Currently on Zyprexa. Want to learn warning signs of pre/diabetes...

[netsavy006]

Hello everyone. Haven't been on in awhile I know.

I'm currently on Zyprexa Zydis (the melt in the mouth version of Zyprexa). I'm on 5mg.

What I do know about Zyprexa is that it can potentially lead to pre-diabetes or diabetes so what I'd like to know is the following:

What are the signs/symptoms that I need to watch out for so that I know to tell my doctor so she can order the appropriate blood work and modify my treatment in time?

By the way I'm on Zyprexa for Bipolar 1 Disorder: Mixed Episodes (Rapid Cycling).

Thanks,
Andy...

[BlueSky]

The first thing you may notice is that you start putting on weight. You won't notice anything else until the insulin resistance is well establihed. Blood sugar levels will evenually start rising, by which time you will already have lost a lot of beta cells. Once this happens, it is too late. The chances of you recoving that lost beta cell function are very small. And you will only know that your blood glucose is rising if you test your blood sugar. Insulin levels will go up well before blood glucose starts rising, but you have to have a lab test done to see this.

The best thing to do is to avoid Zyprexa and the other atypical antipsychotics if at all possible.

[netsavy006]

Well I already take a mood stabilizer (Topamax 100mg 2x/day) but it's not enough to control my symptoms. I was taking Abilify 15mg/day but it was causing terrible akathisia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathisia), so I was taken off of it. What can I do to help avoid the weight gain?

I've been doing yoga twice daily. It's from Silver Yoga Series with a woman by the first name of Lilia. She's very good. I do an hour in the morning and an hour at night. Plus I do walk around town (when the weather is good) during the day. Also, when I can I've been doing Nintendo Wii Fitness and Wii Sports to help keep myself in shape.

I try to follow a good diet. I don't add salt to foods, I eat vegetables. I limit as much fats as I can.

Is there other stuff I could be doing?

Here's a list of all medications I take if that helps:
Topamax 100mg @ AM + bedtime
Valium 5mg @ AM, 4pm, bedtime
Artane 2mg @ AM, 4pm, bedtime
Zyprexa Zydis 5mg @ bedtime
Lunesta 3mg p.r.n.

[BlueSky]

... I try to follow a good diet. I don't add salt to foods, I eat vegetables. I limit as much fats as I can...
As you are concerned about insulin resistance, the most important food to restrict is carbohydrate. Eat potatoes, rice, pasta, fruit juices, and anything containing sugar or flour in moderation.

You need to discuss your options with your psychiatrist. Make it clear that you are very concerned about insulin resistance, and refer to the class action lawsuit against Eli Lilly (manufacturers of Zyprexa) over this. You may be able to get your psychriatrist to prescribe a meter and strips for you.

[netsavy006]

Well I know with the way I post it's like I'm overly concerned, but I just want to make sure I don't become the 1 in x who become diabetic because of the drug. I already have a family history that's out of my control. I don't need a drug that's going to make it worse.

Here's some of my stats:
I'm male, 148lbs, 5' 8", average build, non-athletic

[BlueSky]

I am only aware of this issue because my daughter, who is a Type 1 diabetic, used to take Seroquel. As a Type1, she tests every day. And she noticed a steady increase in her insulin requirements. She had to inject more insulin to achieve her target blood glucose levels. In other words, she was becoming increasingly insulin resistant.

She discussed this with her psychiatrist, who had prescribed Seroquel in spite of knowing about the insulin resistance causing effects. This is bad news for a Type 1 diabetic, so he found an alternative medication.

[netsavy006]

See it's kind of hard because I'm not on it just because of bipolar mania. I also have visual hallcinations that occur if I don't take an antipsychotic. I'm to scared to take the older ones because of the risk of tardive dyskinsesia, which I know can happen with the newer ones too but to a lower degree. Do you happen to know what other options there are that I could discuss with my doctor?

History:
Seroquel 100mg: one dose made hallucinaitons worse
Invega 6mg: worked but caused bad side effects
Abilify 15mg: worked but caused akathisia (restlessness)
Risperdal .5mg: gave me tics 6 weeks into treatment
Geodon: never tried because of cardiac risks
Depakote: caused depression, couldn't stabilize blood levels
Tegratol: informed not to take because of auto-motabilization of the medicine