Weight gain around stomach

[Rachellouc]

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on this? My son, 23 years old and type 1 for around 5 months is doing really well - Lantus at night and Novorapid for meals has now started to put on weight around his stomach only. He has only had 2 hypos and since his diagnosis has been much more active. He is always starving when he injects but doesn’t overeat. He does have a snack of fruit and two/three tuc crackers when he has the Lantus around 10.30pm. He never had any weight loss before his diagnosis but lost some weight for a few weeks after starting on insulin.
His diabetes nurse noticed he had lost some weight but his next review is in October and it’s a phone call so she won’t see him. Could he be having too much insulin for what he needs? He has 22 units of Lantus and 4 units of Novarapid each meal - that hasn’t changed since diagnosis and he seems so well. He has a Libre that he shares info with the diabetic team. I wonder if he needs to talk to them now about the weight.

 

[Bronco Billy]

If he's only had two hypos since diagnosis, he isn't having too much insulin. It might just be he's returning to his usual weight range now his body is getting the insulin it needs, which it wouldn't have been prior to diagnosis.. I wouldn't worry too much unless he keeps gaining weight.

 

[trophywench]

Put any guess of it being caused by insulin, straight out of your head please mum! I've only had Type 1 diabetes for 52 years so far and the only reason I have ever put on weight either before or since - is eating more than my body needs!

(Especially nice things like cream cakes, desserts, chips more than once a week etc. Which OK - I do have to take more insulin to account for those carbs, but it's the action of the carbs and the fat, NOT the insulin that piles the weight on me!))

You say he's more active now - so how active actually is that? What does he get up to for exercise and how many times a week, for how long?

 

[Inka]

@Rachellouc That sounds normal. The weight goes on quite quickly at first and then stabilises over time. The body is reacting not to the insulin but to ‘starvation’ when the lack of insulin meant food couldn’t be used properly.

If your son’s blood sugar is ok, then his insulin is ok. People use hugely different amounts of insulin. The right amount is simply the right amount for them as an individual 🙂

I’ve taken insulin for almost 30 years and I’m very slim. Insulin doesn’t make you fat. If it did, the whole world be walking around like beach balls on legs! The insulin injections just replace the insulin the body can no longer make.

Is he doing all his injections in his stomach? Using different body areas is important.

 

[Rachellouc]

Thanks for that info, he’s doing so well with his levels I don’t really want to interfere re his weight but am worried! He was only shown to do his day injections into his stomach area - should he try other areas?

 

[Inka]

Thanks for that info, he’s doing so well with his levels I don’t really want to interfere re his weight but am worried! He was only shown to do his day injections into his stomach area - should he try other areas?

Yes, he should. Over time, insulin can cause skin changes and lumps and bumps, so the idea is to rotate injection sites, both in the same area (ie use a pattern across his stomach to make sure he’s not re-using the same sites over and over) and in the body. Injections can be given in the bum and the thighs (middle to outer side not on the inside of the thigh).

There’s an injection sites pic somewhere. I’ll find it and post it here if I can.

link

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