Losing weight and diabetes medication

alisonjj
alisonjj Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone had problems in losing weight while on diabetes medication? I didn't have a problem with metformin but have real problems since I have been on Gliplizide (glicilizide in the UK). I eat within my calorie range and work out in the gym 6 days a week but no weight loss. I have heard this drug combo can cause problems and wonder if anyone has over come it? Just to say I used to be 84lbs heavier so prior to this medication I was able to lose.

Replies

  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Bumping for later...my partner has the same issue....very frustrating!
  • Lady_Tipster
    Lady_Tipster Posts: 5 Member
    I have been on Glipizide for 2 years. I also take two different insulins. My Doctor told me that all Diabetic Medications cause weight gains and I have to just try hard to work around it. Metformin and I do not agree. Do to Sciatica and Bursittis I have difficulty moving around. I do the best that I can. I did try last year to workout at Curves but after the third visit my back went out and I was on Medical leave from Curves for 6 months. The Doctor told me then I could go back but I could not do any equipment that I have to climb into or over, such as the once that the benches are on a slant. The coach at Curves told me that I perhaps I wasn't getting on the machine correctly and I thought she could be right and tried it and ended up another 6 month leave. After that Curves let me go without penalties. So walking is all I can do. Perhaps later I can do more.
  • Lady_Tipster
    Lady_Tipster Posts: 5 Member
    I forgot to mention that before I was on the Diabetic Medications I was losing small amounts, but weekly. I only needed 50 pounds to my goal. Now it is 135. I just joined here the last week of October. So I am hoping this site will help me. I just wish they had a form for Diabetics. I have a tendency to have low blood sugar. So when I hit 49 - 67 I have to eat a snack. Then you need to log it on your food chart and then your calories go sky high. My Doctor wants me to have 45 Carbs every meal. So I have the normal 3 meals a day and then one at midnight so I don't wake up low, like I did 2 weeks ago at 49! If my Dogs were not barking I probably would have been a whole lot worse. I am open to suggestions.
  • dragonfire75
    dragonfire75 Posts: 1
    I am a diabetic (type 2). When I was first diagnosed I was prescribed 3 Metformin and 2 Gliclazide. Over a period of time I gained weight until I was roughly 21stone. I have managed to turn things around and now I weigh 15st 11lb plus I take no medication.....controlling my diabetes through diet and exercise. I cannot say that my method will work for everyone but it worked well enough for me. I found it came down to three areas to concentrate on:

    1. Diet: no sugar as much as possible and skimmed milk is a start.

    2. Exercise: cardio mainly (I later introduced weight training)

    3. Multi Vitamins and Minerals: I use high strength but these do make the difference.

    Hope this helps.
  • koshkasmum
    koshkasmum Posts: 276 Member
    I have been a Type 2 diabetic for 20 years and for about 15 of that have been on one medication or another and struggled to keep weight off - let alone taking it off! A few years ago my endocrinoligist put me on an insulin analog called Levemir which, unlike other insulins and some other oral medications does not tend to have weight gain as a side effect. I lost a couple of pounds and then held steady (a relief in itself). Last year my endocrinologist supplemented my diabetes treatment with another injectable medication called Victoza (liraglutide) which actually causes most users to lose some appetite and therefore some pounds. I lost another few and am finding dieting easier so I hope to lose a few more. (Adding the Victoza also allowed me to reduce all my other diabetic meds by almost half!)

    Talk to your endocrinologist and don't be afraid of injectables - they really don't hurt and they make glucose control much more certain.
  • pickledginger
    pickledginger Posts: 172
    I forgot to mention that before I was on the Diabetic Medications I was losing small amounts, but weekly. I only needed 50 pounds to my goal. Now it is 135. I just joined here the last week of October. So I am hoping this site will help me. I just wish they had a form for Diabetics. I have a tendency to have low blood sugar. So when I hit 49 - 67 I have to eat a snack. Then you need to log it on your food chart and then your calories go sky high. My Doctor wants me to have 45 Carbs every meal. So I have the normal 3 meals a day and then one at midnight so I don't wake up low, like I did 2 weeks ago at 49! If my Dogs were not barking I probably would have been a whole lot worse. I am open to suggestions.
    Maybe if you divided the carbs over four meals instead of three, so about 33 g per meal?? What kind of carbs are you eating? that can make a huge difference.
  • pickledginger
    pickledginger Posts: 172
    I found a neat post a while back about losing weight with metabolic issues -- it's linked from the end of my profile now, so I can't lose it again. Might be worth reading / sharing with your doctor.

    (And this site -- http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php -- has some good ideas for figuring out how particular foods affect your blood sugar.)

    Some people are claiming that using coconut oil in cooking and such, instead of other vegetable oils, helps with glucose control. (And with abdominal fat!!) I am planning to try it, but haven't yet.

    Good luck!! I am just getting ready to go on Metformin, I hope. And my thyroid is acting up. :-/
  • pickledginger
    pickledginger Posts: 172
    Look what i found!!

    Groups for people with diabetes (and relayed problems):
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/search?utf8=✓&phrase=diabetes
  • pickledginger
    pickledginger Posts: 172
    This site had some neat ideas for improving glucose readings at different times of day: http://www.diabetes-blood-sugar-solutions.com/normal-range-blood-sugar-levels.html

    (I am aiming for lower levels than this site suggests -- though not as low as your midnight numbers! -- as recent research seems to indicate that increases survival.)
  • baileygirlmd
    baileygirlmd Posts: 2 Member
    Victoza and Byetta are two injectable non insulin drugs for Type II DM that have proven weight loss as a side effect. Ask your doctor if it's right for you! Good Luck!
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Does it interact with carbs and insulin spiking?

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