What Is Colesevelam Used For? (Cont.)

Why Is Colesevelam Used for Diabetes?

Although colesevelam was first approved as a cholesterol medication, it also works to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
 
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type (see Diabetes Types). It is also sometimes called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a condition involving insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the cells do not respond to insulin as well as they should. As a result, the cells do not take sugar out of the blood very well. This is why people with type 2 have high blood sugar.
 
Over time, high blood sugar can lead to a number of problems, including diabetic impotence, diabetic neuropathy, kidney failure, and heart disease (see Diabetes Complications). The cause of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood, although obesity and genetics do play important roles.
 
Colesevelam can help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes who cannot lower blood sugar through lifestyle changes (weight loss, diet, and exercise). The drug has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in people already taking certain other diabetes medications, including metformin, sulfonylureas, and insulin. It has not been studied for use on its own.
 

Is Colesevelam Used in Children?

Colesevelam has not been approved for use in children, as it has been adequately studied only in adults. The tablets are too large for most children to swallow.
 

Is Colesevelam Used for Off-Label Reasons?

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend colesevelam for something other than the conditions discussed in this article. This is called an "off-label" use. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label uses for colesevelam.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;