The Impact of Antidepressants on Blood Sugar and Lipid Profiles in Diabetic Patients: A Comprehensive Review

Narjes  Hazar; Sanaz  Dastghaib; Reyhane  Dehlavi; Fatemeh  Samimi; Mohammad Afkhami-Ardekani1

doi:10.18502/ijdo.v18i1.21062

Narjes Hazar Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Sanaz Dastghaib Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Reyhane Dehlavi Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Fatemeh Samimi Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Mohammad Afkhami-Ardekani1 Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdo.v18i1.21062

Keywords: Anti-depressive agents, Blood glucose, Dyslipidemias, Diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes prevalence and mortality are rising worldwide. Despite multiple treatments, optimal blood sugarcontrol in type 2 diabetes remains challenging. This has prompted interest in whether antidepressants couldinfluence glycemic management. However, studies examining their effects on blood glucose have reportedinconsistent and sometimes conflicting results. This article will discuss the effects that different anti-depressants may have on blood sugar and lipid levels. We plan to focus chiefly on tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs). To achieve the aim of the present study, we searched PubMed using separate strategies thatcombined Title/Abstract keywords and MeSH terms related to type 2 diabetes and different classes ofantidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, agomelatine, and benzodiazepines) to ensure comprehensive coverageof relevant evidence. For type 2 diabetic patients, the principal achievement was that SSRIs of all types couldreduce blood sugar, and they particularly had been shown to stimulate the body’s own insulin response.Patients lost weight and blood sugar control improved with fluoxetine. The purpose of this review is todescribe the existing information and also point out shortcomings in previous studies, as well as providingdirections for future research on how various antidepressants affect their patients' metabolic outcomesalongside potential mental status changes. These relationships are important to understand, not only forplanning effective treatments for diabetes but also in order to manage the complicated metabolic-psychiatriccontinuum