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Hi, a newbie here. I’d like to discuss weight gain.
- Thread starter Van
- Start date
Welcome to the forum @Van
Diabetes diagnosis is often a shock and takes some getting used to.
However, it is not as common to gain weight with Type 1 if we take the appropriate insulin.
Are you carb counting or on fixed doses? Do you find you need to "feed your insulin" to avoid hypos.
As Type 1 is managed with insulin not diet, losing weight with Type 1 should be the same as losing weight without diabetes apart from making sure you adjust your insulin appropriately if you eat less. You may also find you need less basal when you have lost weight.
Diabetes diagnosis is often a shock and takes some getting used to.
However, it is not as common to gain weight with Type 1 if we take the appropriate insulin.
Are you carb counting or on fixed doses? Do you find you need to "feed your insulin" to avoid hypos.
As Type 1 is managed with insulin not diet, losing weight with Type 1 should be the same as losing weight without diabetes apart from making sure you adjust your insulin appropriately if you eat less. You may also find you need less basal when you have lost weight.
HayleyR
Forum Host
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi @Van and welcome to the Forum 🙂 . I agree with above, it does sound as though you need to decrease your insulin a bit. I assume you do finger prick tests to test blood glucose (?) I use a Libre 2 sensor which I find really useful as I can keep an eye on BG levels and see at a glance whether it's going up, down, in range etc.. You can get one which lasts 2 weeks on a free trial with https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/...rSEnMDqwrFBd111Ed5f0HieTAaX8xt4ap5aSrMof3ahHe. Also Carbs an calories book is useful to see portion sizes/carbohydrates. Carbs & Cals | Dieting & Calorie Counting Books & App
After 20 years I have days when my readings appear to go haywire for no apparent reason.
Usually, I can come up with a suitable hypothesis but often too late.
The problem is that there are so many things that can affect our BG.
I still try to learn from the haywire experience on the off chance I will remember next time.
For example, I recently had much higher BG for a couple of days and was injecting insulin as if it was water. Eventually (when my BG started going back to normal), I remembered I had had two jabs the day the higher readings started. Yes, I know, how could I forget two jabs? This was too late for that time but, as this was part of a vaccine trial, when I had the next round of jabs, two months later, I was prepared for the BG rise.
Maybe I will still remember when it comes to flu/covid jab time. Or maybe I will remember a couple of days later,
This is one example, but I have learned (and remembered) that I need less insulin when I do intensive exercise and can pre-emptively lower my basal.
Usually, I can come up with a suitable hypothesis but often too late.
The problem is that there are so many things that can affect our BG.
I still try to learn from the haywire experience on the off chance I will remember next time.
For example, I recently had much higher BG for a couple of days and was injecting insulin as if it was water. Eventually (when my BG started going back to normal), I remembered I had had two jabs the day the higher readings started. Yes, I know, how could I forget two jabs? This was too late for that time but, as this was part of a vaccine trial, when I had the next round of jabs, two months later, I was prepared for the BG rise.
Maybe I will still remember when it comes to flu/covid jab time. Or maybe I will remember a couple of days later,
This is one example, but I have learned (and remembered) that I need less insulin when I do intensive exercise and can pre-emptively lower my basal.
Yes I can speak to a dietician. This is all very overwhelming for me as it , apparently shouldn’t have happened to me, at this age. My specialist said he knows of two other people with my condition, I’ve got diabetic amyotrophy and autonomic neuropathy, both of which should not present itself until at least 10yrs after diagnosis. This makes it extremely challenging to do any exercise, walking is out of the question, I have to be supported.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Thanks for commenting, the specialist is meaning the whole package. There are a lot more problems than I’ve mentioned. I’m doing the Joe wicks seated exercises for seniors, just moved on to seated and standing. I find it helps with my mood as well.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
