Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Diabetes risk changes fastest in first 90 days of antipsychotic treatment
A study found the biggest rises in blood sugar and weight happen during the first 90 days after people start certain antipsychotic medicines.
The research examined health records for more than 96,000 adults in England who were prescribed one of four second-generation antipsychotics between 2000 and 2023.
These medicines treat conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but can affect weight and blood sugar.
Blood sugar rose 14 times faster and weight nine times faster during those first 90 days than before treatment.
Olanzapine had the strongest early effects, and women were more affected than men; people with prediabetes also had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers say clinicians should check both weight and blood sugar before treatment and again during the first few months.
The study found that these changes slowed after 90 days, and that checking weight alone may miss some people at risk.
A study found that changes in blood sugar and weight linked to antipsychotic treatment occur fastest in the first 90 days.
Among more than 96,000 people studied, HbA1c rose 14 times faster and weight increased nine times faster in that period than before treatment.
Olanzapine showed the largest early changes among the four medicines studied.
Women had faster early increases in blood sugar and weight than men.
Researchers recommend checking both weight and blood sugar before treatment and again during the first few months.
- Who
- Researchers studied adults with severe mental illness who received second-generation antipsychotics.
- What
- The study found that blood sugar and weight changes linked to treatment occurred fastest in the first 90 days.
- When
- The study covered prescriptions from January 2000 to June 2023. Its findings were published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- England.
- Why
- The research examined how blood sugar and weight changed after people started antipsychotic treatment, to help identify diabetes risk.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers examined health records for people who received at least two prescriptions for one of four second-generation antipsychotics.
The study findings were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Nursing Times reported on the study’s findings.
Infobae reported on the study’s findings.
- Study population
- More than 96,000 people aged 18–59 with severe mental illness
- Early blood sugar change
- HbA1c rose 14 times faster in the first 90 days than before treatment
- Early weight change
- Weight increased around nine times faster in the first 90 days than before treatment
- Medicine with largest early impact
- Olanzapine; HbA1c rose 50 times faster and weight 10 times faster
- Study period
- January 2000 to June 2023
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What people are saying
Our study shows that the first 90 days after starting treatment are a key period when changes linked to diabetes and weight gain can begin
With this information in mind, healthcare professionals should check both weight and blood sugar before treatment starts and again during the first few months afterwards.