Does Thiazide Diuretics Cause Diabetes?

Prolonged thiazide diuretic therapy can lead to glucose intolerance and may occasionally precipitate diabetes mellitus. Short-term metabolic studies, epidemiologic studies, and a variety of clinical trials suggest a connection between ongoing thiazide diuretic use and the development of type 2 diabetes.

Do thiazides increase blood sugar?

Several studies showed that use of thiazide diuretic increases glucose levels (4,12,26), but in these studies, the second drug was a β-blocker that impaired glucose metabolism.

Can a diuretic cause diabetes?

Despite guideline recommendations to use hydrochlorothiazide early on for blood pressure treatment, current use is limited due to the risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes later on.