Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam

Beta blockers are known to mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which can be particularly concerning for individuals with diabetes. Normally, when blood glucose levels drop too low, the body responds with physiological symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, anxiety, and tremors. These sensations act as a warning sign to the individual, prompting them to take action, such as consuming carbohydrates.

However, beta blockers can blunt these warning symptoms by interfering with the autonomic nervous system's response to hypoglycemia, particularly the adrenergic symptoms. Individuals who are using beta blockers may experience less noticeable signs of low blood sugar, which can lead to delayed recognition and treatment of hypoglycemic episodes. This risk is especially relevant for those who might already be prone to hypoglycemia, such as patients on insulin or insulin secretagogues.

In contrast, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors do not share this effect. Biguanides primarily work by improving insulin sensitivity in the liver and do not typically cause hypoglycemia; thus, they would not mask its symptoms. Thiazolidinediones also enhance insulin sensitivity without significantly impacting the body's ability to recognize low