Why Do Some Diabetes Medications Cause Weight Gain

In the U.S., more than 10% of people have diabetes. It is a condition that happens when your body cannot use or make insulin. Without insulin, the body’s blood glucose level rises to unsafe levels. The majority of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.

Many possible ways can help you treat diabetes include the combination of medication and lifestyle change. The proper treatment regimen is unique for everyone who has diabetes. One top concern for most people when they first start diabetes medications is the side effects they may experience. You can get diabetes medication at good discounts if you download a free prescription discountcard.

Why does diabetes medication results in weight change for people?

Diabetes medications may cause weight changes by affecting the use of sugar in the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body to turn sugar from food into cell energy. Sugar moves with the help of insulin from your blood into the cells. The movement ought to lower blood sugar.

However, when there’s too much sugar in the blood, insulin will tell your liver to turn sugar into fat. The added fat may lead to weight gain over time. Until the blood sugar is controlled, the sugar-into-fat process continues. It is why insulin’s weight gain side effect is expected mostly if you start it first. The side effect also applies to the medications that tell your body to make more insulin.

On the flip side, a few medications for diabetes may cause weight loss by getting rid of extra body sugars. Less sugar in the blood means there’s less sugar available to change into fat.

Thus, if a medication works by removing sugar from the blood, weight loss could be a possible side effect.

Diabetes medication that may cause weight gain

Four main kinds of diabetes medications may result in weight gain. A feature they all share is that the work may affect the body’s insulin. As mentioned above, few medications affect insulin levels in your body, leading to weight gain. These medicines are:

1. Insulin

2. Pramlintide (Symlin)

3. Metformin

4. SGLT2 inhibitors

5. Meglitinides (“glinides”)

6. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs or “glitazones”)

7. Sulfonylureas

Conclusion

Diabetes medications are essential to lower blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. However, few medicines may lead to weight loss or weight gain. Insulin tends to cause the most weight gain.

A healthy diet and exercise are crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. It would help if you worked closely with your healthcare team to determine the best diabetes treatment regimen.

Also, get diabetes medications at good discounts through a free Rx card.