During my bi-annual checkup last year I had the opportunity to go on a GLP-1 drug. My doctor considered it a wonder treatment, particularly for diabetics, and recommended it to me, but I refused. I have only 20 lbs. to lose before I'm at my ideal weight. Also, I do not want to be dependent on any kind of needle if I can avoid that. I'd rather lose the weight the hard way, by controlling my diet and doing daily exercise.
Make no mistake, it is very hard to manage this disease and continue to lose weight. I've hit that last 20 lbs. plateau, and I'm fighting for every pound I lose now.
Back to the drug. There wasn't a lot of information about GLP-1s at the time, especially concerning the side effects, but I had heard that the minute anyone stopped the injections, they put the weight back on. That made sense, too -- people were dependent on using the needle, and when the needle went away, so did the results. Big pharmaceutical companies seem to be more interested in making money than protecting the health of patients. Also, just a personal quirk of mine, any drug that celebrities favor is one I never want to use. I could see the famous people losing muscle mass, and it worried me.
Six months later, the lawsuits against the manufacturers of GLP-1 drugs are mounting because of blindness, brain dysfunction and colonic rupture, all allegedly caused by the drugs. I just watched a video this morning that claims the drugs work in part by forcing the pancreas to produce more insulin -- something no type 2 diabetic needs -- paralyzing the stomach, and hormonally unbalancing the brain. They may even stop the entire GI tract from working. I don't know if any of these claims are true, but they are seriously disturbing.
My gut reaction: I have already had two eye surgeries to correct cataracts, and there is no way I'm ever risking my vision just to lose weight. I will diet and exercise VERY happily to avoid potential blindness.
I'm vindicated in refusing the GLP-1 drug, but honestly I would do the same to any shortcut medication. There is no easy way to manage diabetes and obesity. It's all about wanting to live healthier and being willing to put in the work -- especially the behavior modification -- to do that. Finally, losing muscle mass at my age would be a nightmare, as it's unlikely I could ever put it back on.
We need to stop looking for quick fixes and instead help people lose weight and control their diabetes in healthy ways. To do my part, I'm going to start writing on the blog about the safe methods that work for me as I keep whittling away at this last 20 lbs.
Image by Angelo Esslinger from Pixabay
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