Medications and weight Gain

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2007
Medications and weight Gain
22
Tue, 07-24-2007 - 9:20am
Hi, I am Teresa and noew to the board, I am type 2 diabetic, I had 2 stents in in Jan. I am on Lantus 85 units at night, Novalog before meals, about 2 to three time a day, and Advantia 4 mg 2 x daily. I have days that this works well but other days with high stress ( we are aquiring custody of our 2 yr grandson). Among many other stress factors. Real problem is weight gain, Since Jan with the stents and 10 heart meds and all the new insulin I have packed on 45 lbs. I had two disc going out in my back now we are looking at 2 more bad disc, and the weight is becoming an issue for that treatment. I have followed the nutritionist diet but the weight keeps on adding on, and due to back issues the treat mill is now out and gettting a spinal block he said only water exercises are allowed. Is all diabetic meds going to put the weigh on I know I have alot of water retention, medformin is not a drug of choice for me my body can't handle it unless I stay on anti dirreah meds. Any suggestions.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2007
Sun, 07-29-2007 - 8:50am

As I am not on medication yet, I am curious. Does anyone know what causes the weight gain? Is it something in the medication, does it make you more hungry?

Rita

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-29-2007 - 2:16pm

Rita,


No, the medication doesn't increase appetite. It is interesting what causes the weight gain and the simple answer is better control of the blood sugar. The underlying cause is eating more than is needed to maintain a normal blood sugar. Also getting less exercise than needed to use up the additional calories. It is harder to lose weight when your blood sugar is under tight control.


In the case of insulin what happens is that when the person experiences low blood sugar it is treated with carbs and increased carbs leads to increased weight. It is a tight balancing act between how much insulin the person needs to keep their blood sugar under control and how much food do they need to not lose their blood sugar. Then you throw insulin resistance, in type 2's, into the picture and the huge doses of insulin that are required to get over that and you have a recipe for a large weight gain. This is why they are trying to develop new drugs which replace the other hormones that are lost when you become diabetic and also to break down insulin resistance. Diabetes is really a much more complicated disease than just too many carbs equal an elevated blood sugar. The science is becoming so complicated that it is getting hard to explain it simply.


The good news is that we have so much research being done on our disease that a cure is in sight. For many years after insulin was developed research stopped on diabetes. It is only in the past 15-20 years that money is being poured into research.


Thanks for your thoughtful question. I hope you have a great weekend.


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