Diabetes Basics

   

Patients with long-term diabetes can lose the ability to maintain their blood pressure in response to changes in posture. Your blood pressure can drop very low when you stand up and cause dizziness, temporary loss of vision, or fainting spells.

You may be experiencing "postural dizziness," which can be serious. Abnormal function of the nerves that regulate your heart and blood vessels is the most common cause of postural dizziness, but other causes must be ruled out by your health care team. Blood pressure medications, such as diuretics, can cause postural dizziness and so can antidepressants, nitroglycerine, and certain calcium-blocking drugs.

If your postural dizziness is due to diabetes alone, then you will need specific treatment for this problem. Tilting your bed so that the head is 6–9 inches higher than the foot may reduce your dizziness. Other therapies include carefully increasing the salt in your diet, wearing support stockings to prevent blood from pooling in your legs, or taking a hormone pill (Florinef) to help your body retain fluid. These treatments can be dangerous in people who have heart disease, so be sure to consult your health care team before trying any of them.