unexplained weight loss

[Geraldineto]

I am not controlling my diabetes at all - take insulin in the evening but eat and drink all day. I have lost 7 kilos in the past month or so and that is what happening when I was first diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Does anyone know what actually happens when you lose the weight due to diabetes? I think it is great but just want to know what I am doing to myself 😱

 

[AlisonM]

7 kilos is a lot to lose in such a short time, especially if you're eating 'all the time'. I think you need to talk to your doctor, there could be may reasons for losing weight and it would be worth checking to establish what's happening in your case.

What sort of things are you eating by the way?

 

[Geraldineto]

I eat everything I want - I can't stand the thought of life without any pleasure and all my pleasure comes from eating and drinking and being with friends.

The doctor will tell me it is the diabetes but I can't find out why exactly diabetes causes weight loss and any weight loss seems good to me 🙂

 

[Hanmillmum]

I am not controlling my diabetes at all - take insulin in the evening but eat and drink all day. I have lost 7 kilos in the past month or so and that is what happening when I was first diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Does anyone know what actually happens when you lose the weight due to diabetes? I think it is great but just want to know what I am doing to myself 😱

If you are not controlling your diabetes, I assume you mean you are you running your BG's high? Not taking enough insulin ?
Insulin causes sugar to be transferred from the blood to the cells of the body. If there is a lot of sugar in the blood, without the insulin, it does not get into the cells so the body's tissues are starving. Sugar gets urinated out instead of going into the tissues. Excess sugar in the urine pulls water into the urine along with it. So you will be losing weight through dehydration too.

You are risking your health I'm afraid - your cardiovascular system, kidneys, sight..... It would be too good to be true if you can eat all you fancy and lose weight.

 

[pippaandben]

I am not controlling my diabetes at all - take insulin in the evening but eat and drink all day. I have lost 7 kilos in the past month or so and that is what happening when I was first diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Does anyone know what actually happens when you lose the weight due to diabetes? I think it is great but just want to know what I am doing to myself 😱

Do you not test your blood sugars? I lost 1.5 stone over 3 months last year and like you congratulated myself and put down my high readings to the stress of caravanning and hot weather. I was on maximum oral meds. Only contacted Dr when got really, really thirsty. I was put on insulin within a week and tested for ketones immediately. An insulin mix twice daily and now on MDI at my insistance.

You are losing weight cos your body needs energy and cannot get it from the sugar in your blood due to insulin resistance or too little insulin and so has to use your fat reserve. I would suggest an urgent Dr appt with all the information you have.

 

[Geraldineto]

Thank you for your replies. I have difficulty accepting and coping with diabetes, I have had a heart attack and just more or less waiting for another one. I test my BS every now and again and take the insulin in the evening. I am now undergoing test to see if I can put a balloon in my stomach - I would like to be slim again. Things all went wrong after I gave up smoking nearly 20 years ago!!

 

[pippaandben]

Thank you for your replies. I have difficulty accepting and coping with diabetes, I have had a heart attack and just more or less waiting for another one. I test my BS every now and again and take the insulin in the evening. I am now undergoing test to see if I can put a balloon in my stomach - I would like to be slim again. Things all went wrong after I gave up smoking nearly 20 years ago!!

Are you still in Italy? Are you still on the same medication eg insulin and tablets?

Please. please, please test your blood sugars every day on a regular basis. Without this information it will be difficult for your to understand how your body is reacting to your food. Ideally before meals, then 2 hours and 4 hours after. If you eat a lot of pizza/pasta this sits around longer so possibly the 4 hour test will give a better result. If you can get your carbohydrates under control this will also help your other health problems immensely.

Does your heart doctor know you are diabetic? They may be able to point you in a better direction locally. Is there a national diabetic association in Italy you could contact for support if you are still living there?

 

[Geraldineto]

Yes I am still in Italy and taking solostar in the evening and supposed to take NovoNorm 30 mins before every meal but after taking one in the morning I forget the rest.
My heart specialist is the best doctor I have ever know - he worked in America for years and so also very kind and caring.
I attend the day hospital on various days so that they can test everything in the same place (heart, brain, stomach etc etc ) and then they will tell me if I can get the ballon.

 

[Geraldineto]

I have just measured my BS - 314/17.44444 on an empty stomach - I will take my medicine and go out for a walk 🙂 Maybe if I do all the right things I will get a desire to live without the things I love (toast and marmalade comes to mind at this hour ).

 

[Northerner]

Yes I am still in Italy and taking solostar in the evening and supposed to take NovoNorm 30 mins before every meal but after taking one in the morning I forget the rest.
My heart specialist is the best doctor I have ever know - he worked in America for years and so also very kind and caring.
I attend the day hospital on various days so that they can test everything in the same place (heart, brain, stomach etc etc ) and then they will tell me if I can get the ballon.

I have just measured my BS - 314/17.44444 on an empty stomach - I will take my medicine and go out for a walk 🙂 Maybe if I do all the right things I will get a desire to live without the things I love (toast and marmalade comes to mind at this hour ).

Geraldine, you know this already but you really must start remembering to take your insulin when you are supposed to. I'm sure you wouldn't forget to put clothes on before you go out, or blow your nose if it was running, so just add those injections to your normal routine and do them! Honestly, you are feeling bad because you have persistently high blood sugar levels - get them down and you will feel so much better, and you will be reducing your risks of horrible complications. Don't ignore it, do it, or I will be round there to see you do! 😱

Changing the way you eat and what you eat can be difficult, but it can be done and your tastes will change - it's not going to be something to 'endure' forever. Please don't make yourself ill for the sake of a few minutes a day taking care of yourself 🙂

 

[Geraldineto]

Geraldine, you know this already but you really must start remembering to take your insulin when you are supposed to. I'm sure you wouldn't forget to put clothes on before you go out, or blow your nose if it was running, so just add those injections to your normal routine and do them! Honestly, you are feeling bad because you have persistently high blood sugar levels - get them down and you will feel so much better, and you will be reducing your risks of horrible complications. Don't ignore it, do it, or I will be round there to see you do! 😱

Changing the way you eat and what you eat can be difficult, but it can be done and your tastes will change - it's not going to be something to 'endure' forever. Please don't make yourself ill for the sake of a few minutes a day taking care of yourself 🙂

Thank you for caring - I have given up - so many have to suffer a lot more, I should be ashamed. I have been for a walk (forgot to take my medicine 😛) and will have cup of tea and a dream for breakfast🙄 I do always take my insulin - it is solostar and I inject 40 units every evening

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Yes I am still in Italy and taking solostar in the evening and supposed to take NovoNorm 30 mins before every meal but after taking one in the morning I forget the rest.
My heart specialist is the best doctor I have ever know - he worked in America for years and so also very kind and caring.
I attend the day hospital on various days so that they can test everything in the same place (heart, brain, stomach etc etc ) and then they will tell me if I can get the ballon.

I can never understand why people remember to eat but can't remember their insulin at the same time

I have just measured my BS - 314/17.44444 on an empty stomach - I will take my medicine and go out for a walk 🙂 Maybe if I do all the right things I will get a desire to live without the things I love (toast and marmalade comes to mind at this hour ).

May I point out there is no reason not to have a slice of toast as long as you take your insulin before you eat. The injectable is only replacing what you don't produce yourself. So it's a no brainer in my eyes.

We can't make you take your insulin that's down to you.
I am going to be very blunt by saying....... you are a long time dead.
Having complications from diabetes is a long painful death but once dead that's it there's no coming back.

Learn to carb count and adjust your insulin to what you eat, then you can have a long happy life 🙂

 

[Geraldineto]

I don't take insulin before meals - I am supposed to take a tablet 30 mins before every meal - I start eating before I remember - I think it is too late then.

 

[Northerner]

Thank you for caring - I have given up - so many have to suffer a lot more, I should be ashamed. I have been for a walk (forgot to take my medicine 😛) and will have cup of tea and a dream for breakfast🙄 I do always take my insulin - it is solostar and I inject 40 units every evening

Apologies Geraldine, I misinterpreted what Novonorm was - I thought it was a fast-acting insulin, but after looking it up I see that it is similar to glimepiride and works by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. I wonder if you might be better off using a fast-acting insulin instead? Or trying to fit the tablet into your meal time routine so you don't forget? Don't be ashamed, take each day at a time and take the tablets as prescribed, try not to be overwhelmed by everything. This one small step is all you need to take for now, and will be a big gain for a very small effort 🙂

 

[Maryanne29]

Geraldine, look after number one! Not a selfish attitude in this case because your health is in your hands. Please take on board what we're all telling you. I'm sure we've all had bad times with our diabetes but getting back on track makes you feel so much better. And when you're on track and managing well you will be able to eat things you enjoy - as long as you stay on track.
🙂🙂🙂