Methylphenidate/ritalin & blood sugar

LucySW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,945
Type of diabetes
LADA
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Insulin
Hi. I am an adult-onset T1 with previously well-controlled blood sugar levels. Does anyone else have experience with taking Ritalin/methylphenidate?

In the three months I’ve been taking it, my blood sugar patterns have changed and have risen considerably. The methylphenidate is the most likely trigger.

I’d love to know other people’s experience. Digging around on Google brings up a few sources on ritalin and raised blood sugar, but nothing substantial.

Hope to hear from people,

Lucy.
 

mentat

Well-Known Member
Messages
419
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Pump
Haven't tried that one but yes, I have found certain medications change things up.

If things are just different, then update your diabetes routine and go on with your merry life. (Just be aware that each time you change your medication your diabetes may change.)

If things are unstable, talk to your doctor about alternative medications, maybe you can try something else that doesn't have that effect.
 
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Bluey1

Well-Known Member
Messages
429
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Insulin
Dislikes
People who try and make Diabetes the centre of the party and poor me, I'm special because I have diabetes now everyone run around after me.
Hmmmmm drugs yes please... This is a question for your Dr. A good pharmacist maybe able to give you pointers, but at the end of the day the Dr knows (or should) what impacts one drug has on another. Weather, stress walking past a chocolate shop or fancy bakery, lack of sleep, exercise all impact blood sugars and that is just a normal day. Your drugs may have an impact, but presumably your Dr has taken that into account.
 

LucySW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,945
Type of diabetes
LADA
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Insulin
Methylphenidate prescribed by a different specialist dr, not an endocrinologist. So no, often drs with different specialities don’t know about side effects outside their area.

Which is why I am asking if anyone has any actual clinical experience of taking methylphenidate as a T-1.
 

LucySW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,945
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. I am an adult-onset T1 with previously well-controlled blood sugar levels. Does anyone else have experience with taking Ritalin/methylphenidate?

In the three months I’ve been taking it, my blood sugar patterns have changed and have risen considerably. The methylphenidate is the most likely trigger.

I’d love to know other people’s experience. Digging around on Google brings up a few sources on ritalin and raised blood sugar, but nothing substantial.

Hope to hear from people,

Lucy.

Still hoping for input from someone who has actually taken Ritalin with T 1. Really would like to hear other people’s experience.
 

MPW

Newbie
Messages
1
Hi Lucy! I am also late-onset Type 1 and just started Concerta XL (methylphenidate) this week (on one month trial) and it is causing significant sugar level spikes. Did you manage to get any further information? All I can find online is some medical research articles which confirm it causes hyperglycemia. Have you found a way to mange this?

I wondered if I should just take more insulin to match but that does not seem like a very controlled solution. Perhaps I cannot take the drug on a permanent basis. That would be a real shame.
 

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,810
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @MPW and welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately you have posted on a 2 yr old thread. It looks like Lucy hasn’t been on the forum for a few weeks so may not reply. However do feel free to write your own post and see if anyone else can help you.
 

LucySW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,945
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi Lucy! I am also late-onset Type 1 and just started Concerta XL (methylphenidate) this week (on one month trial) and it is causing significant sugar level spikes. Did you manage to get any further information? All I can find online is some medical research articles which confirm it causes hyperglycemia. Have you found a way to mange this?

I wondered if I should just take more insulin to match but that does not seem like a very controlled solution. Perhaps I cannot take the drug on a permanent basis. That would be a real shame.

Hi MPW! Finally saw this.

No, alas, I just found that Concerta/ritalin very definitely boosted my sympathetic nervous system response & pushed BG levels (& blood pressure) right up.

I then tried lisdexamphetamine, & the same thing happened. My psych. didn’t seem very aware of the problem, or very worried about it.

I suppose you just have to make a choice. I wasn’t getting that much improvement from the stimulants, so I stopped. But v I had, I might have stuck with them.

What news?

Lucy
 

RobynV

Active Member
Messages
33
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
I’m not T1 but pre-diabetic/T2 with various other issues. Trying to avoid met syndrome. On many meds. Tried testing them one by one. I have an FBG of 5.8-6.3. I’ve found LA Ritalin causes fewer issues than methamphetamine but adds about 0.5 for me.

(mod edit to remove content off topic to thread)
 
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