Overcoming Schizophrenia

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 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 ...