Actos is the brand name of the prescription drug pioglitazone. Actos is prescribed to type 3 diabetes patients who need to make diet and exercise changes along with taking Actos to control your disease. Actos stabilizes blood sugar levels in the body by reducing insulin resistance, according to the manufacturer of the drug. While taking Actos, your doctor may ask you to lose weight to help manage your diabetes. This may be difficult since some people may experience weight gain due to fluid retention.
Step 1
Eat regular meals. You should not fast or participate in fad diets to lose weight with Actos. Since one of the side effects reported by PubMed is the potential for low blood sugar levels, you'll want to eat at regular intervals throughout the day. Eating smaller meals every few hours can stave off hunger and control your calorie intake.
Step 2
Follow a reduced-calorie diet. Your doctor is likely to recommend that you follow a lower calorie diet when you are trying to lose weight on Actos. Track your daily calorie intake in a journal by writing down everything that you eat. To lose an average of a pound per week, you need to eat approximately 500 fewer calories per day. To cut back calorie intake, eat mostly fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and fat-free dairy products. Avoid high-calorie choices, such as fast food, fried meals, fatty cuts of meat and sweets.
Step 3
Exercise on a regular basis. You should perform 30 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise each day with your doctor's approval. Some activities that can help you burn calories include jogging, brisk walking, tennis, swimming and basketball.
Step 4
Drink plenty of water. Consume at least eight glasses of water per day to combat water retention. Also, limit sodium intake by avoiding table salt, canned goods, chips, soy sauce and processed meats.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep a piece of hard candy nearby while you are taking Actos, recommends PubMed, since it can cause low blood sugar levels.
- Avoid alcohol. Not only does alcohol contain empty calories, but also can adversely affect your blood sugar levels while taking Actos.
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