Reducing Lantus and weight loss?

[DavidG89]

Good evening folks,

Just wanted to see if anyone else is experiencing the same thing as me, I hope the two are linked.

I had been previously on a high dosage of Lantus 28 morning 28 before bed. I was heavy at near 19 stone.

I have been training very hard and have reduced my Lantus down to 22 morning and 16 before bed.

The weight has been dropping off me as I have been decreasing my Lantus gradually over the period of about 6 months, training hard and watching what I have been eating.

I have now been eating "normally" after being careful with what I have been eating, sometimes being a bit too lax and the weight is still dropping off me.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? I feel fit and well. I am down to 16 stone 2, with massive daily fluctuations, for example before bed last night 16 stone 6 (I appreciate water retention may be a factor).

Thanks in advance

 

[Inka]

I’ve never taken Lantus but weight gain has been mentioned as a side effect. There was also something about foetal growth in pregnancy. So yes, it’s a known thing.

You could ask to swap to a different basal if you think you’d be happier.

 

[SB2015]

I have also never taken Lantus.

if you are losing weight it doesn’t surprise me that you are needing a reduced dose of insulin, since the loss of weight will also reduce your resistance to insulin. even with a small weight loss I found I needed to alter my carb ratios and basal insulin.

Others with experience of this particular insulin will be able to offer other ideas.

 

[DavidG89]

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[helli]

I was a Lantus taker for about 12 years before I became a pumper.
Weight loss was never a problem for me.

What are your blood sugars like?
High blood sugars could cause weight loss.

As @SB2015 mentioned, it is common to need less insulin when you weigh less and when you exercise more (I need 20% less when I exercise) but you need to be careful not to reduce it too much. Exercising with high blood sugars can be dangerous.

Alternatively if may just be that you are losing weight because you are not eating enough for the exercise you are doing.

But to go back to your question regarding weight loss due to Lantus, this is not something I have experienced or heard of.
If you are losing too much weight, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor.

 

[DavidG89]

I was a Lantus taker for about 12 years before I became a pumper.
Weight loss was never a problem for me.

What are your blood sugars like?
High blood sugars could cause weight loss.

As @SB2015 mentioned, it is common to need less insulin when you weigh less and when you exercise more (I need 20% less when I exercise) but you need to be careful not to reduce it too much. Exercising with high blood sugars can be dangerous.

Alternatively if may just be that you are losing weight because you are not eating enough for the exercise you are doing.

But to go back to your question regarding weight loss due to Lantus, this is not something I have experienced or heard of.
If you are losing too much weight, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Blood sugars are absolutely fine. I also regular check for keytones as well which are well within the normal range.

I say it could be down to the calorie deficit and perhaps a lower dosage of Lantus.

 

[Leadinglights]

Blood sugars are absolutely fine. I also regular check for keytones as well which are well within the normal range.

I say it could be down to the calorie deficit and perhaps a lower dosage of Lantus.

I suppose one question is do you want to lose more weight if so you may need to adjust the insulin dose accordingly.

 

[trophywench]

When you a fitter, you need less insulin. When you lose weight, you need less insulin. As long as you're eating enough to stay healthy - no worries!

 

[PattiEvans]

It is a very long time since I took Lantus, but I found it impossible to lose weight when I was on it. However, as SB has said if you are losing weight then your insulin resistance will reduce but also as your body weight drops you will need less insulin per kilo of body weight. Average insulin needs vary person by person but range between 0.5 and 1 unit/kg per day. So you have lost approx 18 kilos in total. Therefore you insulin needs should have dropped somewhere between 9 and 18U. Therefore if you need less insulin and you are eating less + exercising then no doubt that is what is helping your weight loss. It's all explained very well in "Think Like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hand on my copy right now as it's disappeared from my "Diabetic Library". I may have lent it to someone.

 

[DavidG89]

That's great folks really appreciate the advice and the experience of some.

I suppose if I put it altogether it does make sense.

Thanks again.

 

[nonethewiser]

The weight has been dropping off me as I have been decreasing my Lantus gradually over the period of about 6 months, training hard and watching what I have been eating.

Weight loss getting fitter will see decreased basal needs, know from experience mate. On lantus long time before pump, think it was 22u taken once daily.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I was on Lantus for years, and never noticed any link to weight gain, or loss. That was always much more linked to what I was eating and how active I was for me.