Changes in the Fasting Blood Sugar After Hydrochlorothiazide and Potassium Supplementation

Abstract

A 20% or greater rise in the fasting blood sugar occurred in 11 of 24 patients treated with 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide twice daily for six to ten weeks. The blood sugar decreased when potassium was given in conjunction with the diuretic, but the mean fasting blood sugar remained higher than pretreatment levels. There was no correlation between the percent change in the blood sugar and the per cent change in the serum K or exchangeable 42K.