Weight piled on whilst suffering from depression

[dm1983]

Hi

Not quite sure this is the right board for this, but hopefully someone can help.

Anyway, I was diagnosed as type 2 back in Feb 2013 and weighed 136kg, over the following 18 months, I got this down to 87kg and held that steady until earlier this year when anti-depressants I have been on, saw me really hungry and low in energy.

Over the course of a couple of months, I went back up to 100kg, although my HbA1c actually reduced (I've never been on any meds for diabetes).

Since stopping the anti-depressants, the energy has returned, but I'm still struggling with boredom/comfort eating.

Has anyone got any experience of appetite supressants that might help me? I've got a review with the GP on Monday and was looking for anything I could go in there and suggest.

 

[trophywench]

Ah well - Metformin (the first-choice drug for T2) is actually a help in suppressing appetite (originally marketed as a weight loss drug, it was found to have the side effect of lowering BG for those overweight patients treated with it, that also had diabetes!)

It doesn't do it 'directly' - it does it by reducing a person's resistance to insulin - which is a complicated process, but anyway, it does it.

Hence - it might not be a bad idea to start taking Metformin. It doesn't have any dangerous side effects generally - though it often causes wind (and follow through LOL) to begin with so even if people need to take the maximum dose - docs always build it up to that in stages, giving it a chance to settle before upping it to the next level.

 

[grovesy]

I personally don't find Metformin either suppressed my appetite or aided weight loss.

 

[Copepod]

Welcome dm1983. As others have said, metformin might help you in more than one way.
While at GP, it's also worth asking about exercise on prescription schemes - free outdoor walking groups / routes are particularly suitable for people with diabetes of any type and / or mild to moderate depression.

 

[Drummer]

A low carb diet is an excellent way to reduce appetite.
I find I am never hungry, but if I find I need something fast before going out there is always something I can eat in the fridge, and it has the advantage of easy weightloss as well, with loads of energy and a general sense of optimism too.

 

[Bill Stewardson]

Hello to you dm.

I can empathise re depression, had a period of that myself after my son died in 07 and it went on for quite a while. I never took a single pill during that time and it is very promising that you have stopped taking them. As I never took any Im unsure about after effects, all I would say as an experienced person re depression is try to be as "matter of fact" about stuff as you can, it's likely a phase which you will be able to look back upon at some point.
Metformin has made no difference to my weight at all. It does have different effects on different people, one being as a laxative, which it is possible could have a weight loss effect. It has in no way surpressed my appetite.
Maybe a better approach would be to eat something light when your bored or feeling down. Just walk rather than take the bus or car, and see how it goes.
I made the error of eating zero carb stuff all the time, try to avoid doing that if you can.

 

[dm1983]

I run a lot, so exercise isn't the issue, it's the comfort/boredom eating of rubbish.

I've attached a graph showing my HbA1c from diagnosis to now, I've never been on medication for diabetes and based on this graph, I think it would be a mistake for me to start now.