How does furosemide affect blood glucose level?




Question:


How does furosemide affect blood glucose level? Does it lower or increase glucose levels? If I am diabetic, can I still take it?




Quick Answer


Furosemide may increase blood glucose in some people. This does not happen to everyone, but people with diabetes should monitor blood sugar more carefully when taking it.


Furosemide is a “water pill” or diuretic used for fluid retention, swelling, heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, and sometimes high blood pressure. If your doctor prescribed it, do not stop it on your own.


If you have diabetes, ask your doctor how often to check blood sugar, kidney function, potassium, sodium, and hydration while taking furosemide.



Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc


Hello,


Furosemide can affect blood sugar, but the effect is usually indirect and varies from person to person. In many patients, the reason for taking furosemide is more important than the medicine itself, because heart, kidney, liver, or fluid problems can also affect diabetes control.


Does Furosemide Raise Blood Sugar?


Yes, furosemide may raise blood glucose in some people. The product labeling advises patients with diabetes that furosemide may increase blood glucose and may affect urine glucose tests.


This does not mean every person will have high sugar from furosemide. But if you already have diabetes or prediabetes, it is wise to check your readings more often after starting or changing the dose.


Helpful page: blood sugar levels by time of day.


Why Can Furosemide Affect Glucose?


Furosemide helps the kidneys remove extra salt and water. If it causes dehydration or electrolyte changes, especially low potassium, glucose control may become harder. Illness, swelling, heart failure, kidney problems, infection, pain, or stress can also raise blood sugar.


For this reason, do not assume the medicine is the only cause. Your doctor may need to review your glucose pattern, fluid status, kidney function, and other medicines.


Can Furosemide Lower Blood Sugar?


Furosemide is not usually used to lower blood sugar. However, low blood sugar can happen during illness if you eat less, vomit, drink less, or continue insulin or diabetes pills while taking in fewer carbohydrates.


If you feel shaky, sweaty, weak, confused, hungry, or dizzy, check your glucose and follow your low blood sugar treatment plan.


Helpful page: is my blood sugar too high or too low?


Can a Diabetic Take Furosemide?


Yes, many people with diabetes can take furosemide when it is medically needed and prescribed by their doctor. It may be important for treating fluid overload, swelling, heart failure, kidney-related fluid retention, or high blood pressure.


The key is monitoring. Ask your doctor whether you need blood tests for kidney function and electrolytes, and whether your diabetes treatment needs adjustment if your glucose rises.


What Should You Monitor?



  • Blood glucose, especially after starting or changing the dose

  • Blood pressure

  • Weight and swelling

  • Hydration and urine output

  • Potassium, sodium, and kidney function blood tests

  • Symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, cramps, thirst, or confusion


Helpful resource: blood sugar log sheet.


When Should You Call Your Doctor?


Call your doctor if your blood sugar becomes repeatedly higher than your target, if you have frequent lows, or if you feel dehydrated, dizzy, very weak, confused, or have muscle cramps.


Also call if swelling is getting worse, breathing is more difficult, urine output changes greatly, or you are vomiting or unable to drink fluids.



Important Safety Note


Do not stop furosemide suddenly without medical advice, especially if you take it for heart failure, swelling, kidney disease, or high blood pressure. Seek urgent care for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, severe dehydration, confusion, very high blood sugar with ketones, or severe weakness.




Doctor’s Note


Furosemide may raise blood sugar in some patients, but it is often prescribed for important medical reasons. If you have diabetes, the safest plan is not to stop it by yourself, but to monitor glucose and labs more carefully with your doctor.




Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not start, stop, or change furosemide, insulin, metformin, blood pressure medicines, or diabetes medicines without speaking with your healthcare provider.



Most Asked Questions


Does furosemide increase blood sugar?


It may increase blood sugar in some people, especially those with diabetes or prediabetes. Monitoring is recommended.


Can I take furosemide if I have diabetes?


Yes, if your doctor prescribed it. Many people with diabetes take furosemide safely, but they may need closer glucose, kidney, and electrolyte monitoring.


Should I stop furosemide if my sugar rises?


No. Do not stop it without medical advice. Call your doctor to review your readings and treatment plan.


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Last reviewed: July 2026.


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Do you have to take metformin?

by oobuc5
(somerset)




Question from oobuc5:


Do you have to take metformin? What happens if you do not take it?


I also find that when my blood sugar goes down to 4 or 5 mmol/L, I feel very sleepy, but I feel better around 6 or 7 mmol/L. I also worry about sugar information on bread and other foods.




Quick Answer


Not every person with type 2 diabetes has to take metformin forever, but if your doctor prescribed it, you should not stop it on your own.


Metformin helps lower blood sugar mainly by reducing glucose release from the liver and improving insulin sensitivity. If you stop it without a plan, your blood sugar and HbA1c may rise again.


Metformin alone does not usually cause low blood sugar, but low readings or symptoms can happen if you also take insulin or sulfonylurea tablets, eat less, drink alcohol, exercise more, or are unwell.



Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc


Hello,


Your question has two important parts: whether metformin is necessary, and why you feel unwell when your glucose is around 4–5 mmol/L.


Do You Have to Take Metformin?


It depends on your diagnosis, HbA1c, fasting glucose, after-meal glucose, weight, kidney function, other medicines, side effects, and your personal diabetes goals.


Some people can manage early type 2 diabetes with food changes, weight loss if needed, and physical activity. Others need metformin to keep glucose in a safer range. Many people need both lifestyle changes and medicine.


If metformin was prescribed, do not stop it suddenly without discussing it with your doctor or diabetes nurse. Instead, bring your home blood sugar records and ask whether your dose is still right for you.


Helpful page: Glucophage side effects.


What Happens If You Do Not Take Metformin?


If metformin is helping your diabetes, stopping it may allow blood sugar to rise again. Over time, high blood sugar can increase the risk of eye, kidney, nerve, heart, and circulation problems.


However, if your readings are low, your HbA1c is low, or you have side effects, your doctor may decide to adjust the dose, change timing, switch to extended-release metformin, or use another plan.


Helpful resource: diabetes medications: benefits and side effects.


Why Do I Feel Sleepy at 4–5 mmol/L?


For many people with diabetes, 4–7 mmol/L before meals is a common target range. But targets must be individualized.


If your body has been used to higher glucose levels, you may feel “low” even when the number is technically within range. This is sometimes called relative hypoglycemia. But if your glucose is below 4 mmol/L, that is usually treated as low blood sugar.


Feeling sleepy, shaky, sweaty, weak, hungry, dizzy, confused, or faint should not be ignored. Record the number, time, meal, medicines, and symptoms, then review the pattern with your doctor.


Helpful page: is my blood sugar too high or too low?


What About Bread and Sugar Labels?


For diabetes, do not look only at “sugar.” Bread can raise blood sugar mainly because of its total carbohydrate, even when the added sugar is not very high.


When checking bread, look for total carbohydrate per slice or per 100 g, fiber, portion size, and ingredients. Wholegrain or granary bread may be better for some people, but the portion still matters.


If bakery bread has no label, asking for the nutrition sheet is reasonable. You can also choose packaged bread with clear nutrition information or test your own response 1–2 hours after eating.


Helpful page: diabetes, carbs, and glycemic index.


What Should You Discuss With Your Doctor?



  • Your HbA1c and personal blood sugar targets

  • Whether your metformin dose is right for you

  • Whether you take any medicine that can cause low blood sugar

  • Your symptoms when glucose is 4–5 mmol/L

  • Your kidney function and vitamin B12 level if using metformin long term

  • How often you should monitor glucose at home



Important Safety Note


Seek urgent help if you have confusion, fainting, seizure, inability to swallow safely, repeated blood sugar below 4 mmol/L, very high blood sugar with vomiting or dehydration, chest pain, trouble breathing, or severe weakness.




Doctor’s Note


Metformin is often a useful and safe medicine for type 2 diabetes, but the right plan is personal. Do not aim for numbers that make you feel unwell without discussing this with your diabetes team.




Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not start, stop, or change metformin, insulin, diabetes pills, diet, or glucose-monitoring plans without speaking with your healthcare provider.



Most Asked Questions


Can I stop metformin if my sugar is better?


Only with your doctor’s agreement. Your sugar may be better because metformin is working.


Does metformin cause low blood sugar?


Metformin alone does not usually cause low blood sugar, but lows can happen with other diabetes medicines, missed meals, alcohol, exercise, or illness.


Is 4–5 mmol/L too low?


It may be within target for some adults, but if you feel unwell, discuss your personal target with your doctor. Below 4 mmol/L is usually treated as low.


Related Questions



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Last reviewed: July 2026.


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Nasonex + blood sugar level interactions

Nasonex and blood sugar

Nasonex and blood sugar



Question:


My relative uses Nasonex during spring. His doctor noticed changes in blood sugar and is concerned about diabetes. How are Nasonex and blood sugar related?




Quick Answer


Nasonex contains mometasone, a corticosteroid nasal spray used for allergies. Because it is sprayed in the nose, much less medicine usually reaches the whole body compared with steroid tablets or injections.


For most people, Nasonex is not expected to cause major blood sugar changes. However, people with diabetes, prediabetes, high steroid sensitivity, long-term use, high doses, or other steroid medicines should monitor glucose more carefully.


If blood sugar changes were noticed, do not assume Nasonex is the only cause. Allergies, illness, poor sleep, stress, weight, food changes, and other medicines can also affect glucose.



Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc


Hello,


Nasonex is a nasal spray used for allergic rhinitis symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal itching, and congestion. Its active ingredient is mometasone furoate, a corticosteroid.


Can Nasonex Raise Blood Sugar?


Steroids can raise blood sugar, especially when taken by mouth, injection, or in high doses. Nasal steroid sprays like Nasonex usually have much lower whole-body absorption, so the blood sugar effect is generally much smaller.


Still, a small effect is possible in sensitive people, especially with long-term use, higher-than-recommended dosing, use of other steroid medicines, or existing diabetes risk.


Helpful page: can Medrol Dosepak raise blood sugar dangerously?


Is Nasonex Forbidden in Diabetes?


No. Nasonex is not automatically forbidden for people with diabetes. Many people with diabetes can use nasal steroid sprays when prescribed or recommended by their doctor.


The safer approach is to use the lowest effective dose, avoid overuse, and monitor blood sugar if readings change after starting the medicine.


Why Might Blood Sugar Change During Allergy Season?


Blood sugar may change during allergy season for reasons other than Nasonex, including:



  • Poor sleep from congestion

  • Stress or inflammation

  • Less physical activity

  • Illness or infection mistaken for allergies

  • Other medicines, especially steroid tablets, injections, or inhalers

  • Changes in eating, weight, or daily routine


Helpful resource: blood sugar levels by time of day.


What Should a Person With Diabetes Do?



  • Use Nasonex only as directed.

  • Do not take extra sprays to get faster relief.

  • Monitor blood sugar more often for a few days after starting or increasing use.

  • Tell your doctor about all steroid medicines, including tablets, injections, inhalers, creams, and nasal sprays.

  • Ask for diabetes testing if readings remain high or symptoms appear.


Helpful page: blood tests for diabetes.


When Should You Call the Doctor?


Call the doctor if blood sugar becomes repeatedly higher than target, if fasting blood sugar is repeatedly 100–125 mg/dL, if a random reading is 200 mg/dL or higher, or if symptoms such as unusual thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, fatigue, or weight loss appear.


Also call if there are nosebleeds, severe nasal irritation, vision changes, signs of infection, or if allergy symptoms require frequent steroid use.



Important Safety Note


Do not stop prescribed allergy or asthma medicines without medical advice. Seek urgent care for severe allergic reaction, trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, severe dehydration, or very high blood sugar with vomiting, ketones, deep breathing, or fruity-smelling breath.




Doctor’s Note


Nasonex is a local nasal steroid, so its effect on blood sugar is usually much less than oral steroids such as prednisone or methylprednisolone. But if blood sugar changes after starting it, monitor the pattern and discuss it with your doctor.




Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not start, stop, or change Nasonex, steroid medicines, insulin, metformin, or diabetes treatment without speaking with your healthcare provider.



Most Asked Questions


Does Nasonex raise blood sugar?


Usually not significantly, because it is a nasal spray with lower whole-body absorption. But sensitive people or those using other steroids should monitor glucose.


Can diabetics use Nasonex?


Many people with diabetes can use Nasonex when recommended by a doctor. Monitoring is wise if glucose readings change.


Is Nasonex safer for blood sugar than steroid tablets?


In general, nasal steroid sprays have less systemic effect than oral steroid tablets, so they are usually less likely to raise blood sugar strongly.


Related Questions



Related Resources



Last reviewed: July 2026.


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