Diabetes: The ‘common’ drug combination boosting the risk of diabetes – taken by thousands

Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert

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Blood sugar levels that are left unmanaged can set the stage for disaster. Death and amputation are two of the most feared outcomes of diabetes, but many other complications can occur beforehand. One of the easiest ways to control blood sugar is through careful intake of foods. Sometimes, double-checking how certain prescriptions may interact with each other may be necessary too.

According to one study, combining one cholesterol-lowering drug with an antidepressant could heighten the risk of diabetes.

The findings obtained by Nicholas Tatonetti and Russ Altman of Stanford University in California were gathered from a database run by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

While looking for drug combinations that caused blood sugar levels to rise, one stood out: the antidepressant paroxetine and pravastatin, which is used to lower blood cholesterol.

Tatonetti told the New Scientist: “We were very surprised that it was so specific to these two drugs.”

READ MORE: Diabetes: The cholesterol-lowering supplement that slashes blood sugar levels by 26%

According to the NHS, “Paroxetine is a type of antidepressant known as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.)

“It’s often used to treat depression and also sometimes for obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Paroxetine helps many people recover from depression, and it has fewer unwanted effects than older antidepressants.”

Pravastatin on the other hand, “belongs to a group of medicines called statins”, explains the NHS.

The health body continues: “It’s used to lower cholesterol if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol.

“It’s also taken to prevent heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes.”Interestingly, neither drug caused blood sugar to rise when administered alone.

The team confirmed these effects by conducting experiments on mice that were made pre-diabetic by being given them a diet laden with fat.

The findings did confirm an elevation in blood glucose.

The researchers were unable to confirm why the drug combination caused blood sugar to rise.

But they estimated that in 2009, a total of 715,000 Americans were given the two drugs together.

For those who already had diabetes, the effects of combining the two drugs on blood sugar could require them to take higher doses of drugs to control the condition.

How to avoid diabetes

Diet is the mainstay of diabetes treatment, and research states that dietary advice given to diabetics is equally relevant for prevention.

Academics suggest that individuals who are obese could potentially reverse their condition by losing 10 percent of their body weight.

Intake of certain foods – namely ones that consist of simple carbohydrates or refined sugars – should be limited.

Sugar-sweetened beverages should also be swapped for water.

What’s more, exercise could significantly help lower the risk of diabetes by keeping blood sugar levels stable for up to 48 hours after a workout.

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