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weight gain advice

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vince13

vince13

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
When I was diagnosed last October I had lost about a stone and a half in weight and am now down to 8st 4lbs. At 5ft tall I have always been on the slight side anyway and, although the medication is keeping the blood sugar levels pretty fair now, I don't want to lose any more weight and whether I am good or bad with my diet I still seem to hovver around this weight.

As I'd really like to put on a bit of weight before the time which is soon coming when I have to go on to insulin (I see my Consultant again in August) so my legs and arms are not so skinny to give me a choice of injection sites, does anyone have any sensible advice on how I can keep my levels at the 5 to 6 rate I'm now at in the mornings but gain about half a stone again ?

It seems to me that the obvious weight gaining foodstuffs are more or less a no-no for me now - any tips from the panel of experts please ?
 
Hi - I lost a lot of weight before I was diagnosed, and found it very difficult to put much back on. But after a few years I had to start taking insulin, and that's when I started to gain a few pounds. Now I seem to have reached a 'plateau' weight, and I'm not gaining any more although I'd like to. I rarely inject in arms and thighs because there's not enough meat on them, but find the abdomen & bum give enough scope. Do you limit the amount of fat in your diet? I did this early on and lost weight, so I stopped, and gained a bit.
 
I lost alot of weight too before diagnosis and after 3 months i have put a stone back on. Ive not really restricted my diet other than not much chocolate or sweets but other than that ive found my weight has steadily increased. I did exercise prior to diagnosis but have not done much since diagnosis will be gettin back to it soon though! For about a month I coulnt inject into my legs as they were too skinny but im ok now. I found my stomach was ok and my bottom.
Sorry i cant be more helpful.
 
Thank you both for replying - it seems (as I feared) until insulin injections are mandatory for me I shan't put on weight by diet alone. Although I watch what I'm eating and don't eat too many things "off the banned list" but I don't really restrict myself much (and I pay the penalty by occasional increased sugars of course - Mothering Sunday was a case in question !). I think my legs and arms are going to be a problem for injection sites at first but hope for more plumpness coming back when things have settled down - I suppose it's early days yet. I can't believe I'm complaining about being too skinny !
 
Have you spoken to a diabetic dietician? Or speak to your doctor. They may be able to help you. I lost weight before I was diagnosed too. I am on metformimn and gliclizade and haven't gained any more weight.

If you have a balanced diet and are generally well, you are a good weight. I know many people who are considered underweight who can eat like it's going out of fashion. They get very stressed because they are underweight. I know people who are overweight and no matter how hard they try, they find it difficult to loose it.
 
Hi Faith, I've had weight problems too. My weight had fallen gradually over the two years prior to diagnosis to about 9st 7. Then, I fell ill and got DKA - my weight dropped to 8st 4 in 3 days. I'm 5' 9", so you can imagine how skinny I was! After a week in hospital my weight climbed back to about 9st 3, but in the weeks that followed started to drop again because I lost my appetite completely due to drug side effects. Eventually got those sorted out and have climbed from 8st 10 at Christmas to 10st now!

During my 'lean' months I did inject in my stomach occasionally, but mainly used the fleshy upper part of my hips - it's a bit difficult to inject there because it involves a bit of twisting. Tried my legs but it hurt, always bruised and gave lumps. Tried my arm once, but since I couldn't 'pinch' didn't try again. Now that I've put on some weight I can use my stomach again, although it still bruises.

It is tricky when you're skinny! I think all you can do is try to make sure you rotate your (limited number of) sites and let each one heal for a week or so in turn.

I don't really have any tips to increase weight - I think your body finds a natural level. Like you say, most people would be happy to be skinny, but it does present some problems when you have to inject several times a day, every day. My weight has gradually increased through normal eating and now appears to have stabilised at 10 st, which is pretty much my perfect BMI. Hopefully, when you have 'control' you will have a healthy appetite and be able to put on a few pounds!🙂
 
Caroline Wilson said:
Have you spoken to a diabetic dietician? .
Click to expand...

Yes, Caroline, I've got diet sheets etc which I'm (mostly!!) living by but I see my Diabetic Nurse at the Surgery for another blood test (for thyroid monitoring) next wek and I had intended to ask her if she had any tips at this stage.

Thanks for your input though....it's good to know I'm not on my own in this respect.
 
Thanks Northerner - perhaps you could do a limerick for me "there was an old lady from Kent" - oh no that's already been done hasn't it !!?
 
can you believe i chased up my dietician on monday she had not even received my referrel not even heard of me grr so here is me thinking they had my details 18th feb but nope over month on she didnt even know my details , anyways i jus wanted to say that i am finding it real difficult to lose weight i am stuck on ideas im exercising like mad and eating right well (so i hope )as i aint seen dietician yet im only going off my own mind and diet sheets i have read and seen online
 
just remember too much 'weight' can have a negative effect on insulin absorbsion. the way to gain weight is to eat more calories than your body burns. that doesnt mean you have to eat unhealty or sugar foods etc, healthy calories should work too. you just need more than you use now. the same if you want to loose wait, take in less calories than you burn.
 
OK Stef - your point proves that Diabetes gives us all problems, but in different ways ! What a life eh ? (Talking of Life, is your tag at the end of your messages meant to say "Diabetes IS for life..."? - I get the link by the way from the "a dog is for life....")
 
Good message Anthony - I AM trying to eat properly and give myself extra "good" calories but nothing seems to work yet somehow - I suppose it's early days as I was only diagnosed at the end of October last year. My actual weight is well within the "normal" range on the BMI scale but I do now have very skinny arms and legs and, hey - I may be old but I'm a woman and summer's coming when things will be more on show than they are now (apart from the idea that the first insulin injections might hurt more for a while !).
 
thanks vince you are the first to spot that lol , i shall correct it now
 
...or you could say (less kindly !) that I'm the first to be rude enough to mention it ! Hugs x
 
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