SSRI/SNRI causes T1D?

Type 1 and LADA
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Hey @martinb, I’m happy to see that you’re still around. You have no doubt made changes in your life that have allowed you to live with this diagnosis.

Like you and perhaps many here, I resent this treachery that my body brought on me, I wish I could just go for a bike ride or a hike or a ski and not have to figure out whether I’ve brought along enough fast carbs, if my insulin on board is going to drop my glucose or if I’ve overdone things in preparation and I’ll be hyperglycaemic for the next six hours. I’d love to sit down without thinking and have a steak with some fries and a piece of apple pie without a second thought but that isn’t how my system works.

I’ve found things to be grateful for (the discovery of insulin! The development of CGM! A pump that can alter my basal rate in response to the CGM!).
My children.
My profession.
A beautiful sunrise.
The more I can focus on these things, the less that this diagnosis, which I did NOT consciously choose, is able to bring me down.

Regarding the SSRI / SNRI link, I believe that you are pursuing an illusion. We do such things in an attempt to exert some control over our circumstances in a life that may be less under our control that we would rush for. It’s understandable!

But remember that these are very widely used classes of drugs and although I’m doubtful of their effectiveness in many cases, particularly as opposed to a cognitive behavioural therapy approach for example, or mindfulness meditation, or often just spending more time exercising in the outdoors, I cannot see a mechanism by which they CAUSE the autoimmune mediated T1DM.

Antidepressants work very well for some people, are useless or cause very uncomfortable ride effects in others, and looking at Effexor in particular, are quite tough to wean of and discontinue.

I wish you my very best in your journey. Remember that you are NOT alone even when it feels that you are. I don’t actually know anyone else with T1 who is dealing with all this crap. It does give me a small comfort to see the folks on this exchange and hear their stories.

How are you doing, anyway?

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I mean… if it helps you feel less unlucky, I know I’m not the only one for whom T1 diabetes, while unfair and a huge pain the a**, is not nearly as impairing in my life as some of my other chronic health issues. So… could be worse, and I know there are plenty of folks out there who could say the same to me. Most people do not live near perfect lives, or anything close, even if they don’t have the exact problems you do.

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Thanks for your words of encouragement and support. Hearing from other PWD gives me hope and helps me fell better. I don’t know anybody else with T1D

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Where do you live Martin? I’m sure there are other pwd near if you look.

I’m about to start a new type1 hiking group in northwest losangeles and Ventura county. A lot of good places to go.
Lots of old movie sites and tv settings.

I did this before but it died during Covid.

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Hi again

And thanks for your words of encouragement.

May I ask are the other health issues you describe related to diabetes?

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Here is a nice article about the various issues related to classification of diabetes.

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Mostly not. I have multiple other chronic health conditions, some of which definitely are not (i.e., a genetic connective tissue disorder and related conditions), some of which may be in the sense that autoimmune dysfunction is relevant across all of it. I do have retinopathy that is under control/managed secondary to my diabetes, but that is my only complication after 30 years so far.

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Hi Martin. In reading this post, it brings back my anger at being diagnosed with T1D. Like you, I don’t know anyone with T1D, nor is there anyone in my large family with T1D. I was 55 years old. Had moved to my dream 40 acre home and was happy and healthy, gardening and hiking around my land. T1D was triggered by lymes disease. My dream 40 acres harbored deer ticks. The next episode of lymes disease brought on Hashimotos thyroiditis. Just F. Both autoimmune and both suck.
I’ve figured out how to deal with D using a CGM and inhalable insulin. I take one shot of long-acting insulin in the morning, and keep the inhalable insulin in my pocket and use as needed. My diet is now no different from how I ate prior to D. The inhalable insulin works faster then any other insulin, and is easy to use. I can eat a hamburger and fries and have great control.
You can’t make D go away. I still get angry. It’s almost comical that I feel some resentment toward my dream property, my decision to move out here.
I tried a pump. It was a horrible fit for me. An expensive, time consuming, constant reminder of D hanging off of my body and getting in the way of life.
I hope you are doing well.

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Thanks for your comments.

I can feel the pain in your words, I feel just the same.

Was in a great place in my life and was really in a situation where I was happy where I was and things where going great. Then came this devastating thing out of the blue….I still haven’t recovered and accepted this and not sure if I ever will.

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The study you cite says SSRIs may boost immunity so much that autoimmunity is established. That was the key thought or mechanism for me. But honestly, I have not heard of a diabetes and SSRI link, unlike with antipsychotics, for which the link is all but established (though I’m sure not in all cases). It seems likely that you are going to have to put the pieces of this puzzle together yourself. ?

The only other thing I would observe is that there is a big push now by some real, legitimated MDs to get fluvoxamine accepted as a treatment option for early and long Covid. Because I don’t have cause to explain this a lot, or use these key concepts at work, I’ll have to paraphrase the Lancet: Certain SSRIs are found to have antiplatelet activity – SSRIs can prevent serotonin into platelets. They can also inhibit platelet activation. I’m sure there are other mechanisms too.

Saying SSRIs need to be listed as possible treatment, I realize, does not advance your cause, but sometimes, a fuller understanding of a medication can unlock the answer you’re looking for.

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Pls explain to me in layman terms. Are you implying that the SNRI and SSRI could possibly be a cause of my diabetes?

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This is the basis of the whole discussion - the association is weight gain and T2 and has nothing to do with causing diabetes as an autoimmune attack. Nor is there any direct evidence of a cause and effect relationship. Causation is very different than association.

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Sorry, no – I am not saying that. I’m trying not to conclude anything one way or the other. I was just offering, possibly, more information as a way of supplementing understanding in the event that’s what you want to do, as a way to explore and possibly bolster your case. Apologies that I was not/ could not be more clear. And regarding the antipsychotics that I mentioned, I should have done as @Rphil2 did when he referenced a study about antidepressants, by clarifying that the link with diabetes is with Type 2 not Type 1.

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Has anyone tried berberine for insulin resistance it is supposed to work just like metformin, But no prescription is necessary.

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Lauri

How’s your life with T1D? Is it all that bad??

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Well… I’m seven years in… if I was dx as a teenager it would not have been pretty. It’s been a battle. Insurance and doctors are roadblocks. It’s emotional for me to go back to those first few years. I found inhalable insulin and had to fight for it, but it has made D so much more manageable for me. A Dexcom CGM has been everything.

It became a habit to keep candy (smarties) and insulin in every pocket of every jacket, in my purse, bag, car, etc. I’ve learned how to be my own advocate with the medical industry and insurance.

Long answer to your question. T1D. “Is it all that bad?” It was a tough few years. It took time to figure out how to live well. And I do live well.

It’s very expensive. There are ways to decrease the cost, but it takes awhile to figure it out. Take advantage of the technology, like a continuous glucose monitor. Do you have insurance to cover T1D supplies?

You’re in the right place visiting this forum. The people here are very smart.

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I found no T1 studies of this nature and I searched for about 3o minutes. I am not saying none exist, but I did not find them.

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That link with T2D (not T1D) is with atypical antipsychotics (which can be prescribed for depression as well), not SSRIs/SNRIs.

What I am getting a sense of from this thread is that maybe the conditions requiring SSRIs/SNRIs in the first place (depression?) are affecting your experience dealing with diabetes and making it much harder to accept it and move forward. If you (or anyone) feel like diabetes is ruining your life, it is probably time to see a therapist and get help, because no one should have to struggle that much. Diabetes can be a burden and difficult, and for most folks it probably varies over time how much, but it really does not need to ruin your life or cause this degree of distress. This kind of problem is why mental health professionals exist, including those who specialize in chronic health problems. And if you are seeing a therapist and they aren’t helping with any of this, maybe time to try to get a new one (or at least get on their waitlist… I know it’s tough to get right now).

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Martinb - I just want to throw this out here.

If, and it’s a big if, antidepressants actually caused T1, there would be all sorts of warnings on the labels, and someone would already have sued Eli Lilly. Second, if one is depressed and needs anti-depressants, then you are just taking the medicine you need for another illness.
I took MAO inhibitors for 4 years; they caused a significant weight gain, and when I stopped taking them and lost the weight, I was diagnosed with T2 shortly thereafter. But T2 runs in my family and, if I hadn’t taken the MAO inhibitors I would probably have died by suicide, so even if they caused the T2, I would not go back and change anything. 37 years later, with 33 years of insulin use behind me, I’m a reasonably happy person.

People talk about hindsight being 20/20, but it is not. Sure, you might be able to change something in your past if you could, but that change could cause other things to happen that didn’t happen, and those things could be worse.

I’ve had 45 years of medical problems, including high blood pressure as a result of renal stenosis and finding out I was born with only one kidney, which is the one that has the renal stenosis; depression (in the past, thank God), diabetes since I was 38, a heart attack when I was 39, fibromyalgia since I was 40, two types of cancer, one of which has a life expectancy of 20% after 5 years (I’m going on 21 years since finishing treatment), and a stroke. Honestly, the worst of all these is fibromyalgia. Compared to that, handling insulin-dependent diabetes is a piece of cake (pun intended).

As some others suggested, Martin, talk therapy with a therapist who handles medical issues might be a good idea. So often in life we don’t have any control over what happens to us, but we ALWAYS have control over how we react. While I don’t think having a positive outlook actually cures anything, I can unequivocally say that having a positive outlook and a good sense of humor definitely helps in dealing with all the crap life hands out.

If you can change your focus, you will probably feel a lot better about dealing with D.

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Thanks for your words.

The annoying part is I didn’t need the meds… at the time was doing alright. I decided to take it in order to enhance the therapy sessions that my therapist thought was ‘important’. He was ok with me taking the meds in order to do the therapyAfter terrible withdrawal symptoms and feeling horrible I was diagnosed.

I may be feeling like this bc I am down with the flu and sick in bed without being able to do much…when life goes on I manage to overcome these underlying anguish but when I am not on routine all this comes back to me and haunts me. I felt the same during lockdown 2020.

#diabetesucks

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