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Schizophrenia and Diabetes

Approximately 18 percent of people living with schizophrenia have type 2 diabetes. People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 20 percent shorter than the general population- and they have two to four times a greater risk of developing diabetes than the general population.

Risk Factors for Diabetes
  • Body mass index of >25

  • First-degree relative with diabetes

  • Habitual physical inactivity

  • Being an African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander

  • Delivering a baby >9lbs., or having had gestational diabetes

  • Hypertension, a high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of <35mg/dl>250mg/dL

  • A history of an abnormal glucose tolerance or fasting plasma glucose test result

  • A history of vascular disease
Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, and almost all anti psychotic drugs, including the older drugs, increase the risk of obesity. "Meta-analysis found that patients receiving standard doses of atypical antipsychotics for 10 weeks gained a mean of 9.79 lb with clozapine, 9.13 lb with olanzapine, 6.42 lb with sertindole, 4.6 lb with risperidone, and 0.09 lb with ziprasidone.13 Prospective studies found that the annual mean weight gain was 11.7 to 13.9 lb for clozapine, 15 to 26 lb for olanzapine, 4.4 to 5.1 lb for risperidone, and 6.1 to 12.3 lb for quetiapine. Ziprasidone and aripiprazole both had mean weight gains of less than 2 lb.4" ( http://www.pharmacytimes.com/issues/articles/2005-10_2662.asp).

Monitoring weight gain is crucial. The physician should record the body mass index (BMI) of the patient every time they start or change a medication for six months. After six months recording weight should occur quarterly or more frequently if weight accumulates. The patient should learn how to weigh their self and notify their physician if they gain 5 percent of their baseline weight or the number of pounds that correspond to one BMI unit (these figures should be calculated with or for the patient).

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Comments

HektikLyfe said…
Hmm, that's interesting. I have an uncle who is schizophrenic which I have previously mentioned. All his brothers and sisters are fat but he is the only skinny one. Odd that. Perhaps he is not taking his meds.
October 10, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Satria Sudeki said…
It is happy to see your posting. Yes really informative article. I will tell this information again to my friend, oh yes I suggest you to check my blog on www.101healthsolution.blogspot.com , I hope the article on my blog will be usefull for you... and we can share each other. thank you... ;-)
October 10, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Ashley Smith said…
Hektilyfe,
Medicatioon for schizophrenia increases the risk of diabetes and obesity it does not mean someone with schizophrenia will automatically become diabetic or obese. People react differently to their medication...Your uncle could be taking his meds and is fortunate to not gain weight or get diabetes.

Satria Sudeki,
I am glad you enjoyed the article and learned something from it.
I checked out your blog and really enjoyed its diversity of subjects.
October 11, 2008 at 10:53 AM
That one girl. said…
Interesting! I didn't know the two were linked. Thank you for the info.
October 11, 2008 at 11:31 AM
John said…
Hey there,
This was a great post. I have gained 40 pounds being on olanzapine and it seems to have shifted my whole metabolism to where I cannot lose weight. I stay active and eat very little, but I can only stabilize my weight. I can't seem to lose weight, just stop gaining it. It's very frustrating. Thanks for this post.
October 11, 2008 at 9:27 PM
HektikLyfe said…
Thanks for the clarification! I was starting to think that perhaps he didn't take his meds and we should be concerned and/or prepared.
October 13, 2008 at 12:35 PM
kw said…
Oh, psych meds are the worst for weight gain! At least two that I'm on have that as a side effect. I've always had wieght issues, but now I have to lose about eighty pounds. That's after losing thirty this year already.

Ash, I got "tagged" by a fellow blogger and in turn have tagged you. If you don't know what the heck I'm on about, stop on by and participate!
October 18, 2008 at 9:45 PM
kw said…
Ash~Haven't heard from you and am getting worried. I hope you won a holiday in the Caribbean? Let me know.

Dano.
October 27, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Kyle said…
I have had Schizo for 25 years and just started being treated for diabetes 2 last year. I'm a 50 year old and saw this website on the TV news. I'm on a much different diet and hope to beat both at the same time !
November 1, 2011 at 10:41 PM
Ashley Smith said…
Hi Kyle,

I love your enthusiasm, I wish you much success in your recovery!

Best regards,
Ashley Smith
November 8, 2011 at 3:26 AM
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