Can You Take Ibuprofen With Type 1 Diabetes? Is It A Pain Reliever?

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What's Inside

Diabetes is the sixth most common cause of death in the US and is a serious, lifelong illness. Diabetes is a problem with metabolism, which is how the body breaks down food and uses it as fuel. 

Ibuprofen: Pain Reliever That Makes You Sleep!

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine is an ibuprofen (NSAID). It functions by lowering hormones that lead to pain and inflammation in the body.

Ibuprofen With Type 1 Diabetes

Ibuprofen is used to relieve pain or inflammation brought on by a variety of ailments, including headache, toothache, back pain, arthritis, menstrual cramps, and minor injuries, as well as to lower fever.

Adults and children who are at least 6 months old can use ibuprofen.

Diabetes Comes In Three Different Kinds 

  • Five to ten percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, an auto-immune condition. 
  • 90 to 95 percent of all instances of diabetes that have been diagnosed may be type 2. 
  • Gestational diabetes is the name given to the third kind of diabetes that affects pregnant women.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your specialist or a diabetes educator has likely advised you to be cautious about the influences that your diet, your level of activity, and any other medications you regularly take may have on your blood sugar levels. 

Is Ibuprofen Healthy For Those With Type 1 Diabetes?

One of the most important considerations in determining which anti-inflammatory medications to take may be how well your kidneys are doing.

Your doctor will probably advise against using ibuprofen if you have kidney problems, regardless of the type of diabetes you have. Acute renal failure might result from it.

People with type 1 diabetes can have the disease throughout their lifetimes. Unrestrained blood sugar levels over time might harm the kidneys.

  • Your kidneys will no longer be able to filter things from your bloodstream at a normal pace if you acquire chronic renal disease. Taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen frequently or for an extended length of time can also harm the kidneys.
  • Hypoglycemia is a different issue to think about if you do have type 1 diabetes. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have a hypoglycemia impact when administered in high amounts.

Even though it’s not usually a problem, if you’re already at risk for hypoglycemia, you may also want to talk to your doctor about the best times to take ibuprofen and how much to take. 

Consult a medical expert to determine whether taking ibuprofen occasionally is safe for you.

If you’re ill and on any medicine, your doctor could also advise you to check your blood sugar levels frequently using your blood glucose monitor. Your levels may change more frequently than usual when you’re ill.

Brand Names Contain Ibuprofen

* Addaprin 
* Advil
* Cedaprin 
* Midol 
* Motrin 
* Profen 
* Proprinal 
* Ultraprin

Additionally, there are a few combination medicines on the market that combine ibuprofen with additional substances, such as famotidine (marketed under the name Duexis), hydrocodone (marketed under the name Ibudone), and phenylephrine (marketed under the brands Advil and Sudafed).

Warnings, Watch Out

Your risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke may rise if you use ibuprofen. Use of this medication prior to or following heart bypass surgery is not advised (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Ibuprofen may potentially result in deadly stomach or intestinal hemorrhage. Especially in elderly persons, these symptoms can develop suddenly while you are taking this medication.

Never take more than the prescribed amount. Your stomach or intestines might get damaged by an ibuprofen overdose. Only take the tiniest dose of medicine required to reduce your discomfort, swelling, or temperature.

Ibuprofen Consumption Adverse Reactions

If you have symptoms of an allergic response to ibuprofen (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction, get emergency medical attention right away (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

If you experience any of the following symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, get emergency medical attention right away: chest discomfort that spreads to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, and swollen legs, or feeling out of breath.

If you have: Stop using this medication and contact your physician right once.

  • alterations to your vision;
  • breathlessness (even with light exercise);
  • swell or rapidly acquire weight;
  • a skin rash, regardless of how little;
  • gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms include bloody or tarry feces, bloody coughing, or vomit that resembles coffee grounds;
  • liver issues can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dark urine, upper stomach discomfort, itching, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, and clay-colored feces.
  • pale complexion, feeling dizzy or out of breath, having problems focusing, and low red blood cells (anemia);
  • renal issues include infrequent or infrequent urine, painful or difficult urination, ankle or foot edema, and fatigue or shortness of breath.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important for everyone to use caution when taking painkillers of any kind. You should get knowledgeable about typical side effects and potential drug interactions. 

Any doctor who is recommending pain medicine has to know about each of your other prescriptions. And since persons with diabetes need to be careful to keep better control over their sugar levels, this tip is very important for them.

About Tim Mathew

Tim Mathew is an Endocrinologist specialized in general endocrinology, diabetes, and lipid metabolism. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in a science-related discipline and completed a medical school program in New York. Once Tim Mathew quoted that Endocrinology is both a challenging and rewarding medical specialty, so he wants to specialize in it. To know more about Tim Mathew kindly go through our about page.

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