Orlistat and LCHF

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi there, has anyone who is LCHF been prescribed Orlistat? I’m worried about how suitable it is? Any experiences please.
 

briped

Well-Known Member
Messages
947
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Hi there, has anyone who is LCHF been prescribed Orlistat? I’m worried about how suitable it is? Any experiences please.
I wasn't on LCHF at the time, but if I remember correctly Orlistat 'helps' your body to not digest fat, right? Kind of antabus for fats ...? It seems counterintuitive to me, because it'll rob you of the fuel that fat is.
I did try it for a shortish while many years ago, but a fat lot of good it did me! If I didn't watch my fat intake it gave me the trots, and it didn't really help weight loss.
For me LCHF alone has been much more effective. In your shoes I'd give LCHF more time. It may not work for fast weight loss, although it does for some, but Orlistat won't work miracles.
 
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bulkbiker

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Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Depending on how low carb and high fat you are Orlistat could lead to some very difficult situations if you are ever more than 10 seconds from a toilet. .
 
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Energize

Well-Known Member
Messages
810
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I agree, totally, with above comments. Orlistat seems counter-productive - on the one hand, you are deliberatly taking in fats, which have the advantage of slowing down the absorption/processing of any glucose or carbs etc but, on the other hand, Orlistat is there to minimise any absorption of fats.

Does your GP/Perscriber appreciate you are LCHF ...???

Umm, if LCHF and taking Orlistat, stay (very) close to the loo and keep a good book nearby!!!

Having tried Orlestat previously, and while trying to stick to a Low Fat diet, I liked to keep close to a toilet so, personally, I wouldn't take it. I didn't stick to it very long so certainly didn't loose any weight. I've since lost 3 st on LCHF!!!

Wishing you well
 

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I wasn't on LCHF at the time, but if I remember correctly Orlistat 'helps' your body to not digest fat, right? Kind of antabus for fats ...? It seems counterintuitive to me, because it'll rob you of the fuel that fat is.
I did try it for a shortish while many years ago, but a fat lot of good it did me! If I didn't watch my fat intake it gave me the trots, and it didn't really help weight loss.
For me LCHF alone has been much more effective. In your shoes I'd give LCHF more time. It may not work for fast weight loss, although it does for some, but Orlistat won't work miracles.

You are correct about the drug! The counterintuitive bit is why I asked the question. :) I have an appointment with a dietician in a couple of weeks and will find out where she wants me to go from there.

Thankyou.
 

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I agree, totally, with above comments. Orlistat seems counter-productive - on the one hand, you are deliberatly taking in fats, which have the advantage of slowing down the absorption/processing of any glucose or carbs etc but, on the other hand, Orlistat is there to minimise any absorption of fats.

Does your GP/Perscriber appreciate you are LCHF ...???

Umm, if LCHF and taking Orlistat, stay (very) close to the loo and keep a good book nearby!!!

Having tried Orlestat previously, and while trying to stick to a Low Fat diet, I liked to keep close to a toilet so, personally, I wouldn't take it. I didn't stick to it very long so certainly didn't loose any weight. I've since lost 3 st on LCHF!!!

Wishing you well

Thanks Energize,

Think you have hit the nail on the head.... I tell my GP and nurse I'm LCHF and they tell me to eat carbs! Grrrr

I will continue LCHF.
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Orlistat is simply an obvious outcome of the 'fat is bad' mantra - stop the fat being absorbed and all will be well - but I would laugh at anyone suggesting I take it.
 

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Why do you think the dietitian will know any better?

Its a diabetic dietician, I'm hoping for some help to get some weight off. To be honest I'm desperate for some sort of help to lower my blood sugars and lose some weight. I also hope she might understand LCHF. I'm struggling as I've stuck to 50g of carbs a day on LCHF since October and haven't seen any results. Think I need to either go lower carb or try fasting.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Its a diabetic dietician, I'm hoping for some help to get some weight off. To be honest I'm desperate for some sort of help to lower my blood sugars and lose some weight. I'm struggling as I've stuck to 50g of carbs a day on LCHF since October and haven't seen any results. Think I need to either go lower carb or try fasting.
Or both would probably help..
I'd recommend starting with some intermittent fasting say replace breakfast with a coffee/cream and reduce carbs to fewer than 20g per day. Full on keto. Helped me with weightloss and becomes second nature..
 

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Or both would probably help..
I'd recommend starting with some intermittent fasting say replace breakfast with a coffee/cream and reduce carbs to fewer than 20g per day. Full on keto. Helped me with weightloss and becomes second nature..

Thankyou so much, I'm going to have a good look at what I can do.
 

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,435
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Having fats while taking orlistat is a recipe for disaster. In fact, on the packet, you have to stop as many fats as possible to even take it safely, as you get orange uncontrollable squits (and i mean uncontrollable) if you heat fats while taking orlistat.

It was a disaster for me. Have you lost any weight since October? For some of us weight loss is difficult. However, the LCHF controls my blood sugar levels, and thats the most important bit, not the weight loss.

Its not the weight loss which reduces blood sugar levels, its the reduction in carbs, so thats the main focus for us.
 

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Having fats while taking orlistat is a recipe for disaster. In fact, on the packet, you have to stop as many fats as possible to even take it safely, as you get orange uncontrollable squits (and i mean uncontrollable) if you heat fats while taking orlistat.

It was a disaster for me. Have you lost any weight since October? For some of us weight loss is difficult. However, the LCHF controls my blood sugar levels, and thats the most important bit, not the weight loss.

Its not the weight loss which reduces blood sugar levels, its the reduction in carbs, so thats the main focus for us.

Thank you so much for your reply.
I've definitely decided to give the Orlistat a miss for the time being.

Since October - I have got fitter by going to the gym, but no weight loss. My blood sugars for the last couple of weeks have been 15 - 25 as you all know way above where they should be. Meds wise I'm on a loads- Metformin, gliclazide, Trulicity and Insulin.

I recently saw a specialist who told me off for eating too much fat and told me I'm very insulin resistant, and the best thing for me would be to lose weight :banghead: hence the prescription of Orlistat.

Anyway they are going to start testing for underlying issues starting with Cushings.

I hate having to defend LCHF to the NHS.
 

briped

Well-Known Member
Messages
947
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Meds wise I'm on a loads- Metformin, gliclazide, Trulicity and Insulin.
With at least two of those meds I'd be very careful with going very low carb, as you risk going hypo. Insulin and gliclazide are the two risky ones. I hope someone more informative than I will come along soon. There's been a couple of informative threads recently.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thank you so much for your reply.
I've definitely decided to give the Orlistat a miss for the time being.

Since October - I have got fitter by going to the gym, but no weight loss. My blood sugars for the last couple of weeks have been 15 - 25 as you all know way above where they should be. Meds wise I'm on a loads- Metformin, gliclazide, Trulicity and Insulin.

I recently saw a specialist who told me off for eating too much fat and told me I'm very insulin resistant, and the best thing for me would be to lose weight :banghead: hence the prescription of Orlistat.

Anyway they are going to start testing for underlying issues starting with Cushings.

I hate having to defend LCHF to the NHS.

If you are taking that mix of meds and your sugars are still in the 15-25 mmol/l range then there is something definitely wrong.
Have you had a c-peptide or fasting insulin test? .. It could well be worth getting one done privately if the specialist hasn't asked for them.
 

Emmasndco

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
If you are taking that mix of meds and your sugars are still in the 15-25 mmol/l range then there is something definitely wrong.
Have you had a c-peptide or fasting insulin test? .. It could well be worth getting one done privately if the specialist hasn't asked for them.
I had a C-peptide test around a year ago, 1769pmol\L.... Not sure how high or low that figure is, but my GP said it was ok.
 
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bulkbiker

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Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I had a test around a year ago, 1769pmol\L.... Not sure how high or low that figure is, but me GP said it was ok.
Well in that case a retest should be done as you have something to compare it to....see what has happened.
 

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,435
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I had a C-peptide test around a year ago, 1769pmol\L.... Not sure how high or low that figure is, but my GP said it was ok.
I dont know how many carbs you are having each day, but be careful to balance your carb intake and the meds you ar on, as you could hypo. Wishing you well.