It has been recorded that nearly 37.3 million people or 11.3% of the entire US population suffer from diabetes. Out of this, 28.5 million are adults. This shows that diabetes is another rising health concern among the citizens of our country. The situation becomes worse when substance abuse comes into the picture.
It can be said that diabetes and substance abuse are co-occurring disorders. Now, let’s read further on how can drug abuse lead to diabetes and which drugs can cause diabetes.
Diagnosing Diabetes
Diabetes is also a chronic disease. It is a disorder caused when the pancreas in the human body fails to produce enough insulin, or when the body fails to effectively use the insulin produced. Insulin is a hormone that is responsible to control blood sugar levels. Therefore, any complications in the production or utilization of insulin can cause diabetes.
Diabetes can be categorized into two types: Type 1 and Type 2.
- Type 1: this is usually the result of genetic predisposition or an autoimmune reaction.
- Type 2: this is usually caused due to lifestyle factors like obesity, being overweight, family history, or even drugs.
Drugs Influencing Diabetes
Several drugs can lead to the development of diabetes. Those drugs include:
- Corticosteroids
- Beta-blockers
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Immunosuppressants
These drugs mainly lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes and Substance Abuse
Diabetes and substance abuse are often referred to as co-occurring disorders. Both can be the cause and the result of each other. People abusing drugs are at a higher risk of developing diabetes. Similarly, people with diabetes also tend to abuse substances. Thus, both these issues need a specialized treatment known as dual diagnosis.
Dual diagnosis helps the patients address both these issues at once. However, the pre-requisite for treatment is enrolment in a rehab center. After enrolling in a dual diagnosis program at Taylor Recovery, the patients undergo several treatments and therapies. These help them overcome their addiction issues as well as diabetes.
You too can enroll yourselves or a loved one if suffering from co-occurring disorders. Contact us now to know more!