Struggling with carbs and understanding them

[Wilma62]

Hi folks

I’ve noticed that I’m starting to gain a few pounds of weight I was 62kg now 64kg in a space of four months,
The only app I use is the carbs and cals and I have the book as well I’m doing plenty of walking but I’m also on insulin and starting to worry if it’s this that is adding back the pounds? Only been on it since December last year,
I’ve had a few slips with biscuits again and yesterday we were out I had a roast dinner & a pudding and am kicking my self for the pudding
I’m asking what others are doing food wise and if any of you use any apps that help you with the carbs extra
Thanks in advance I’m new to all of this

 

[ColinUK]

Is it more likely to be the insulin or the few biscuits here and there or the pudding after a meal out?

 

[Inka]

What insulins do you take @Wilma62 ? I’m Type 1 and all I do is eat a normal healthy diet and only count the carbs to work out my bolus dose.

 

[Inka]

I’ve just checked - I think you’re only on abasaglar? That’s a basal insulin so my comment might not be relevant to you. How are your blood sugars?

Just to add - insulin doesn’t make you fat else I’d be huge as I’ve been injecting it for nearly 30 years! It’s more likely to be the food, but even then your weight gain is pretty tiny. I find my weight moves up and down a few pounds a lot over a year (by a few pounds I mean approx 5lbs).

 

[Wilma62]

I’ve just checked - I think you’re only on abasaglar? That’s a basal insulin so my comment might not be relevant to you. How are your blood sugars?

Just to add - insulin doesn’t make you fat else I’d be huge as I’ve been injecting it for nearly 30 years! It’s more likely to be the food, but even then your weight gain is pretty tiny. I find my weight moves up and down a few pounds a lot over a year (by a few pounds I mean approx 5lbs).

Hello thank you for commenting I’m very new to this all and have basically been doing well my last HBC1A level was 39 sugars morning are in a range of 6/2 to 6/9 and 7 I’m on 12 units of insulin next review February I’m a transplant patient and have blood cancer but I don’t want to put weight on and have noticed that I’ve gained a few pounds just wondering if it could be a slip having a few biscuits on the odd occasion it’s not even daily and yesterday yes I had a small pudding after dinner first treat in months. I just wanted to see what others are doing food wise…
I appreciate you answering I didn’t want people to shout out at me because I’m new to it all

 

[Wilma62]

Is it more likely to be the insulin or the few biscuits here and there or the pudding after a meal out?

Colin this is my first time in months that I had a treat of a pudding..
and the biscuits are not every day either
As I said I’m totally new to all of this and needed help and asking what’s people doing regards carbs extra I am just asking and don’t want to be shouted down for having a slip

 

[Wilma62]

I’ve just checked - I think you’re only on abasaglar? That’s a basal insulin so my comment might not be relevant to you. How are your blood sugars?

Just to add - insulin doesn’t make you fat else I’d be huge as I’ve been injecting it for nearly 30 years! It’s more likely to be the food, but even then your weight gain is pretty tiny. I find my weight moves up and down a few pounds a lot over a year (by a few pounds I mean approx 5lbs).

Yes I’m on Abasaglar 12 units every morning

 

[helli]

@Wilma62 2kg weight gain in 4 months is nothing.
It could just be that you weighed yourself at a different time of day or a bit of water retention, especially if you weighed yourself soon after you roast me pudding.
I agree with @Inka that it is very unlikely to be due to your insulin. I believe it is a myth that insulin causes weight gain (and wish those who continue to propagate it would bear a thought for vulnerable T1s who may withhold their life saving medication because of this myth) … it is excess insulin that does it and your dose is not high.

If you are at all concerned, you could just cut down on the biscuits a little and, if possible, do a little more exercise.

I know many people hate it but, doctors tend to pit a lot of weight behind bmi. I don’t know how tall you are but, unless you are tiny, 64kg is not going to be obese.

My advice would be to keep an eye on your weight but overall relax.

 

[Wilma62]

@Wilma62 2kg weight gain in 4 months is nothing.
It could just be that you weighed yourself at a different time of day or a bit of water retention, especially if you weighed yourself soon after you roast me pudding.
I agree with @Inka that it is very unlikely to be due to your insulin. I believe it is a myth that insulin causes weight gain (and wish those who continue to propagate it would bear a thought for vulnerable T1s who may withhold their life saving medication because of this myth) … it is excess insulin that does it and your dose is not high.

If you are at all concerned, you could just cut down on the biscuits a little and, if possible, do a little more exercise.

I know many people hate it but, doctors tend to pit a lot of weight behind bmi. I don’t know how tall you are but, unless you are tiny, 64kg is not going to be obese.

My advice would be to keep an eye on your weight but overall relax.

Ahh thank you my height is 5/6
My bmi is 23 and over all I have been doing well just the odd slip with the biscuits I appreciate you commenting I just get a bit concerned that’s all I do nearly 2 hours walking a day can’t do the gym because of a transplant 7 years ago and I have collapsed abdominal muscles so walking is it for me which I do enjoy
I’m only on 12 units of insulin so that’s it..
I take other meds for transplant and blood cancer but just concerned about gaining weight I will keep at it
Hope all is well with you x

 

[Inka]

Hello thank you for commenting I’m very new to this all and have basically been doing well my last HBC1A level was 39 sugars morning are in a range of 6/2 to 6/9 and 7 I’m on 12 units of insulin next review February I’m a transplant patient and have blood cancer but I don’t want to put weight on and have noticed that I’ve gained a few pounds just wondering if it could be a slip having a few biscuits on the odd occasion it’s not even daily and yesterday yes I had a small pudding after dinner first treat in months. I just wanted to see what others are doing food wise…
I appreciate you answering I didn’t want people to shout out at me because I’m new to it all

No-one will shout at you whether you’re old or new @Wilma62 Please don’t ever be worried about that. Ask whatever you want here 🙂

Looking back at your previous posts, I can see you were worried about the insulin making you put on weight so perhaps you’re subconsciously anticipating that. If it helps you at all, I take approximately double your 12 units on some days, and I’m slim and have stayed basically the same weight since adulthood. My weight moves up and down within a small range, but I don’t worry because I know the few pounds will disappear again (few pounds=5lbs=2 and a bit kg).

 

[ColinUK]

I wasn’t intending to come across as shouting anyone down.
I know my diet has slipped and that’s from the reintroduction of very occasional treats to where I am now.
Diet is never in isolation though and BG isn’t either. There are lots of things which can influence one or other including stress, lack of sleep, exercise etc so my intention was really to ask, perhaps cackhandedly if you thought there was anything else at play.

 

[Drummer]

After a long time (up to the age of 65) of being pushed to eat 'healthy' carbs I ended up at 264 lb before I stopped weighing myself.
As a typical type two I know that eating any high carb food will not raise my blood glucose as it used to do, but I will see where it went next day, on the scales. It takes a long time to go away again.
If I stick to low carb foods, my weight gradually goes down. I am the only one in my social circle who has lost any weight these last long months, so I stick to what I know works for me.
I can have roast dinners and desserts, but I make them myself and do not include high carb ingredients - I can still have mint chocolate icecream, for instance.
I know that you are being treated with insulin, but you seem to be reacting as a type two. I know that my body composition is altering over the years, as I can now lift and move the knitting machines I service with far greater ease, and my muscles seem stronger, so I don't worry about body fat very much, it is just a nuisance.

 

[DaveB]

Insulin cannot itself cause weight gain but it enables you to metabolise any carbs you eat so eating a few too many may be the cause. Some of your transplant meds may not be helping. My wife has just has a kidney transplant and I know some of her meds could cause weight gain or water retention

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I can't help with apps, I'm afraid, but just wanted to add to the reassurance that it's definitely not insulin causing you to gain weight. The myth comes from people injecting too much and then eating up to the insulin, instead of injecting exactly what they need for the food they're eating.

I think most of us find our weight fluctuates a bit, so I wouldn't worry too much unless you find yours keeps going up, and don't beat yourself up about one pudding, just try to avoid it in future x

Walking is good exercise, and no-one needs to go to the gym if they are doing something like walking. My blood sugar plummets if I just go out in the garden and potter about, anything moving about outside is great.