Slimming Pills And Diabetes

Diabetes is a silent disease affecting the overall health and well being of an individual stricken by the condition. This illness is characterized by the body's inability to metabolize the hormone insulin for cellular processes. This hormone is important as the hormone enables cells to utilize blood sugar as fuel for normal processes. Without insulin, the cells do not have fuel and result in cellular degeneration. When cells die, organs fail leading to complications and even death.

One of the most prevalent types of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus. In this kind of diabetes, the individual's dietary lifestyle affects the body's ability to metabolize insulin. Because of a high fat an high sugar diet, the diabetic individual cannot process the blood sugar for fuel and excessive amounts are stored as fat. Thus the pernicious effect of Type 2 diabetes comes to fore, the increase in weight as well as lack of fuel for cellular regeneration and operations. This often leads to complications such as cardiovascular disease, renal failure, recuperative disorders, blindness and a whole host of other ill effects.

There is also a wealth of literature regarding weight and diabetes. Because of the intense association of weight gain, body mass index and fat ratios with diabetes, many opt for quick fixes to lose weight in the hope that the diabetes would be properly managed. The following are some of the more common weight loss pills in the market today and their effects on healthy individuals.

a) Orlistat. This diet pill inhibits the breakdown of fat in the digestive system, blocking the absorption into the body and eventually being passed out through the stool.

b) Hoodia Gordonii. This is South African plant used by bushmen to suppress their appetites. There are no current studies on this protected herb.

c) Capsiplex. The main ingredients of this drug are chili and capsicum and is said to increase the individual's metabolic rate to lose weight.

d) Fat Binding. While there are many brands, such as Proactol and Lipobind that say that the extract of dried cactus fibers would bind the fat in the diet. This would then be passed out in the stool.

There are issues involved with using these weight loss pills as a diabetic. Many physicians though prescribe them, the use of weight loss pills should properly be monitored and administered, as there are more health issues involved with diabetics, which are as follows:

1. Weight loss is not the cure all for diabetes. Diabetics need to lose weight in order to lower the demand of insulin in cellular processes. The weight loss is also important to prevent other complications, such as heart ailments, fatty liver and other obesity related diseases.

2. Weight loss pills are not magic potions for diabetics. Even with the use of weight loss pills, the absence of any change in the individual's dietary habits would only blunt the promised benefits of weight loss pill use.

3. Weight loss pills have effects on the body. Many weight loss pills use suppression and excretion of particular substances, such as fat, as their effect on the body. Since the diabetic body is slow to heal and recuperate, the use of weight loss pills can bring the body to the brink of injury as an effect (appetite suppression, increased bowl movement, increased metabolism). This may even create more complications for the individual instead of benefits if this kind of regimen is continued.

Thus, it is important to be properly guided by your physician regarding the use of weight loss pills as a diabetic. This regimen is not a magic bullet as the best recipe for weight loss in diabetics is still dietary modification, self-discipline and exercise to properly manage diabetes in the long run.

Bobby Castro is the online editor at the Diabetes Forum, where he has published a number of articles about diabetes treatment and many other topics.