Insulin Resistant

[HeatherMW]

Hi,

I am now insulin resistant and finding it very difficult to get consistent good readings, I was advised to up my units by 3-4 times greater so as you can imagine, lots of insulin going in, gaining lots of weight and getting very frustrated my system just does what it wants despite all my good effort. Anyone else on hear the same but have been given good guidance/options from the medical profession.

Thanks,
H

 

[nonethewiser]

Is your injection/infusion sites OK, sometimes if you get poor absorption there it can mean insulin isn't absorbed the same leading to increased doses & erratic bg levels.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Would you like to tell us a bit about your diabetes and how you manage it?

Things like....

1. How long have you been diagnosed? Wondering if you might just be coming to the end of your honey period if you have been diagnosed in the last few years, rather than experiencing insulin resistance. Also, weight gain replacement is common after diagnosis because most of us lost weight before diagnosis.

2. Which insulin(s) do you use and since you mention insulin resistance, what sort of basal dose(s) and ratios are you using. Knowing this helps us to understand what level of insulin resistance you are experiencing?

3. Are you on injections or a pump?

4. Are you able to be more active? I find insulin resistance improves with exercise.... and of course you can also lose weight from doing more exercise.

5. What is your BMI? Is putting on weight actually a problem? It is very easy with diabetes for eating disorders to develop and you have to be quite self aware of allowing things to get out of perspective.

Please don't feel obliged to answer any of the above questions if you are not comfortable doing so, but they should give us a better idea of your situation. Insulin resistance is a very subjective concept and it varies from person to person and throughout the day for many of us. Generally we are a bit more insulin resistant in the morning and more sensitive in the evening, but everyone is different. Sometimes a nurse might make a casual remark about insulin resistance which someone can take to heart and start to worry about it, when it isn't really a problem at all.
If you genuinely have significant insulin resistance and weight to lose, then Metformin can sometimes help, but I would look at diet and exercise first, if you are able.


There is a lot of mention of insulin causing weight gain but actually ii is the food you eat which causes weight gain, the insulin just allows your body to access the glucose from that food, so generally if you are putting on weight when you don't want to, it is usually a case of starting a diet and/or increasing exercise, but continuing to take as much insulin as you need to keep your BG levels in range. Your insulin needs will likely gradually need adjusting downwards as you do that, but be guided by your BG levels..... Presumably you have a CGM(Constant Glucose Monitor) like Libre 2 or Dexcom?

 

[HeatherMW]

Is your injection/infusion sites OK, sometimes if you get poor absorption there it can mean insulin isn't absorbed the same leading to increased doses & erratic bg levels.

My sites are fine and they have put me on a double strength insulin to help with the absorption but it’s still not working properly for me and the more I inject the more fat I have which just add to the viscous circle. I have tried the only weight loss tablets on offer but they make me very sick so at a total empass and feeling a bit helpless

 

[HeatherMW]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Would you like to tell us a bit about your diabetes and how you manage it?

Things like....

1. How long have you been diagnosed? Wondering if you might just be coming to the end of your honey period if you have been diagnosed in the last few years, rather than experiencing insulin resistance. Also, weight gain replacement is common after diagnosis because most of us lost weight before diagnosis.

2. Which insulin(s) do you use and since you mention insulin resistance, what sort of basal dose(s) and ratios are you using. Knowing this helps us to understand what level of insulin resistance you are experiencing?

3. Are you on injections or a pump?

4. Are you able to be more active? I find insulin resistance improves with exercise.... and of course you can also lose weight from doing more exercise.

5. What is your BMI? Is putting on weight actually a problem? It is very easy with diabetes for eating disorders to develop and you have to be quite self aware of allowing things to get out of perspective.

Please don't feel obliged to answer any of the above questions if you are not comfortable doing so, but they should give us a better idea of your situation. Insulin resistance is a very subjective concept and it varies from person to person and throughout the day for many of us. Generally we are a bit more insulin resistant in the morning and more sensitive in the evening, but everyone is different. Sometimes a nurse might make a casual remark about insulin resistance which someone can take to heart and start to worry about it, when it isn't really a problem at all.
If you genuinely have significant insulin resistance and weight to lose, then Metformin can sometimes help, but I would look at diet and exercise first, if you are able.


There is a lot of mention of insulin causing weight gain but actually ii is the food you eat which causes weight gain, the insulin just allows your body to access the glucose from that food, so generally if you are putting on weight when you don't want to, it is usually a case of starting a diet and/or increasing exercise, but continuing to take as much insulin as you need to keep your BG levels in range. Your insulin needs will likely gradually need adjusting downwards as you do that, but be guided by your BG levels..... Presumably you have a CGM(Constant Glucose Monitor) like Libre 2 or Dexcom?

Been type 1 for almost 40 years

Basal - Toujeo double star 72 in the morning and 52 in the evening, used to be 50/50 split but had to make some changes when noticing the bloods were not as should be. Humalog for carbs so now up to 4 units for 10g of carbs

Injections as 2.5 year weighting list for pump, as I now need to take so much insulin I can’t get the smaller one

Have become limited in movement due to back, legs and shoulders issue…saw everyone possible and outcome is try to do what you can, at the moment, that’s not a lot as it feels like the only thing that does t hurt is my head

I have for a long time been between 11-12 st, I was given a tablet called Dapgliflozon (Forxiga) years ago, this was taken away from me when covid happened. Once out of covid I was advised that type 1 was no longer licenced for this and as metformin makes me sick too I don’t have options, type 2 is a different story. I am now approx 14.5 st, this is terrible but no matter how good my diet is, there is no let up in insulin or changes in weight.

 

[rebrascora]

That does sound like you have significant insulin resistance. Really sorry to hear that you have mobility issues which cause discomfort when you try to be more active. If you can't do much activity, then diet will be particularly important. Do you follow any particular weight loss program?

I am told that a low fat, plant based diet can be really helpful for improving insulin sensitivity. I haven't tried it myself because I find a low carb, higher fat way of eating suits me better and has improved a number of other health conditions including joint pain, so I stick with that. I find I can exercise more now and can even run down hills whereas 6 years ago I was hobbling down hills at a walk. The exercise ensures I don't develop significant weight increase and insulin resistance, but it is something I have to work at and adjust regularly to get good results.

Have you tried swimming or aqua aerobics to improve fitness and burn calories as that can take the strain off joints. The problem is that the less active you are, the more stiff and sore your joints become, so there can be an element of needing to push yourself to start small and do a little bit more each day to improve your mobility and that can actually alleviate some of the pain. I personally find walking when my back and knees are giving me grief really helps, but it can be painful to start with. I see walking as a way of naturally realigning my skeleton. .