What may increase your risk for problems from high or low blood sugar?

You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Hypoglycemia unawareness
• Inability to communicate symptoms of high or low blood sugar levels, for example, by a person who has had a stroke
• Inability to identify symptoms of high or low blood sugar levels, for example, by a young child

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal

Medications

• Medications that can interfere with whether you develop symptoms of low blood sugar levels. These medications include heart medications (beta-blockers) such as propranolol (for example, Inderal), nadolol (for example, Corgard), and metoprolol (for example, Lopressor).
• Medications that can lower your blood sugar level, including:
  • Medications to reduce fever and relieve pain, such as salicylate medications like aspirin
  • Medications to treat some types of mental disorders, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  • Quinine sulfate
  • Pentamidine, such as NebuPent and Pentam 300
• Medications that can increase your blood sugar level, such as corticosteroids (for example, prednisone)

Diseases

• Cancer
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Heart failure
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease