[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by Rob43

Hi, What is the big reason why doctors put people like me on a water pill a day? My doctor I had two years ago just told me the all people that take heart medicine and are diabetics need to take a water pill a day. This doctor of mine now still has me take this water pill a day to.

Rob

That's good to know. Does anyone know why this is? Can the heart medicine build up in the system, or stay in the system to long with out the dieuritc?

Are there any other diabetics on here that take heart medications?

[August]

I have information in my archives about hydroclorothiazide, being viewed as a possible "primary cause" of diabetes. I'll find it and post it here tomorrow.

The recommendation for diabetics is to use Lasix (furosimide), as a diuretic, and to no longer use hydro-chloro-thiazide. But don't expect all doctors to know this. The volume of medical knowledge is doubling every 3.5 years. Every month a blizzard of studies, findings, new discoveries, and recommendations are published. No one can keep up with it.

-August

[princesslinda]

Rob: Have you had any problems with congestive heart failure that you know of? A lot of times, people who have this problem are put on a diuretic such as HCTZ to keep fluid from building up around the heart, thus making it work harder to pump. Have you had swelling in your extremities? Also, the urology group I work for puts people with a history of kidney stones due to increased sodium levels on HCTZ to make them empty more and not have such a sodium build-up that kidney stones form.

No matter what the reason you're on it, you shouldn't be urinating that many times a day.

Also, how're your potassium levels? Losing fluid that quickly could deplete your potassium and cause problems as well (hope I didn't miss this info in a previous post).

[August]

excerpt:
"I am wondering whether the HCTZ could have caused the diabetes. I have read a few studies from 1989-90 which associate thiazide drugs with the development of diabetes. See, for example, N.Eng.J.Med. 1989; 321:868-873. The studies concluded that thiazide drugs cause insulin resistance -- and may cause or significantly increase the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Subsequent articles criticized the studies' conclusions because the studies involved mostly overweight, older individuals who were taking HCTZ for high blood pressure (not for kidney stones). Thus, the critics concluded that most of the subjects who developed diabetes or glucose intolerance during HCTZ therapy would have developed it anyway and that the thiazides may have merely unmasked latent diabetes that was already in existence. However, despite these criticisms, the recently published Johns Hopkin Guide to Diabetes discusses thiazides as though they may cause diabetes".
see:
children with DIABETES - Ask the Diabetes Team

[Rob43]

Hi, I have no history of heart trouble but I do take 5 mgs of Alace a day for blood pressure. My past doctor just told me diabetes should take this water pill a day. I'm going to ask my present doctor why do I take this pill. Now I do have a history of Blood clots to the lungs caused by a DVT in my right leg.


Thanks, Rob

[patricia52]

I take HCTZ 50 mg/day because I have edema in my legs due to poor circulation. It works great for me. My doctor switched me from Lasix because it was too harsh making me have to go about every 20 minutes for a couple of hours. With the HCTZ, which I take in the morning, I go pee pretty much like normal and it works all day long. When my BG is high, I have to go more often.

[Richard157]

I have been taking hydrachlor and Altace for several years. No problems. I pee about 6 times per day. (Altace is for kidneys and BP.)

Are you completely emptying your bladder each time you pee? If not then that would certainly cause you to go more frequently. A urologist can easily determine if you are emptying your bladder appropriately. If you are completely emptying your bladder each time and still going that often then perhaps you do not need the water pills or can get another pill with lower dosage. Good luck!

Richard