Which class of medication increases the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with sulfonylureas due to its ability to mask symptoms?

• A. MAOI
• B. Anticonvulsant
• C. Beta blockers
• D. Beta agonists

Answer: (C)

Beta blockers mask the warning signs of low blood sugar. When sulfonylureas lower glucose, the body normally sends adrenergic signals such as fast heartbeat and tremor to alert you to a drop in glucose. Beta blockers blunt these responses, so a person may not notice hypoglycemia and could continue taking insulin or other glucose-lowering meds, allowing the drop to worsen. Some beta blockers, especially nonselective ones, also can reduce the liver’s ability to release glucose during hypoglycemia, making the situation harder to recover from. Because of this masking effect, combining sulfonylureas with beta blockers increases the risk of undetected and potentially severe hypoglycemia. Other drug classes listed don’t have this same masking effect.