TABLE 9.

Perceived Positive and Negative Effects of Medication Deprescribing

Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner	Perceived Positive Effects	Perceived Negative Effects
M.M.M.	Weight benefits of decreasing or stopping insulin and SFUs; decreased medication burden and cost; patients feeling empowered	Perception of diabetes medication deprescribing from providers not familiar with lifestyle medicine
J.H.K.	Improved patient morale and sense of empowerment	Need for PCP to reinitiate/recalibrate if recidivism occurs
G.E.G.	Avoidance of hypoglycemia; patients glad to get off medications; improved sense of well-being and hope	No negatives identified
C.T.	Less anxiety about hypoglycemia; reduced out-of-pocket expense; feelings of empowerment	Anger expressed by some patients that they were not told earlier about efficacy of plant-based diet and that less medication is possible
B.G.B.	Educating about ITLC effect on increasing insulin sensitivity to reduce/discontinue medication is empowering to patients	No negatives identified except that ITLC was not discussed with them previously
J.F.	Eliminating medications reduces side effects and enables more effective weight loss and reversal of the health problem	No negatives identified
S.L.	People love the fact that they are getting off of medications; clinical and financial benefits; eliminating complications and drug-drug interactions	Pushback from insurance companies
J.F.L.	Avoidance of hypoglycemia and other medication side effects; weight loss and improved quality of life	No negatives identified
T.M.C.	Weight loss; decreased insulin dose; more energy	Potential mild hypoglycemia and symptoms of hypoglycemia with normal glucose levels