have heard in which someone took prescribed medications and reacted by developing diabetes.
