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Suggest Treatment To Lose Weight In An Insulin Dependent Person
Question: I am 62 years old, have type 2 diabetes, and I am 5'8" and weigh about 265. I have been insulin dependent for almost 20 years. I take large amounts of insulin and want to know if there is a pill option to injections...other than metformin? I spoke with a friend at a party a few weeks ago and she is a physician that works in the great lake region. She says there is a way to manipulate hormones to help lose weight and thus decrease the injections. I think I understood her to say I might be able to trade hormonal therapy for injected insulin. Comments?
Brief Answer:
INCRETIN based treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
You are injecting 280 units of insulin a day. This is a lot of insulin and contributes to weight gain. Besides, obesity itself cause insulin resistance. As you said, Metformin is a wonderful drug to reduce insulin resistance at a dose of 1000 mg twice daily. Now a days we have few other medicines which are based on "INCRETIN hormone". They are GLIPTINS and GLP-1 analogues.
Gliptins are oral drugs which can be combined with Metformin. Sitagliptin ( JANUVIA) is an excellent medicine. Other options are linagliptin ( trajenta), Saxagliptin ( Onglyza) etc.
GLP-1 analogues are other group of injectable medicines which you can combne with insulin. Most commonly used one is VICTOZA.
Both the above group of drugs ( GLP-1 analogue and GLIPTINS) are helpful to reduce insulin dose and they are useful for weight loss too.
Other ways of improving insulin resistance is by using Insulin pump therapy which may be helpful in reducing insulin dose. Bariatric surgery is another option in you.
There is a new group of medicine called FLOZINS ( Dapagliflozin, Canagliflozin, ) which can be combined with Metformin. They too help to reduce insulin dose and helps in weight loss.
The field of Diabetes is becoming very promising with the introduction of several new drugs. Many of these drugs promote weight loss as well.
Please feel free to ask further.
Regards
Binu
INCRETIN based treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
You are injecting 280 units of insulin a day. This is a lot of insulin and contributes to weight gain. Besides, obesity itself cause insulin resistance. As you said, Metformin is a wonderful drug to reduce insulin resistance at a dose of 1000 mg twice daily. Now a days we have few other medicines which are based on "INCRETIN hormone". They are GLIPTINS and GLP-1 analogues.
Gliptins are oral drugs which can be combined with Metformin. Sitagliptin ( JANUVIA) is an excellent medicine. Other options are linagliptin ( trajenta), Saxagliptin ( Onglyza) etc.
GLP-1 analogues are other group of injectable medicines which you can combne with insulin. Most commonly used one is VICTOZA.
Both the above group of drugs ( GLP-1 analogue and GLIPTINS) are helpful to reduce insulin dose and they are useful for weight loss too.
Other ways of improving insulin resistance is by using Insulin pump therapy which may be helpful in reducing insulin dose. Bariatric surgery is another option in you.
There is a new group of medicine called FLOZINS ( Dapagliflozin, Canagliflozin, ) which can be combined with Metformin. They too help to reduce insulin dose and helps in weight loss.
The field of Diabetes is becoming very promising with the introduction of several new drugs. Many of these drugs promote weight loss as well.
Please feel free to ask further.
Regards
Binu
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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