Which Diabetes Medications Cause Weight Loss?

Metformin, Weight Loss & Pcos – Does It Actually Work?

Did you know that one of the main reasons you can't lose weight with PCOS is because of your hormones? It's true, and that's why many women (and physicians) turn to using Metformin to try and help with weight loss. But just because it works for some people doesn't mean it will necessarily work for YOU. Find out why metformin helps with weight loss, but more important what works better and how to finally lose weight if you have PCOS. Insulin & PCOS: Why It's so Important One of the most common medications prescribed for PCOS is metformin. But, PCOS is a hormonal condition which results in weight gain, hair growth on the face, infertility, acne and estrogen/progesterone imbalances. So why is metformin, a medication used to lower blood sugar and treat insulin resistance, used to treat estrogen/progesterone imbalances in women? The logic is quite simple: Most of the symptoms of PCOS (all those listed above) stem from insulin resistanc e! In fact many physicians recommend that ALL women with PCOS should be treated for insulin resistance regardless of what their fasting insulin and fasting blood sugar levels are. This means that the root cause of PCOS (at least the majority of it) is insulin resistance, and this is why metformin is so commonly used to treat. Insulin resistance causes a block of glucose uptake in your skeletal muscles which results in a lower metabolism (and weight gain), insulin also directly acts on your ovaries and adrenals increasing androgens like testosterone and DHEA. It's also the action of insulin on your pituitary that results in increased LH production which over stimulates your ovaries resulting in the characteristic "cysts" of PCOS. High levels of DHEA and testosterone lead to acne and hair growth (hirsutism). But one simple question r Continue reading >>

Wide Effect: Drugs That Promote Weight Gain

Share This Article: More than two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yet, paradoxically, many drugs prescribed for high blood pressure, diabetes and depression – conditions common to persons with weight problems – may further tip the scales against good health. “It’s a vicious cycle because patients already at risk for weight-related health conditions often receive medications that can exacerbate their problems,” said Kelly Lee, PharmD, associate professor of clinical pharmacy and associate dean of UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Here are six classes of drugs that can sabotage your waistline but don’t stop taking any prescribed medication without first talking to your physician. And don’t throw in the towel. There are often weight-neutral alternative drugs and lifestyle choices that go a long way in fostering mental and physical well-being. “The take home message is that all weight gain can be prevented or reduced if a person is motivated to eat healthy foods and move their bodies for 30 minutes or more a day, even if it is just walking around the block,” said Candis Morello, PharmD, professor of clinical pharmacy and associate dean for student affairs at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Antidepressants A 2010 study found that people with depression were at 58 percent greater risk of becoming obese. Among the antidepressants most strongly linked to clinically significant weight gain, defined as at least a 7 percent increase in body weight, include older tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor), as well as newer medications, such as paroxetine (Paxil) and phenelzine (Nardil). Continue reading >>

Medications That Actually Help With Type 2 Diabetes

Medications that actually help with Type 2 Diabetes As we saw in our previous post, standard medications such as insulin, sulphonylureas, metformin and DPP4’s can reduce blood glucose but do not reduce cardiovascular disease or death. Yes, your sugars will be lower, but no, you will not be healthier. Whether you take the medications or not, you will suffer the same risk of kidney disease, heart disease, stroke and death. So why take these medications at all? Well, that is a good question, for which I do not have a good answer. But why don’t these drugs work? It gets back to understanding what, exactly, insulin resistance is. High insulin resistance leads to high blood glucose, which is called type 2 diabetes. But it can be most easily understand as overflow of sugar (both glucose and fructose) in the body. Not just the blood, mind you. The entire body. Our body is like the barrel in the picture. As we eat glucose and fructose, it can hold a certain amount. Glucose may be stored as glycogen in the liver or turned into fat via de novo lipogenesis. However, if the amount coming in far exceeds the amount going out, soon, the storage capacity of the barrel and will spill out. We have two compartments for the glucose. In our body, and in our blood. If our body is full, incoming glucose spills out into the blood, which is now detectable as high blood glucose. So, what happens when your doctor prescribes insulin? Does it get rid of the sugar from the body? No, not at all. It merely takes the sugar in the blood, and shoves it into the body. Sure, the blood has less glucose, but there’s more in the body. And the next time you eat, the same thing happens. Glucose comes in, spills out into the blood. If you consider the rain barrel analogy, then insulin neither reduces the in Continue reading >>

Metformin (glucophage) And Weight Loss

Tweet Metformin, a generic diabetes treatment usually sold under the brand name Glucophage, may help people with diabetes to lose weight by lowering their appetites. Insulin makes people overweight by acting on the brain to cause hunger, making the liver manufacture fat and fill fat cells in the stomach. Avoiding obesity is a matter of avoiding foods high in blood sugar, and taking medication that prevents blood sugar levels from climbing too high. Glucophage function The function of diabetes drug Glucophage is to reduce the release levels of sugar from your liver. This stops blood glucose levels from rising too high, and means that the body does not have to produce as much insulin. Therefore, the patient is not as hungry. Type 2 diabetes drug Metformin (Glucophage) may be used successfully as a medication for type 2 diabetes. Lowers insulin levels It lowers insulin levels, helps to prevent diabetes complications, and helps people with diabetes to lose weight. Losing weight whilst taking Metformin (Glucophage) means also eating a healthy diet. Eating lots of foods that boost blood sugar levels will counteract the effects of Metformin. Most doctors prescribe 500mg of Metformin (Glucophage) before eating. Tweet Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) due to the body: Being ineffective at using the insulin it has produced; also known as insulin resistance and/or Being unable to produce enough insulin Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the body being unable to metabolise glucose (a simple sugar). This leads to high levels of blood glucose which over time may damage the organs of the body. From this, it can be understood that for someone with diabetes something that is food for ordinary people can become a s Continue reading >>

Saxenda: New Weight Loss Drug In Battle Against Obesity

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the use of the drug liraglutide to assist with weight loss. The drug is sold under the brand name Saxenda for weight loss – it's also sold in a lower dose as Victoza for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. But how effective is it, and is it worth the high cost and potential side effects? We lab test and review 12 sets of scales, including models from Weight Watchers, Tanita and Fitbit, in our body fat scales reviews. How Saxenda works Saxenda is based on a human hormone that suppresses appetite, and is self-injected daily. It can be prescribed to people with a BMI of 30 or more, or people with a BMI 27–29 with weight-related conditions such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea. It's not subsidised by the PBS, and costs around $400 per month by private prescription. How effective is it? In a large 56-week study sponsored by the manufacturer, 63.2% of people taking the drug – in conjunction with a reduced energy diet and increased exercise – lost at least 5% of their body weight, and 33.1% lost more than 10%. The patients had an average starting weight of around 106kg, and lost an average of 8.4kg over the time. There were other health improvements, including blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A group of patients who received only lifestyle modification advice lost 2.8kg on average. The main side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. Less common, but more serious, side effects include hypoglycaemia (especially for people taking diabetes medication), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, renal impairment and suicidal thoughts. Talk to your doctor about whether it's suitable for you. However, at over $5000 per year for an averag Continue reading >>

Metformin 101: Blood Sugar Levels, Weight, Side Effects

As a type 2 diabetic, you've probably heard of Metformin, or you might even be taking it yourself. Metformin (brand name “Glucophage” aka “glucose-eater”) is the most commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes worldwide…and for good reason. It is one of the safest, most effective, least costly medication available with minimal, if any, side effects. There are always lots of questions around Metformin – how does metformin lower blood sugar, does metformin promote weight loss or weight gain, will it give me side effects – and lots more. Today we'll hopefully answer some of those questions. How Metformin Works Metformin belongs to a class of medications known as “Biguanides,” which lower blood glucose by decreasing the amount of sugar put out by the liver. The liver normally produces glucose throughout the day in conjunction with the pancreas’ production of insulin to maintain stable blood sugar. In many people with diabetes, both mechanisms are altered in that the pancreas puts out less insulin while the liver is unable to shut down production of excess glucose. This means your body is putting out as much as 3 times as much sugar than that of nondiabetic individuals, resulting in high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Metformin effectively shuts down this excess production resulting in less insulin required. As a result, less sugar is available for absorption by the muscles and conversion to fat. Additionally, a lower need for insulin slows the progression of insulin resistance and keeps cells sensitive to endogenous insulin (that made by the body). Since metformin doesn’t cause the body to generate more insulin, it does not cause hypoglycemia unless combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin injection. Metformin is one of the few oral diabe Continue reading >>

Unexplained Weight Loss

Tweet Unexplained weight loss is the term used to describe a decrease in body weight that occurs unintentionally and can be a warning sign of diabetes. The amount you weigh is determined by a number of factors including age, your calorie intake and overall health. Once you reach middle adulthood, your weight should remain relatively stable from year to year. Losing or gaining a few pounds here and there is normal, but unexplained weight loss that is significant (10 lbs/4.5kg or more or over 5% of your body weight) or persistent may signal an underlying medical condition. Unexplained weight loss means weight loss that occurs without trying through dieting or exercising. What are the possible causes of unexplained weight loss? Unintentional or unexplained weight loss can be caused by a number of things, including depression, certain medication and diabetes. Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include: Tweet Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) due to the body: Being ineffective at using the insulin it has produced; also known as insulin resistance and/or Being unable to produce enough insulin Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the body being unable to metabolise glucose (a simple sugar). This leads to high levels of blood glucose which over time may damage the organs of the body. From this, it can be understood that for someone with diabetes something that is food for ordinary people can become a sort of metabolic poison. This is why people with diabetes are advised to avoid sources of dietary sugar. The good news is for very many people with type 2 diabetes this is all they have to do to stay well. If you can keep your blood sugar lower by avoiding dietary sugar, likely you will never need lon Continue reading >>

Insulin Resistance And Weight Loss: Does Antagolin Work?

Antagolin, an over-the-counter supplement that promises "to help alleviate insulin resistance and assist you gain better control over your weight" (MNI, 2013A), is being promoted everywhere in the media, including on TV. It is, therefore, understandable that the public are asking many questions about this product, such as "Is it safe?", "Will it help me lose weight/counteract insulin resistance or diabetes?", "Does it have side-effects?" and "Can I take it with my prescription medications?" I set out to try and answer as many of these pertinent questions as possible, but was not able to obtain all the answers I was seeking. However, the public may find some of the results of my investigation insightful. What does Antagolin contain? The first step in trying to determine if an over-the-counter product is safe and effective without multiple serious side-effects, is always to check what the product contains. The comprehensive website and AntagolinTM package insert of the Medical Nutritional Institute (MNI) lists the composition of this product as follows: Two tablets contain: Insul-X2TM (Contains berberine) 30 mg Banaba leaf extract 840 mg Inositol 60 mg Chromium 140 mg a) Insul-X2TM If we consider each of these ingredients, then it is immediately evident that the first compound Insul-X2TM poses a problem. Although the MNI lists the ingredient berberine as one component of this trade-marked compound, there is no disclosure of what else it may contain. Berberine which is a chemical found in a number of plants such as European barberry and tree tumeric, has in the past mainly been used to treat heart failure and for its antibacterial properties (WebMD, 2013). There is, however, some very recent research which has found that berberine can turn around the dysfunction of liver m Continue reading >>

Diabetes Medications That Promote Weight Loss

Most patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are above their ideal weight. Excess weight, particularly around the waist, is a major cause of insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not use insulin effectively causing glucose to build up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells. Over time, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes. Losing weight greatly reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and can help bring blood glucose under control in individuals who already have the disease. Individuals with type 2 diabetes who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of developing complications. Losing just a few pounds through exercise, eating well and taking the right medications can help control diabetes and reduce the risk for other health problems. Some diabetes medications not only lower blood glucose but also have the added benefit of promoting weight loss. One of the common findings in early type 2 diabetes is hyperinsulinemia, a condition in which the pancreas secretes large amounts of insulin to counter insulin resistance to keep blood glucose within normal range. Insulin has been shown to act on the brain and produce hunger or stimulate appetite. Metformin prevents the pancreas from secreting too much insulin by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin and suppressing the release of glucose from the liver, thereby preventing blood glucose levels from rising too high and lowering appetite. Liraglutide is a once-daily injectable medication for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus that provides substantial reduction in HbA1c, a key measure of blood glucose control. It also has the added benefit of promoting weight loss by reducing appetite. Marketed under the brand name Victoza, it mimics the action of an intestinal hormon Continue reading >>

Medication And Weight Loss

Neil Buonauro weighed 240 pounds when he started taking insulin at age 61 to control his diabetes. “I went up to 250, 260, 270, 280, and no matter what I ate or how much I exercised, it didn’t make any difference,” says Buonauro, a security workforce manager for a large telecommunications company based in Atlanta. By the time he joined Weight Watchers, he weighed over 300 pounds. His experience is not unique. Insulin is just one of the many different classes of prescription drug that can cause weight gain. “Most of the medications that actually increase weight are in the areas of diabetes medications and antidepressants,” says Marvin Lipman, MD, a world-renowned specialist in diabetes and the chief medical advisor for Consumer Reports. “Insulin is what we call an anabolic hormone: In other words, it ups metabolism rather than decreasing it, thereby increasing appetite, and therefore, people do gain weight. It’s sort of a self-defeating purpose when it comes to diabetes.” According to Lipman, psychotropics are also known to cause weight gain. However, as with all medications, the relationship between them and weight is complex. “First and foremost, individuals need to take medication if they have a psychiatric disorder that mandates such,” says Thomas N. Wise, MD, of the American Psychiatric Association's Council on Psychosomatic Medicine. “Many of the diseases that we treat involve both weight loss and weight gain in and of themselves. So, they need the medication to cope with the disease first.” For example, the majority of people who suffer from schizophrenia or severe depression tend to lose weight, while people who are bipolar tend to gain. In addition, certain types of blood pressure medication, such as beta-blockers and calcium-channel-bloc Continue reading >>

Oral Diabetes Medications

A list of oral diabetes medications with advantages, disadvantages, and side effects. Click on the name of a drug for more information. Biguanides Glucophage (generic name: metformin) Glucophage XR (generic name: metformin hydrochloride) extended release Fortamet (generic name: metformin hydrochloride) extended release Glumetza (generic name: metformin hydrochloride) extended release Riomet (generic name: metformin hydrochloride liquid) What are Biguanides? Metformin is the only member of the biguanides family in use today. Metformin (met-FOR-min) helps lower blood glucose by making sure your liver does not put extra glucose into the system when it is not needed. The ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes recommend the inclusion of metformin (along with diet and exercise) in initial diabetes treatment. A good thing about metformin is that it does not cause blood glucose to get too low (hypoglycemia) when it is the only diabetes medicine you take. Who can take this medicine? Adults with type 2 diabetes can take metformin with their doctor’s approval and supervision. You should avoid metformin if you have liver or kidney problems, lung or heart disease, or conditions that cause low blood oxygen levels. Who should not take this medicine? People with certain types of heart problems, such as congestive heart failure, should use caution with this medicine. People with reduced kidney function or kidney disease should probably not take metformin. It should be used with caution if you regularly consume more than two to three drinks daily, so check with your doctor about that. Advantages Metformin, when used alone, is unlikely to cause low blood sugar. It is one of those medicines that always seems to help even after people have had diabetes for a while, and, for this reason Continue reading >>

Byetta, Victoza, Bydureon: Diabetes Drugs And Weight Loss

Tell me about the diabetes drugs Byetta, Victoza and Bydureon. Can they really help people who have diabetes lose weight? Are there side effects? Answers from M. Regina Castro, M.D. Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon) and liraglutide (Victoza) are taken by injection, similar to insulin, but they're not insulin. These medications are in a class of drugs called incretin mimetics, which improve blood sugar control by mimicking the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Among other things, these drugs stimulate insulin secretion in response to rising blood sugar levels after a meal, which results in lowering of the blood sugar. Byetta, Bydureon and Victoza not only improve blood sugar control, but may also lead to weight loss. There are many proposed ways in which these medications cause weight loss. They appear to help suppress appetite. But the most prominent effect of these drugs is that they delay the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. As a result, you may feel "full" faster and longer, so you eat less. Byetta is injected twice daily, and Victoza is injected once a day. Bydureon, a newer formulation, is injected once a week. These drugs do have different effects and side effects to consider. Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon). The most common side effect of exenatide is mild to moderate nausea, which improves with time in most people. Several cases of kidney problems, including kidney failure, have been reported in people who have taken exenatide. Rarely, exenatide may cause harmful inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Liraglutide (Victoza). Some studies have found that liraglutide reduces systolic blood pressure and triglycerides, in addition to improving blood sugar control. The most common side effects are headache, nausea and Continue reading >>

Are Your Medications Causing Weight Gain?

Weight gain is a common side effect of many types of medications. But one of the advantages of a medical weight loss program is that you’re under the guidance of a medical doctor who can evaluate the medications you’re taking. Luckily, there are usually ways to minimize your weight gain if you and your doctor suspect your meds may be causing you to put on extra pounds or making it harder for you to lose weight. Your medical weight loss doctor can work with your primary care physician to switch you to other meds or modify your dosage to minimize any weight-related side effects. Here’s a look at the most common medications that may lead to weight gain – and steps you and your doctor can take to combat it: Corticosteroids. These medications include prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone, and are used to treat inflammatory conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and allergies. Corticosteroids can be taken orally, by inhaler, topically with creams or ointments, or by injection. Though the oral versions tend to lead to the most weight gain and can cause weight redistribution in the abdomen, face, and back of neck, even the inhaled corticosteroids are associated with weight gain. What to Do: Talk to your doctor about trying a lower dose or switching your dose to every other day. If these are not options for you, your medical weight loss doctor can help you come up with a healthy exercise and eating plan that may help and can prescribe appetite suppressants if needed. Antidepressants. About 25 percent of people taking antidepressants are thought to experience weight gain. Specific classes of antidepressants that may lead to weight gain include: Tricyclics. These include amitriptyline, imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan) and are linked to inc Continue reading >>

Victoza® Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Victoza® helps lower A1C In medical studies, many people taking Victoza® were able to reach the American Diabetes Association's A1C goal of less than 7.0%. (The A1C test measures your average blood sugar level over the previous 2 to 3 months.) Victoza® helps lower blood sugar in as soon as 2 weeks, and has been shown to keep it down in a 2-year medical study. Victoza® 1.8 mg taken alone or in combination with other diabetes medications lowered A1C by 1.0 to 1.5%, on average, in medical studies. That's good to know, because even a 1% drop in A1C can be important in the management of type 2 diabetes. One of these studies compared Victoza® with Januvia®. In this study, Victoza® was found to lower A1C better than Januvia®. Although not a weight-loss product, patients on Victoza® also had greater weight loss than those taking Januvia®. More patients taking Victoza® had short-term nausea as well as headache, diarrhea, and vomiting. Nausea was temporary, and fewer patients reported it over time. Another study compared Victoza® with Byetta®. In this study, Victoza® was found to lower A1C better than Byetta® and helped more patients get to goal. Side effects such as nausea and diarrhea were similar with both medications. See how Victoza® compares with the diabetes pill Januvia® or the injectable medication Byetta®. ► Victoza® works in 3 ways to lower blood sugar levels Victoza® works like the hormone GLP-1 (7-37)a to: Slow food leaving your stomach Help prevent your liver from making too much sugar Help the pancreas produce more insulin when your blood sugar levels are high aGLP-1 (7-37) represents <20% of the total circulating GLP-1 produced by your body. While not a weight-loss product, Victoza® may help you lose some weight In clinical studies ranging f Continue reading >>

Loss Of Appetite Dangerous For Diabetics

Q: Dear Donovan, I enjoy your column and see where you give advice to people who want to lose weight, and some of the advice is given to people with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. However, my issue is a bit different. What if you're a diabetic who is losing too much weight and whose appetite is waning? How can this be treated? A: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which interferes with the body's ability to control the blood glucose level. Diabetes can cause a number of symptoms including a loss of appetite, which can last for a few days. In your specific situation I wish you had given me more information. For example, are you currently on medication for diabetes? How did your loss of appetite occur: gradually or sudden? What do you eat on a daily basis? Also, are you exercising? Furthermore, are you having any stomach pain, vomiting or feeling nauseous? Overall, it is very important to find out the underlying cause of your lack of appetite. I would strongly suggest that you consult with your doctor. Until your appetite returns to normal you are at great risk of malnutrition and other health problems. In diabetes mellitus, the body does not produce enough insulin or functional insulin. The cells are therefore unable to properly use glucose to produce energy. As a result, the body will break down fat for energy. This further results in the production of ketones, which can make the body acidic as well as reduce the appetite. However, it should be noted that some diabetics do experience an increase in appetite. Therefore, it is very important that you consult with your doctor. In a nutshell, if your appetite is low, this can lead to weight loss. Hence, in order for you to regain your weight you will have to get the appetite back up and increase your intake of cal Continue reading >>