Insulin Resistance, type 1

[JoeJOns]

Hi there,

How does insulin resistance happen to someone with type one and what can I do to prevent it happening? I am 24, diagnosed with diabetes about 3 weeks ago after dka, and have lost in and around 3 - 4 stone in a year. Should I be concerned about insulin resistance at this stage? (I am about 20 pounds underweight)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

How does insulin resistance happen to someone with type one and what can I do to prevent it happening?

I'm not sure it's known, exactly. Best advice is standard healthy living, I think: keep a healthy weight, don't drink too much, eat healthily (whatever that turns out to mean, but nobody will recommend against eating a variety of things in moderation, mostly plant based), exercise.

 

[JoeJOns]

Thank you for the reply Bruce.

Is insulin resistance a common occurrence in type 1 diabetics?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Is insulin resistance a common occurrence in type 1 diabetics?

I don't know. I don't think it's unusual if you're overweight. (Though I suspect the mechanism is more abdominal fat, so can be largely internal and not very visible.) It's not unusual for some people to need (say) twice as much as others, so this is more of a question of degree. For all we know, it might be that this happens with non-diabetic people too: maybe with age, people tend to need a bit more insulin for what they eat (as with age, people tend to get slightly heavier (at least for a while)).

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It is very unusual but not unheard of I think. Sometimes insulin resistance in T1 is termed ‘double diabetes’ because it combines some of the aspects of T1 and T2. Though tbh the more I hear, the more complex and subdivided both types seem to be. I think you would be extremely unlikely to be affected.

As a T1 you are more likely to have smaller insulin doses than a T2, but the most important thing to remember is that you need what you need, and that there are no right or wrong doses in this game. Everyone is very different and individual. There are general principles that usually hold true, but everyone is different.

My TDD (total daily dose) tends to rise and fall over the course of the year, but on average is not all that different than it was a few years after I was diagnosed (nearly 30 years ago)

 

[nonethewiser]

Should I be concerned about insulin resistance at this stage?

No or ever for that matter.

Listen buddy, what your experiencing is stress fear & anxiety, all perfectly normal when diagnosed with diabetes. Eat healthy stay fit keep bg under control, that's all you can do.

 

[Ljc]

Please don’t worry about insulin resistance, it’s common with T2 but as far as I am aware it’s fairly rare with T1 and whatever type we are insulin resistance manageable 🙂.

You are so recently diagnosed with T1 and it must be so worrying for you, it sure is a steep learning curve.

 

[mikeyB]

It’s perfectly natural to worry about the possible problems that can arise in T1 when you are first diagnosed. The possibility of those problems arising depends on is much reduced by good control. So that’s all you have to do.

Diabetes is not a disease, it’s a disorder. Your pancreas is not producing enough insulin, so have to help it along. Get the dose of insulin matched to what you eat, and job done. It’s as easy, or has hard as that.

I had it easy. From a very young age I watched my mother control her T1 with primitive testing kit. We have it easier with modern kit. My mother didn’t get any diabetic complications in 45 years of T1, and only had control problems switching from animal sourced insulins to modern analog insulins.

We don’t mind your questions, but never ask the Dr Google freak show.

 

[Ljc]

It’s perfectly natural to worry about the possible problems that can arise in T1 when you are first diagnosed. The possibility of those problems arising depends on is much reduced by good control. So that’s all you have to do.

Diabetes is not a disease, it’s a disorder. Your pancreas is not producing enough insulin, so have to help it along. Get the dose of insulin matched to what you eat, and job done. It’s as easy, or has hard as that.

I had it easy. From a very young age I watched my mother control her T1 with primitive testing kit. We have it easier with modern kit. My mother didn’t get any diabetic complications in 45 years of T1, and only had control problems switching from animal sourced insulins to modern analog insulins.

We don’t mind your questions, but never ask the Dr Google freak show.

I agree wholeheartedly with Mike about Dr Google freak show., very scary .
And please do carry on asking questions here , we have all been where you are now so do understand.

 

[JoeJOns]

Thank you everyone for the lovely responses.

As I am sure you are all aware it's quite a load to take on so quickly! But I am trying my best to think of the here and now rather than 20 years down the road. The whole life expectancy thing scares me but I suppose that will go away over time.

Thanks again everyone for being so understanding

 

[Ljc]

O that life expectancy thing , don’t you believe it ok , it’s very outdated and imo a lot of old you know what ! .
We have people here who were diagnosed several decades ago , I do hope they pop in and say hi to you and say how long ago they were diagnosed (dx) .
Insulins, our testing gear and knowledge have improved vastly over the years, we also have the benefit of frequent medical s which are designed to pick up any problems at the earliest opportunity .

Diabetes have local groups that meet up every so often I wonder if you would be interested if one was in your area
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/local_support_groups

 

[Lisa66]

Hi Joe

Just catching up with posts...

I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious, but as others say it’s perfectly understandable. It’s also understandable that you’re looking for information and knowledge to help yourself...which is great. Knowledge is power etc. However tempting as it is to google things, it’s rarely a good idea. Get your information from reliable sources, otherwise you will unnecessarily scare the whatsit out of yourself...and there’s always a “friendly and helpful” person to tell you about poor great auntie or uncle so and so....ignore them! Take a look at all the positive posts in the forum of members holidaying around the world, travelling with jobs, take a peep at the sport section too.

So I was diagnosed over 40 years ago (still a newbie compared to many on this forum). Testing was etc was quite basic compared to today, but probably quite hi-tech to those diagnosed 10 years before me. No hba1c, no Libre sensors to see what’s going on and fixed doses of insulin, so less freedom to eat when and how much you fancied...so I imagine my blood sugars weren’t as steady or as good as the last few years...who knows. Touch wood and whistle I’m still apparently very fit and healthy.

I’ve always eaten healthily and kept fit...and got on with enjoying the normal life and things that all my non diabetic friends do...probably actually healthier than many of them as I know I have to look after myself.

Is it easy? Not always? Can it be a pain in the posterior? Yes at times, but then who in life doesn’t have occasional inconveniences and hiccups?

Don’t expect to get your doses sorted and then to pootle along perfectly on that dose for ever. All sort of things affect control and we are all tweaking our doses and carbs from time to time or week to week, it becomes part of life, but mostly toddling along pretty nicely. I look at it that we are “fortunate” to get all the health checks we do and generally if we have any other health concerns we get moved up the list. These are all for conditions that can also affect non diabetics, so we get an earlier warning than them and time to address anything and hopefully head it off.

As @trophywench often says “well controlled diabetes is the cause of .... absolutely nothing”.

So I fully appreciate your concerns and getting used to your new way of life. It will become second nature before you know it. Try and get on with enjoying life...take up hobbies or get back to things that take your mind of the diabetes for a bit, get out and about with friends....and maybe you can have a think and come up with a way to stop my long winded rambling?

With a big reassuring hug and best wishes. X

 

[JoeJOns]

Hi Joe

Just catching up with posts...

I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious, but as others say it’s perfectly understandable. It’s also understandable that you’re looking for information and knowledge to help yourself...which is great. Knowledge is power etc. However tempting as it is to google things, it’s rarely a good idea. Get your information from reliable sources, otherwise you will unnecessarily scare the whatsit out of yourself...and there’s always a “friendly and helpful” person to tell you about poor great auntie or uncle so and so....ignore them! Take a look at all the positive posts in the forum of members holidaying around the world, travelling with jobs, take a peep at the sport section too.

So I was diagnosed over 40 years ago (still a newbie compared to many on this forum). Testing was etc was quite basic compared to today, but probably quite hi-tech to those diagnosed 10 years before me. No hba1c, no Libre sensors to see what’s going on and fixed doses of insulin, so less freedom to eat when and how much you fancied...so I imagine my blood sugars weren’t as steady or as good as the last few years...who knows. Touch wood and whistle I’m still apparently very fit and healthy.

I’ve always eaten healthy and kept fit...and got on with enjoying the normal life and things that all my non diabetic friends do...probably actually healthier than many of them as I know I have to look after myself.

Is it easy? Not always? Can it be a pain in the posterior? Yes at times, but then who in life doesn’t have occasional inconveniences and hiccups?

Don’t expect to get your doses sorted and then to pootle along perfectly on that dose for ever. All sort of things affect control and we are all tweaking our doses and carbs from time to time or week to week, it becomes part of life, but mostly toddling along pretty nicely. I look at it that we are “fortunate” to get all the health checks we do and generally if we have any other health concerns we get moved up the list. These are all for conditions that can also affect non diabetics, so we get an earlier warning than them and time to address anything and hopefully head it off.

As @trophywench often says “we’ll controlled diabetes is the cause of .... absolutely nothing”.

So I fully appreciate your concerns and getting used to your new way of life. It will become second nature before you know it. Try and get on with enjoying life...take up hobbies or get back to things that take your mind of the diabetes for a bit, get out and about with friends....and maybe you can have a think and come up with a way to stop my long winded rambling?

With a big reassuring hug and best wishes. X

Thank you very much for the lovely comment

 

[SB2015]

Hi @JoeJOns

Your posts remind me of exactly how I felt when I was diagnosed. It is perfectly understandable.
What you have told us about your levels is showing just how well you are doing. As others have said, just avoid Dr Google. There is loads of help and advice on here from people who are living with condition day after day. Just keep asking as queries arise, but also try to find times when you can get back to focusing on other things. Easier said than done at times.

Take care.