Diabetes

[moses]

Hey!

Has anyone ever developed diabetes from taking ADs?

I heard that it's common.

Rosie

[meistersinger]

Hey!

Has anyone ever developed diabetes from taking ADs?

I heard that it's common.

Rosie

 

I had diabetes before going on antidepressants, but it didn't help when I went on them. I could never keep my blood sugars under control.

[GiaK]

all psychiatric drugs effect blood sugar and can lead to diabetes in those who are somewhat predisposed.

 

the class of drug most guilty are neuroleptics, but ADs definitely effect things too.

 

I posted something on obesity, blood sugar issues and metabolic syndrom in relation to those of us who've been on psych drugs a while back...

 

here's a link:

 

http://beyondmeds.com/2012/04/18/diabetesobesity/

 

at the bottom of that post are links to lots of additional info that help us mitigate the harm.

 

good luck.

[Barbarannamated]

Rosie,

My last bloodwork had me at borderline diabetic, somewhere on the metabolic syndrome spectrum. My endocrine system is defintely in chaos. Fatty liver disease, also. I did not gain weight, but lost a significant amount over the last 10 years, so don't fit the obesity/metabolic profile. I was on several neuroleptics in addition to SS/NRIs for 17 years (add-on depression treatments).

No history of diabetes in family although elderly mother recently diagnosed after many years on sertraline/Zoloft.

 

I see Lilly is working on a new blockbuster diabetes drug. How convenient after their Zyprexa caused so much diabetes. GRRRR}}}}

[moses]

Hi Barb,

I guess you have to be careful with what you eat?

Thankfully, my blood test turned out perfect. No diabetes. Thank God!

Right now, these horrible headaches are really getting me down!

Hugs,

Rosie

[annelle]

Hello everyone,

 

I too had a problem with high blood sugar while on AD's. I am not actually diabetic, my doctor says, I am borderline, I think he called it.

 

My fasting blood glucose level has been just a few point over normal twice, and a high a glucose test that was above normal (I had to drink a tall glass of sugar, and after 2 hours my blood glucose was measured).

 

I never attributed it to the AD, because there is diabetes II in my family, and I was overweight, so it is dificult to tell what the cause is. But from I understand, AD could be factor.

 

My fasting blood glucose is always normal (though maybe in the higher end of the range) when I measure it at home.

[Aria]

I developed diabetes from taking Seroquel. My psychiatrist did no blood work on me so one night I ended up in the ER with pancreatitis. The diabetes disappeared after I c/t the Seroquel.

[Nikki]

GiaK....I was reading the material on your blog about Diabetes.  Totally believe it.

 

I have always had sugar cravings.  They became worse on ADs.  I fear going for blood tests because I don't want to face that fear of having diabetes or borderline diabetes.

 

I started juicing vegetables in the hope of losing weight and obtaining the health benefits from vegetables.  I like it very much.

Although I noticed a slight decrease in cravings, this week I went 'hog-wild' with ice cream.

 

I can't blame all of this on AD's.  Eating sugar is like retail therapy.  Escapism from the daily grind and problems encountered along the way.  With that admission, I still believe things got wors from AD's.  A slower metabolism and weight gain as a result.

 

Determined to get off Celexa and have a healthier me.

 

Thank you

[whitelily]

Just found this thread, as I am sitting here trying to drink enough water to stop feeling dehydrated.  I have spoken to my doctor about it, but he wants to give me another week of trying to drink more, before he will look at my sugar levels.  I have already been diagnosed as diabetic and have metabolic syndrome which was directly caused by taking antipsychotics - SO depressing!!  

 

Realise this thread is quite old now, is there anyone around now who struggles with this??  Have you found anything that works particularly well?  

 

I have found it really difficult when the AP's cause carb cravings.  

[compsports]

HI Whitelily,

 

Take a look at this site, https://lowcarbrn.wordpress.com/diabetes/.   I know people not on antipsychotics who have diabetes or metabolic issues have said going on a high fat, low carb diet has eliminated their carb cravings which resulted in normal blood sugars.   Not sure how that would work taking antipsychotics but maybe worth a shot.

[whitelily]

hi Compsports, thank you for replying and posting the link - that was really kind of you.  I'll check it out .....

[lanah]

Does metabolic syndrom resolve itself after tapering? 
I have developed it as well on my seroquel. It's not one of my main concerns (many more problems) but i am wondering if it will resolve. I gained three clothing sizes but stayed on the same weight (which sounds crazy but it
's probably because i have more fat less muscle)

[whitelily]

hi lanah, I don't know whether it always reverses if you stop the meds.  All I can say is that in my own situation it got worse until I was full blown type II and unfortunately gained a lot of weight on my belly.  

 

I am currently eating a lot more vegetables, especially green veg, and occasionally green smoothies to try and stabilise, and then reverse the increase in blood sugar levels i've had.  

[Junglechicken]

ADs definitely cause blood sugar swings.

 

Since being on ADs, I have experienced many (what I can only describe as) "pseudo-hypoglaecemic" events.

 

Just before Christmas I had the urine "dip test" for diabetes - NEGATIVE. 

 

Everything else thats tested at the same time - NORMAL.

[Heath]

I had major sugar cravings from Paxil years ago and gained some weight. And about 4 years ago when dr switched me to Prozac I Had really bad sugar cravings. Chocolate! 2 snickers at a time. Then I was at dr for check up around 2018 and was told to watch my sugar. Tried tapering and dealing with withdrawals didn’t think much about it. Then around 2019 dr said the word prediabetes. Refused the met Forman pill and eat very low carbs and got sugar down to acceptable range in 3 months. Then hit another withdrawal wave and life and wasn’t eating so good. Last blood test in July this year it was up again. I’ve been on lexapro for 3 years small cravings but nothing like prozac. I looked back at my old lab reports and when I was on Prozac the sugar was steadily climbing every 6 months. I hope I can turn this around I feel like I can! I know this is and old thread. Would like to ask anyone that successfully tapered off ads did there sugar levels return to normal or are sugar levels getting any lower as the years are passing off ads?

thanks

[ChessieCat]

I am just wondering if there are any members of SA who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes later in life.

 

I am having a bit of struggle coming to terms with my diagnosis and would appreciate some short term support to get me over the initial stage.

 

So as not to clutter this topic, please send me a PM.

 

Thank you.

[hayduke]

Noting that olanzapine is particularly bad at inducing type II diabetes.

 

While SA can't generally recommend fasting, I have used it three times now to reset my resting blood sugar from a prediabetic diagnosis back to the acceptable range.

 

If I hadn't fasted I am fairly sure full blown type II would have manifested among the various other harms this drug caused me.

 

Unrelated to drugs in general a diabetic friend who was needing to inject insulin daily discovered fasting himself and has significantly reduced the severity of his type II and no longer requires needles.

 

Again, fasting does require caution, some study and definitely practice to pick up.  While not suitable for everyone, it is a very natural process that is out of style due to recent mass produced food advertising.  I don't know of any other natural exercise one may undertake to mitigate type II diabetes.  In the same way that we're evolved to walk 30km each day and not sit at a desk, we're evolved to have times without much food, not load up on carbs and sugar each morning.

 

There's plenty of good science around.  Dr Jason Fung's book ain't the worst.

[ChessieCat]

3 hours ago, hayduke said:

I have used it three times now to reset my resting blood sugar from a prediabetic diagnosis back to the acceptable range.

 

You might be interested in these books.

 

I've been doing a lot of research on what foods a diabetic should not eat and there are some discrepencies.  Apparently in the early 2000s they were saying the carbs were okay whereas in the last 10 or so years they say to eliminate carbs.  Carbs turn into sugar.  I have reading a book by Michael Mosley who managed to get his sugar levels down and has managed to keep it down.  He has done a lot of research and includes this information in his book.

 

https://thebloodsugardiet.com/michaels-story/

 

There is also a recipe book based on this diet.  I managed to get it from my library:

 

8-Week-Blood-Sugar-Diet-Recipe-ebook

[hayduke]

1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

 

You might be interested in these books.

 

 Cheers, that's a good contribution to the thread.  I found the CSIRO high protein diet effective for a time, too.

 

Off the drug I don't feel diabetes is a huge issue for me from my diet.  Sure have to watch my cholesterol though!

 

This guy can be a bit crass but he does write things up no one else does:

 

https://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/10/zyprexa_and_fat.html

 

Remarkably violent drug, olanzapine.  Every time I would mention these kinds of problems to my aggressively unsupportive parents I'd get "Gee dear that's tough.  You'll have to exercise more.  Oh, did you hear Blah's daughter bought a house in Blahville?  She's very happy with it.  Blah" ad nauseum.

[ChessieCat]

I can highly recommend the video linked below.  And I strongly encourage you to watch it.  I hope it can be viewed in other countries.

 

Amazingly ironic.  My friend phoned me yesterday and when I mentioned my change of diet she asked if I had seen the 3 part series on an experiment to reverse diabetes.  I had not.  But it was the same guy whose book I had found and read and am following his diet. 

 

His name is Michael Mosley.  He and another person got together and helped some people change their diet and include exercise.  During the 8 week period they measured the different things.  They even did a scan of their internal body fat before and after.  The results were fantastic.  Some of the participants  were able to stop their drugs, diabetic and/or blood pressure.

 

Michael Mosley even did a "reverse test" and did 14 days on an Australian type diet which included some take away meals.  He tested his blood glucose along the way.  At the end of the 14 weeks he got all the initial tests done again and it was amazing how quickly he ended up becoming pre or full diabetic (can't remember which).  Then after the 14 days he went on the diet and was retested and reversed it very quickly.

 

It is on the SBS website channel in Australia.  I am hoping that it might be available for overseas viewers.

 

The title of the series is Australia's Health Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley.  It might get moved to a different area of the site after a while, since it has only recently been on TV.  If this link doesn't work I suggest you search for the title.  Hopefully it will be available online until about Sept/Oct 2022.

 

https://www.sbs.com.au/programs/australias-health-revolution-with-dr-michael-mosley 

[ChessieCat]

Please note that these are for Type 2 diabetes, not Type 1.

 

I think understanding what causes insulin resistance can be a major key to being disciplined about changing your eating habits.

 

I started seeing results very quickly which has been very encouraging and it is helping me to keep going.  

 

These are all excellent videos and they have helped me a lot:

 

Video:  Jason Fung

 

Reverse Type 2 Diabetes naturally, without medications. It is a curable disease, but as a dietary disease, it demands a dietary treatment. The principles including fasting and weight loss are outlined. Dietary modification is the cornerstone of reversing type 2 diabetes.

 

How to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally

 

Videos:   Dr Sten Ekberg, a holistic doctor

 

High insulin levels are not hard to reverse once you understand why they are high.

 

14 Common Insulin Resistance Treatments That Stops Your Weight Loss & May Hurt You

 

Insulin Resistance Diet — What To Eat & Why

 

How Long Does It Take To Reverse Insulin Resistance?

 

6 Ultimate BENEFITS OF EXERCISE For Diabetes, Insulin, Weight Loss, Your Brain & More

[ChessieCat]

Another excellent video:

 

Dr. David Unwin - 'Can we beat T2 Diabetes? HOPE on the horizon'

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlKDM3SDHPA

[ChessieCat]

Something that I would like to add as a caution.

 

If changing your diet, especially if you are tapering, is to do a gradual change over.  For example you could start with reducing any added sugar you use, then reduce something else.  Even for people not tapering or experiencing withdrawal symptoms, radically changing your diet in one go might cause issues, and it can also end up being more difficult because you can feel deprived which can make you feel even worse and reduces the desire to make the change.

 

Sugar withdrawal IS  thing.  I had it happen to me when I went on the Pritikin diet when I was in my mid twenties.  It was very similar to nicotine withdrawal which I had also experienced.

 

Doing a gradually change over can help with these things.  And if you notice some improvements/benefits as you make the change to your diet, it can help to encourage you to try to change more things.

[ChessieCat]

I keep finding more excellent videos.

 

This is a very powerful speech made by the 2020 Australian of the Year:

 

Dr. James Muecke - 'Silent No More: The Barriers to Preventing and Reversing Type 2 Diabetes’

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pz0xGtw-wI

[ChessieCat]

I have reversed my Type 2 diabetes simply by changing what I eat!  And those results are after only three months of very low carb, no fasting (I eat 3 meals a day and as much as I want), and no drugs taken for cholesterol or diabetes.

 

I have lost 8 kgs / 14 lbs, 5 cm / 2 inches around my waist and my blood pressure has reduced significantly.

 

HbA1c - NGSP: 

7.0 (diagnosis beginning Oct 2021)

--> 6.4 (follow up test after stopping sugar and processed foods for about 3 days)

--> 5.2       (4.0 - 6.0)

 

ALT (Liver function):  45 --> 28      (<30)

 

Total Cholesterol:      7.9 --> 6.0     (3.9 - 5.2 or 5.5)

Triglycerides:             3.0 --> 1.5     (0.5 - 1.7)

HDL:                           ?  --> 1.0        (1.0 - 2.0)

LDL:                            ?  --> 4.3       (1.5 - 3.4)

[catmama]

I developed type 2 diabetes after gaining a lot of weight from SSRIs (Paxil initially). I’ve always had a sweet tooth but while on it I just ate and ate, and especially craved sugar and sweets. I went from a healthy 145 lbs to almost 220 lbs at my highest weight, over the course of about two years. My A1c at its highest was 8.7. I’m happy to say that at my last doctors appt, my A1c was 5.4! And I’m at my lowest weight in years at 185 lbs. I do take metformin. But the main way I lost the weight and was able to get the diabetes under control was to to do the keto diet. Yes, it is a bit extreme, and it’s hard to stick with in the beginning, but it works! And since I’m still in my taper off escitalopram, I’ve modified the diet to be a little more manageable and less stressful on my body. 
 

But I have to say it’s because of the taper I’m able to lose weight. While on SSRIs not only did I gain weight, I had the hardest time losing weight no matter what I tied! It really f**ed with my self confidence. I’m finally getting back to my “old self.”

 

So to answer the original question: yes, absolutely antidepressant use can lead to type 2 diabetes. But it doesn’t have to be chronic and progressive. 

[ChessieCat]

Excellent video explanation of the difference between blood glucose reading and HbA1c.

 

Youtube video title:  HbA1c Test and What HbA1c Normal Range Means (Channel:  Dr. Sten Ekberg)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeGz0VKEGv0

[ChessieCat]

This is an excellent short video explaining about glucose and she demonstrates with foam balls which makes it easier to understand:

 

GLUCOSE IS EVERYWHERE - by Sheryl Fox

[Ariel]

10 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

This is an excellent short video explaining about glucose and she demonstrates with foam balls which makes it easier to understand:

 

GLUCOSE IS EVERYWHERE - by Sheryl Fox

 

Great video, ChessieCat, thank you!

[ChessieCat]

Another good Youtube video:

 

What Is Insulin Resistance? - Dr Sten Ekberg

[ChessieCat]

This is an excellent video with some really great tips:

 

HOW TO AVOID RELAPSING OVER THE HOLIDAYS - by Dr. Robert Cywes