Diuretics (also known as “water pills”) are a drug that is prescribed as a treatment for high blood pressure, but the problem with diuretics and diabetes is that they disrupt blood sugar control. Diuretics cause more water and salt to be removed from the body, through an increase of urine. As excess water and salt are eliminated, the heart pumps less blood and more blood will flow into the tissues of the body. This helps lower blood pressure, which decreases the risk of heart attack or stroke. While this is of great benefit for those with diabetes, the blood sugar effects are a great concern, and diuretics also cause frequent urination (in fact, that’s the point), but diabetics already have increased urination due to the disease. Other side effects of diuretics include muscle cramps, reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and fatigue. A study that appeared in the European Heart Journal (which …