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Stimulants; Risk factor for Type II Diabetes?

SerotonergicHaze

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Is the use of stimulants a known contributor towards the development of type two diabetes?

The activation of the β2 adrengenric receptors results in among other things, Gluconeogenesis (splitting of Glycogen into free glucose), and pancreatic insulin release.

Stimulant drugs or more broadly sympathomimetic drugs, such as Amphetamine (through norepinephrine release) or Salbutamol/Albutamol (direct receptor binding) activate the adrengeric receptors as though the body was in fight/flight response.

In fight/flight response, Glycogen which is "reserve glucose" is converted into free glucose, and insulin released to rapidly transfer glucose to cells, in order to provide a rapid source of energy to deal with the threat. Fat is also lipolyosed or "burned" to provide extra energy

Since stimulants do not result in effective long acting energy stores, as well as producing selective anorexia to everything but sweet foods (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1549650), users of Amphetamines have a disproportionately large amount of their energy intake coming from small carbohydrates.

Combine this with the fact that Insulin is being released at abnormally high levels from the pancreas, does this eventually lead to desentization of the insulin receptors and thus type two diabetes

This does concern me, as I have a family history of type II diabetes, and I'm scripted Methylphenidate at a relatively high dose, my diet is lacking at best, it's small and not particularly nutritious, and quite sugar rich, and my weight is on the low end of normal. I supplement with a multivitamin, and have been trying to improve the diet.

Are stimulants risk factors for diabetes?and if so would it apply to 56mg of oral Methylphenidate daily, or is more something pertinent to chronic amphetamine abusers whose food is limited to comedown sugar binges.

Slightly off topic, but would like to take my hat off to Quercetin, your posts on Methamphetamines metabolic effects were absolutely fascinating, a pleasure to read, and a significant contribution to this forum

Would appreciate any feedback on this topic
 
I remember reading somewhere that amphetamines cause hyperglycemia at first but with chronic use cause hypoglycemia, not sure if this contributes to type 2 diabetes or not. It could because amphetamine users generally have very bad diets, but if you're just using ritalin as prescribed every day I doubt it's a significant risk increase. (Especially because you're weight is on the low end of normal, generally ((but not always)) type 2 diabetics are high average or overweight, while type 1 diabetics are thin)
 
This was an education for me. I have to go research the difference between type i and type ii. I'm new to pharma and need to know this stuff but they never cover it in training. Your both awesome.
 
This was an education for me. I have to go research the difference between type i and type ii. I'm new to pharma and need to know this stuff but they never cover it in training. Your both awesome.

Type 1 is autoimmune, which means your pancreas turns on itself and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. It just happens usually between the age of 10 and 20, and it happens fast. Type 2 is just your pancreas becoming resistant to insulin, it's usually preventable and takes years to come on, and is generally a LOT milder than type 1. Type 2 is usually treated with metformin and type 1 is treated with insulin shots.
 
Methylphenidate will cause secretion of insulin. Although I am not aware of the impact on the metabolism (GLUT1, GLUT3). I will do some research on this topic this weekend. It is important to understand that the main issue is repeated episode of hypoglycemia, methylphenidate is a short acting compound. I would not be too concerned. Exercises and nutrition may be important mediator here. I would suggest to supplement daily with magnesium, l-carnitine, l-carnosine and NAC.

Further studies of methamphetamine-induced insulin release
http://www.researchgate.net/publica...es_of_methamphetamine-induced_insulin_release
In the present study we have evaluated factors that modify methamphetamide-induced insulin secretion. While methamphetamine stimulates insulin secretion in intact rats and mice, it stimulates insulin secretion in vitro only from mouse pancreas. Related drugs such as d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, and tranylcypromine also stimulate insulin secretion in intact rats. Methamphetamine-induced insulin secretion is not altered by α-receptor antagonists or ganglionic blocking agents, but is reduced by β-receptor antagonists. Insulin secretion in response to methamphetamine is significantly increased in the hyperthyroid state and decreased in the hypothyroid state. Chronic methamphetamine administration results in a reduction in the insulin secreted in response to this agent.
 
Slightly off topic, but would like to take my hat off to Quercetin, your posts on Methamphetamines metabolic effects were absolutely fascinating, a pleasure to read, and a significant contribution to this forum

Thank you very much. I really appreciate feedback.
 
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