SGLT2 Diabetes medications and weight loss questions

Mexicangreensalsa
Mexicangreensalsa Posts: 296 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been taking SGLT2 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes. My glucose has been under control and I was thinking of going off them but then though... wait these are decreasing my glucose absorbed therefore I will have to eat less calories going off them.

I ended up doing some research and found that many glucose absorption inhibitors used for diabetes have been shown to cause patients to lose up to 300 calories that they normally would absorb. Now I am afraid to go off them and have to eat 300 less just to maintain my weight!

Has anyone else had experience going off and did you notice a decrease in maintenance amount?

Also... it had me thinking.. why haven't these inhibitors been used for weight loss purposes for obese people or been one of those fad diets?

Replies

  • This content has been removed.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    Hmmm.. interesting. Maybe it hasn't been used because glucose in the urine really is not the best for your kidneys and health long term. I would talk with your doctor about your concerns.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4285787/

    " total caloric losses with canagliflozin 50, 100, and 300 mg over 12 weeks in subjects completing this study were calculated to be 9,072 kcal, 15,120 kcal, and 20,160 kcal, respectively "

    You may have to decrease your intake a bit, but I would just keep an eye on the scale and adjust accordingly.
  • This content has been removed.
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    Also... it had me thinking.. why haven't these inhibitors been used for weight loss purposes for obese people or been one of those fad diets?

    There is at least one approved for weight loss that I know of.
  • shaumom
    shaumom Posts: 1,003 Member
    While I haven’t taken those meds, I can at least discuss something else that involves decreased absorption.

    Celiacs have decreased calorie absorption, typically, until they start treatment by changing their diets. For most I know of, when they start to have increased absorption, they do start to gain weight if they stay at the same calorie intake and exercise routine.

    Again, it is not exactly the same, but I would assume that increasing how many calories you absorb, whatever the reason, would seem likely to have a similar impact, you know?
  • evanruth
    evanruth Posts: 3 Member
    Having these medicines used for weight loss purposes depends on the doctor. I went to a diabetes/weight-loss specialist and was placed on these medicines in conjunction with a low carb diet. Note, I am not, or near diabetic. I took Xigduo XR and Trulicity. I did lose 75 lbs, however, the Trulicity made me really nauseous, so I rarely ate, and if I had too many carbs on the Xigduo, it would cause UTI's because all of the excess glucose that was in the urine (since it wasn't absorbed in my system).

    I finally decided I was tired of all the side effects so I went off of the meds. I gained about 20 lbs back because I was eating more food and more carbs. I am much happier not taking them, especially since they were not necessary for me.

    Now I am back here working on losing the 20 I gained, and maybe a little more.
This discussion has been closed.