Type 1 and weight loss

[MollyBolt]

I was diagnosed with type 1 this week, after a bleak a&e admission on Monday. I’d been trying to find some up sides to the diagnosis, and had mused that at least I should finally lose the weight I’ve needed to for years. But I worry further investigation suggests that it’s likely to be harder to lose weight than it was before I developed type 1. Is this really right?

 

[Inka]

I don’t think there are any upsides to Type 1 @MollyBolt It’s a serious (and tedious) medical condition. However, you should be able to lose weight just like anyone else. Having said that, I’d leave that until you get the hang of things and until your body has recovered.

 

[MollyBolt]

I mean I recognise there aren’t real upsides, but I am usually a cheery person who tries to find a positive. Which, as you say, is not straightforward in this case…

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @MollyBolt

One of the things about balancing the carbohydrates with doses might be that it does lead to a slightly more measured approach to food prep. which can be a bit tedious, but it does mean that you’ll have to know (or estimate) total carb content in your meals, and if you decide to reduce your doses / carb counts by a percentage (as long as you don’t go crazy with fats and proteins) you should be able to aim for a weight loss (or weight steadying) menu.

One of the snags with T1 though, is that it can be a bit frustrating to be aiming to carefully shave a few calories /carbs here and there - only to have to treat an unexpected hypo or two, and have to shove extra food in!!

 

[helli]

I was diagnosed with type 1 this week, after a bleak a&e admission on Monday. I’d been trying to find some up sides to the diagnosis, and had mused that at least I should finally lose the weight I’ve needed to for years. But I worry further investigation suggests that it’s likely to be harder to lose weight than it was before I developed type 1. Is this really right?

Sadly, there is a myth than injected insulin causes weight gain. With Type 1, when we inject insulin, we are just replacing the same amount of insulin as our body would produce if this pesky autoimmune condition hadn’t killed off insulin producing cells. So, for us, injecting insulin does not cause weight gain or make it harder to lose weight.
90% of people with diabetes have type 2 which, as it is insulin resistance, can result in an excess of insulin. To my understanding, this is what may cause weight gain and, I believe, is the source of that nasty, dangerous myth which seems to perpetuate and lead to fear for people newly diagnosed with Type 1.
It is fantastic to read up on diabetes but remember, Type 1 is different to type 2 and when you just read “diabetes” it is usually an abbreviation of “type 2 diabetes” so may not apply to us.

The only thing which may temporarily affect a weight loss diet is the need for fast acting carbs when treating a hypo. But hypos should not be so frequent that the total amount of hypo treating carbs would take your diet off course.

The other thing worth bearing in mind is that a common symptom of undiagnosed Type 1 is weight loss. This is because, in the absence of insulin, our bodies cannot used the food we eat. Often, after diagnosis, we put that weight back on as the injected insulin allows our bodies to refuel properly again.

Sorry, that’s a long winded way of saying that having Type 1 diabetes should not make it harder to lose weight.

 

[Inka]

I mean I recognise there aren’t real upsides, but I am usually a cheery person who tries to find a positive. Which, as you say, is not straightforward in this case…

Ok, well there is a kind of positive: before the discovery and purification of insulin, Type 1 was a terminal condition, so, tedious as it is, we’re extremely lucky to have insulin and the ability to treat this condition 🙂

 

[SB2015]

Also I am a lot more aware of my bodily functions.

I think that as a consequence of my diagnosis I have lost weight as I am more measured in the amount of carbs that I eat, in order to reduce my spikes after meals. Mi was amazed at the amount of carbs we were eating once I had to count them. As a Type 1 you can eat whatever you want and we just match the insulin Togo with it ( not a science but something that we do as well as we can) so if you want to lose weight you can eat smaller meals as someone without diabetes.

There is a lot to get your head round at the start, so I wouldn’t be worrying about weight loss in the first few weeks. Just get used to doing regular tests and injections. Learn how to carb count your common meals and your team will help you to adjust your doses of insulin to match.

It is a bit like learning to drive initially. Lots to sort out but much of it becomes automatic and then youAre just having to deal with the odditites (which occur regularly). Worth watching James Norton’s bedtime story for CBeebies about T1.

Whatever questions arise. Just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here, and there is plenty of experience to tap into.

 

[Tdm]

I find it easier to stay slim with t1...as it kinda knocks snacking on the head....well, you can snack, but you have to inject etc so i findvi don't tend to.
My problem is keeping weight on, tbh.
I think looking for the positive is a great trait.