Anti-depressants can Raise your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes by up to 60 percent

According to a new study, antidepressants may raise risk for type 2 diabetes.  Antidepressants are one of the most commonly used drugs. The study suggests that doctors may want to be more cautious in prescribing them as the benefits of these drugs far outweigh the risk, mainly increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 60 percent.

Researchers analysed data from 22 studies, which included more than 1 million patients, and found that those who were on antidepressants were at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. The reason for the increased risk seems unclear, researchers said the findings need to be taken into account when prescribing these drugs.

According to study author, Katharine Barnard, MD at the University of Southampton in the UK, when you take away all the classic risk factors of type 2 diabetes -- weight gain, lifestyle, etc. -- there is something about antidepressants that appears to be an independent risk factor.

The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care.

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