Olanzapine increases risk of diabetes

Patients taking olanzapine are at higher risk of developing diabetes than those taking conventional antipsychotic drugs, say Koro and colleagues (p 243). Patients taking the antipsychotic risperidone had a non-significant increased risk. The authors say that weight gain and disruption of glucose metabolism are possible mechanisms for the association between diabetes and use of antipsychotics—and doctors should consider the metabolic consequences of antipsychotics.