I have been taking coumadin (well the generic which is warafin) for almost 3 yrs on and off. I just started back on them approximatley 2 wks ago. I am 26 yrs old and on them for 4 dvt and 1 blood clot in the lung. Anyways…A couple days ago out of curiosity I did a blood sugar test on a friends machine and it registered 329. Which obviously has us all a little shaken up. So i was just wondering if maybe the blood thinners would effect the reading? Should i see my doctor and be tested for diabetes? What else could it mean?

Answered by: Maria/MDHealthForum.com Team

You should see your doctor for further testing. A random blood sugar reading higher than 200 is indicative of diabetes. Your doctor will take your medical history and examine you for signs and symptoms of high blood sugar. Blood tests to measure hemoglobin A1c and fasting blood sugar will be ordered.

High blood sugar levels has many underlying causes. When the body is experiencing physiological stress or injury, for example, among its normal responses is to release glucocorticoids to counteract stressors. These hormones have very significant effects on the body’s carbohydrate metabolism. They stimulate the liver to manufacture extra glucose to be released in the blood. Glucose is also formed from amino acids and fats. Both of these effects cause blood sugar level to rise. Needless to say, steroid-containing drugs affect the level of blood sugar. Warfarin treatment alone should not affect carbohydrate metabolism. However, it may increase the potency of some oral anti-diabetic medicines, decreasing the blood sugar further.

There are reported cases of pancreatitis as a complication of Warfarin therapy. In pancreatitis, the insulin secretion is affected and this will cause problems with the body’s blood sugar levels. If the rate of insulin production is not enough, the carbohydrates will not be metabolized adequately, and as a result, the blood sugar will increase. Tests to measure pancreatic and liver enzymes, bilirubin and calcium levels will be requested if pancreatitis is suspected. Your doctor may also request for CT scan.