The people, who take antidepressants, have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. BBC reports that this was stated by the University of Southampton. Such a conclusion is based on the analysis of 22 studies that have established the relationship between medications and the disease.
According to the scientists, the use of antidepressants is likely to lead to weight gain, which contributes to the development of the disease. Furthermore, drugs can increase the blood sugar level. The analysis of the study involved thousands of volunteers, taking antidepressants, but it did not help single out a particular class of drugs, or a group of people, who faced the increased risk.
The author of the study, Professor Richard Holt, said more research was needed to find out what factors influenced the result. He recommends that doctors should carefully monitor the appearance of the first signs of diabetes in the patients, who are prescribed antidepressants.
Diabetes is easily diagnosed with the help of a blood test, and, according to the scientist, the doctor should tell this during a consultation. Diabetes can be prevented by adjusting the diet and doing exercises. According to Richard Holt, exercises improve the mental state, so there are at least two reasons to change one’s way of life.
The scientific research was published in the Diabetes Care journal.
