Misconception: Insulin worsens the complications of diabetes.
A lot of people think insulin worsens the complications of diabetes, when in fact, insulin is treating them.
People who need insulin often experience the most diabetes-related complications. As a result, a lot of patients think it’s the insulin that led to those things, but that’s not the case. If you need insulin, it will help you. It will not make diabetes complications progress.
We’re going to explore if drugs work for putting type 2 diabetes into remission.
What are weight loss drugs?
In recent times there has been a lot of talk about weight loss drugs and the role they can play in helping people with type 2 diabetes lose weight.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide, a GLP-2 medication (glucagon-like peptide-2), is available by prescription, is FDA-approved for the treatment of both diabetes and obesity and is injected once a week; for diabetes in adults, the brand name is Ozempic; for obesity in children ages 12 and older and some adults with excess weight, the brand name is Wegovy.
It works by slowing down the movement of food in your gut so you can stay full for longer and have less of an appetite. This can mean you eat less.
Wegovy can only be prescribed by a specialist weight management service. Your GP usually refers you to this service. This medication should be taken alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Ozempic is another brand name for semaglutide and is only licenced as a medicine for type 2 diabetes to manage blood sugar levels. But sometimes Ozempic is prescribed off-label as a weight loss treatment. “Off-label” use means that the medicine is being used in a way that is different to that described in the licence.
Orlistat
Brand name Xenical, is a capsule that is taken orally. It works by limiting the amount of fat your body absorbs from the food you eat. This means you take in less calories.
Xenical can be prescribed by your GP and should be taken alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Liraglutide
Brand name Saxenda, a type of GLP-1 analogue and it is injected.
It works by reducing your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight. Saxenda can only be prescribed by a specialist weight management service. Your GP usually refers you to this service. This medication should be taken alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Tirzepatide
Another medication, brand name is Mounjaro, which is FDA-approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes and also results in a substantial and sustained reduction in body weight,
Weight loss drugs and specialist weight management services
You should speak with your GP or diabetes team to ask what is available in your area and whether it is suitable and available to you.
Do these drugs work for type 2 remission?
We know these medications can help with weight loss, and weight loss is key to remission. But we’re still learning about the role these medications can play in supporting people with type 2 diabetes to lose weight and go into remission.
There is some evidence that people can put weight back on when they stop using weight loss drugs. This means that it’s important to get support with making changes to your diet and physical activity levels to keep off the weight you’ve lost. Maintaining weight loss is especially important for staying in remission.
What about medical interventions – Gastric Bypass?
Although remission can be achieved by standard medical means of lifestyle manipulation, many remissions are a consequence of gastric bypass surgery. These individuals often experience complete, or temporary (it can be for years), reversal of high glucose levels. It is the change in hormonal setting driven by the surgery that leads to improved glucose metabolism even before significant weight loss occurs.
Gastric bypass is a considered generally by those whose BMI and medical conditions put them at risk for serious health complications. For most people behavior modification (initially with or without medications) with lifestyle changes can help manage type 2 diabetes. Excess weight increases insulin resistance, so by shedding just 7 to 10 percent of bodyweight, the body’s cells will be better able to respond to the insulin.
Conclusion
The key to losing weight is finding a meal plan and an activity regimen that will best suit one’s lifestyle. The best meal plan is one that will help you to make healthy food choices that you can follow for a lifetime. Don’t worry -a meal plan isn’t a strict diet where you can no longer eat and enjoy your favorite foods-it’s all about giving you guidance to shape your eating pattern.
Through these significant lifestyle changes you could be well on your way to managing your diabetes. Don’t get discouraged if you slip back to your old habits – it is common for many people.
Be patient with yourself. Work on adding one new healthy habit until you have mastered your way through to better habits and better results. It takes time, so remain diligent and patient—it will pay off!
Reference:
1. https://medschool.ucla.edu/news-article/can-diabetes-be-reversed#:~:text=There’s%20no%20cure%20for%20diabetes,routine%20of%20diet%20and%20exercise.
2. https://www.nebraskamed.com/diabetes/is-it-possible-to-reverse-diabetes
3. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/type-2-remission/type-2-reverse
4. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/ask-the-experts/reversing-diabetes
5. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/prediabetes
6. https://www.joslin.org/patient-care/diabetes-education/diabetes-learning-center/can-type-2-diabetes-be-reversed
