Do Calcium Channel Blockers Raise Blood Sugar?

Calcium plays a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure as it constricts the blood vessels and forces the heart to squeeze harder to get blood around the body. When you use calcium channel blockers, the opposite occurs.

Calcium channel blockers block the movement of calcium across its channels, allowing the heart and blood vessels to relax and contract more easily. As such, they serve as an antihypertensive medication to help lower blood pressure. They can also cause fluctuating blood sugar levels.

How Calcium Channel Blockers Affect Blood Sugar

There are conflicting results regarding the effect of calcium channel blockers on blood sugar. One study (1) suggests that calcium channel blockers affect blood sugar. However, the mechanism of action suggests that calcium channel blockers will increase blood sugar levels.

Calcium ions stimulate the release of insulin into the blood. In turn, insulin depletes blood sugar levels by aiding cell glucose absorption. When you use calcium channel blockers, the voltage-dependent calcium channels close. This limits the influx of calcium ions, insulin release, and glucose absorption, raising blood sugar levels.

Who Should Avoid Calcium Channel Blockers?

While calcium channel blockers affect blood pressure and blood glucose level, not everyone will benefit from using a calcium channel blocker. In such cases, using the calcium channel must be with caution. Examples of people that should avoid calcium channel blockers include:

• People with low blood pressure
• Pregnant woman
• Those with heart problems
• Those with liver problems
• Those who drink alcohol
• People taking beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided by DarioHealth Corp. programs is general in nature and is not meant to replace the advice or care you get from your doctor or other health care professional.

Resources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4887408/

MISC-0021 RevA