Q: I am 28 years old. Recently, I read that beta-blockers increase the risk of developing diabetes by 50 per cent. Is it true? My doctor prescribed Stamlo Beta for high BP. Should I take it?

A:It is true that beta-blockers such as atenolol, one of the ingredients of Stamlo Beta, increases the risk of diabetes. Hence, these should be prescribed only when other first-line treatments are not effective. Secondly, beta-blockers are not the drug of first choice for treating high BP in young, sexually active males.