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Weight Loss Medications Safe for Type 1 Diabetics

According to information from the American Diabetics Association, type I diabetes differs from type II in that it is a genetic disease. In type I diabetes, the body fails to produce insulin, a storage hormone that is responsible for shuttling blood sugar into fat and muscle cells for storage and use, respectively. This necessitates treatment with artificial insulin to promote proper functioning. However, reliance on prescription insulin does not make you ineligible to use prescription weight loss pills as well.

  1. Weight Loss Medications

    • Consult with your physician about the possibility of using prescription weight loss medications when you're unable to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. This is likely the case if you have a BMI (body mass index) of over 27 along with other medical complications such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important for individuals with diabetes, as the body becomes more and more insulin resistant with higher levels of body fat, necessitating an ever-increasing dose of insulin to produce the desired effect.

      According to information from the Mayo Clinic, there are two general types of weight loss medications that are approved for use by the FDA--Sibutramine (otherwise known as Merida) and Orilstat (commonly known as Xenical). These drugs work by inhibiting the appetite and reducing the amount of dietary fat that is absorbed by the body, respectively. It is important to only use an FDA-approved weight loss medication if you have type I diabetes, as it is the only way to guarantee that you will not experience undesirable complications from the medication, as FDA testing ensures safety. As of 2009, these prescription medications are not cheap; they range from $100 to $400 for a month's supply.

    Considerations

    • Remember that prescription weight loss drugs are not a license to continue engaging in unhealthy habits. Instead, they should serve as a motivator to help you break the cycle of destructive lifestyle choices that led you to require weight loss medication in the first place. Thus, combine your prescription medication with a healthy diet including plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, along with regular compliance with an exercise plan to help you reach a healthy weight. Keep in mind that these prescription drugs are not without their own costs and side effects: some of the more common include hypertension, headaches, dry mouth, bowel problems (both constipation and diarrhea), abdominal pain and bloating.

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