Obesity in Diabetes: A Study of Therapy With Anorexigenic Drugs

ExcerptIn the treatment of the obese diabetic, management of the obesity is secondary to insulin in the control of diabetes mellitus. Mirsky1considers the obese diabetic as being "decompensated" with a relative or absolute insulin insufficiency. With decreased caloric intake and consequent weight reduction, the patient may be restored to "compensation" and the insufficiency of insulin can equal the reduced metabolic demand. If the diabetic patient remains obese, not only may the control of the diabetes become more and more difficult, but reduction in weight eventually may not be effective in restoring carbohydrate tolerance.2The relative insufficiency of insulin then...