Type 2 diabetes and ibuprofen

KrissiA

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi all, I'm fairly recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I take 2 metformin a day and test my blood when I'm not feeling right. On Monday, I had a really bad headache and took 2 ibuprofen. This sent my blood sugars from 5.9 to 9.9. I didn't eat anything carb or sugar based, and I felt very lethargic, unable to stay awake and pretty bad nausea. Has anyone else experienced this? My diabetic nurse this morning said it was the first she had heard of it. Many thanks.
 

BeccyB

Well-Known Member
Messages
465
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
It could be that whatever was causing the headache caused the additional problems too? Or maybe the Ibuprofen were coated in something sugary? I take a fair amount of them so I'll have to keep an eye on it! (I haven't been controlled until now so wouldn't have noticed any effect!)
 

Barry Holt

Well-Known Member
Messages
251
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Drivers who speed in built up areas
I was told some 3 or4 years ago that Ibuprofen was not good for diabetics
 
C

catherinecherub

Guest
A short course of ibuprofen seems to be alright. It is when they are used long term as they can affect the kidneys.
They are also not advised for people with high blood pressure.
Your rise in blood sugar could be attributable to the way that you were feeling @KrissiA.
 

RoseofSharon

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,506
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
This could cause me some problems. I rely on ibuprofen as I'm allergic to paracetamol and aspirin doesn't always work for me...... Guess I need to make an appointment with my dr to see if there's an alternative out there for me. Due to fibromyalgia I already use (very sparingly) dihydrocodeine....
 

MarcoRiveira

Well-Known Member
Messages
105
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I take ibuprofen sometimes and my blood sugar is ok, same with paracetamol and codeine. Maybe it is caused by something else. Then again, we all react differently to medications.
 

JohnEGreen

Master
Messages
13,188
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Tripe and Onions
Ibuprofen was at one time along with other NSAIDs, considered in conventional doses as a possible treatment for Hyperglycemia as in larger than normal doses they reduce blood sugar, .but dismissed.

"The results of this study indicate that conventional doses of NSAIDs should not be used for treating hyperglycemia and that, since the additive hypoglycemic effect of NSAIDs in conventional doses was minimal or negligible, they can be used safely for other purposes in diabetic patients taking hypoglycemic drugs orally."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1010876/
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
This could cause me some problems. I rely on ibuprofen as I'm allergic to paracetamol and aspirin doesn't always work for me...... Guess I need to make an appointment with my dr to see if there's an alternative out there for me. Due to fibromyalgia I already use (very sparingly) dihydrocodeine....

If taking ibuprofen you should also be prescribed omeprazole to protect your stomach lining.
Anything with codeine in can long term cause problems with stomachs too.

I really would advise revisiting GP and ask if there are alternatives.

I too have huge intolerance to certain tablets and I know of the damage that can be caused by drugs to our stomachs...
 

ijonesrad

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Ibuprofen like a number of medications are coated with sugar. However your bad head may have been caused by either your BG levels or if reliant on NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen be due to overuse. As someone who has chronic migraine in addition to Type 2 it is important that the latter is not the case and you should ensure that you see your GP with regards to the headaches/pain.
 

Blubie

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi, for drug free pain relief try using an Actipatch - you can buy from Boots and Amazon and so on. I use two. I have fibromyalgia as well as other conditions that cause chronic pain. Using them is the difference between me being able to go to work or being too immobile to be even able to get out of bed. The pain relief mean I sleep better as well. I am on lots of medication already and just can't deal with strong pain relief medication as well. I just end up like a zombie. If you have bad pain its worth giving the patch a go.
 

RoseofSharon

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,506
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi, for drug free pain relief try using an Actipatch - you can buy from Boots and Amazon and so on. I use two. I have fibromyalgia as well as other conditions that cause chronic pain. Using them is the difference between me being able to go to work or being too immobile to be even able to get out of bed. The pain relief mean I sleep better as well. I am on lots of medication already and just can't deal with strong pain relief medication as well. I just end up like a zombie. If you have bad pain its worth giving the patch a go.

Thank you. After looking at the Actipatch and other med free options I've bought a paingone pen. Very convenient to carry. It doesn't work for everything, but has helped a lot.