In a recent article, it has been stated that those who take anti-depressant pills usually also have type 2 diabetes. According to the article a link between the two seems to be there, but there is not strong proof the actually show that one causes the other.
The authors did raise the issue that it may be, those who take these pills naturally put on weight, thus increasing their changes of diabetes. In addition to this, they also mentioned the possibility that the "drugs themselves could interfere with blood sugar control."
Either way, it is interesting to think that there may be a link between the two. I wonder if the same goes for birth control pills. I've been told many females gain weight when taking these pills. Interesting I'd say!
What do you all think about it? Is it possible that anti-depressants can cause type 2 diabetes?
Link to article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24217982
So after reading the article I'm a little confused as to why it was written. Although "22 studies involving thousands of patients" was done they still were unable to proove that taking anti-depressant pills had any correlation with type 2 diabtes. It was an interesting thought but based on their conclusions it is highly doubtful that the 2 are linked.
ReplyDeleteExactly! That is what I got after reading the article. In my opinion, if there isn't strong evidence, do not put your reputation on the line by publishing an article that cannot be supported. But, I wrote about it because it still intrigued me.
DeleteThis article kind of makes me angry. The perception that people who are on antidepressants is that they're sad, lazy and fat. So they're basically drawing a link by saying being fat and lazy causes you to become a type 2 diabetic. There are plenty of drugs out there that cause weight gain. I agree with you that birth control causes girls to gain weight, but there's no study on whether they get type 2 or not. I think these researchers are idiots. That's my opinion though.
ReplyDeleteWell, to be honest, diabetes is a disease that can be cured by exercising. So I cannot completely side with you when you say they draw a link to diabetics being lazy and fat. It is an extreme thought, but at the root of it, it deals with blood sugar, thus what foods are being consumed. Either way, I understand what you are saying and agree that the link itself is not that strong. This is another reason why I decided to write about it, something to get everyone's juices flowing...it sounded like a controversial topic!
DeleteIt actually is never "cured". It can be managed by diet and exercise and in extreme cases insulin, but once someones has been diagnosed with type 2, there's really no going back.
DeleteI didn't mean to direct my anger towards you at all, but yes, the article is junk, lol.
Oh, and I totally meant to say, drawing a link between being sad and getting type 2 diabetes. Because I do agree that being fat and lazy would cause the onset of diabetes.
DeleteI don't think I actually meant the term "cured" but more so less severe. Either way, I see where you are coming from, and your frustration with how the authors presented the information.
DeleteThat's interesting. About the birth control pills, my doctor told me that they don't make you gain more than 5 pounds. He said that people who take birth control are typically in relationships, and that they go out to eat more and are happier which causes them to eat more. Not sure if this is true, but I guess correlation does not always equal causation as they say!
ReplyDeleteThat is totally true. People tend to get comfortable in their relationships, therefore leading to an increase in weight gain. I brought this idea up because it related so much to what the article was discussing, just because the two happen at the same time, does not always mean one causes the other. Pretty much with the saying you said summed it up nicely!
DeleteSince many birth control pills have steroids they do cause an increase in weight gain, and just like any other drug, some females gain more than others. In addition they also can cause some water rentention also causing weight gain. I agree with Elizabeth and Gaby though. The thing about these correlations that some researchers are trying to make between diabetes and weight loss drugs are so far fetched. What was the control for this study?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe they had a control. When reading the article again, it comes off as if they analyzed others' work and attempted to draw a connection. But like you said, it is kind of far fetched. The vary reason I wanted to write about it!
DeleteI didn't gain weight when I took the birth control pill. I'm kidding. Actually I take anti-depressants, have been since the sixth grade. Since then, I've been constantly eating unhealthy foods, and I can't stop my craving to eat. My therapist constantly changes my dosage, but it doesn't seem to affect my appetite (if it is appetite as opposed to force of habit). I have not been diagnosed with diabetes, even with the high diagnosis in my family history. Therefore, I do not have a reasonable opinion on this matter. (Does that mean I should not have written this?)
ReplyDeleteAnyway you see it, I am happy you decided to write on this blog. Your experience gave a new look at things, almost like a rebuttal to the research at hand. Then again it is your experience versus the many studies involving hundreds if not thousands of patients, but at least it sheds light to the topic in a new way. Thank you, even if you don't think you did much.
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