Type 1 Novorapid!!

[Kerry-Michelle]

Hi guys! I hope you are all well?

I have a question regarding insulin and weight loss.

I have been using novorapid since diagnosis (type1) almost 5 years ago. I've been struggling to loose weight! which I gained a several months after diagnosis. I'm carb counting and low-carbing too, exercising 5/6 days a week and to no avail barely any weight loss!

I was wondering if anyone else has had or is having the same issues?

Thanks in advance!!

Kerry

 

[Dairygrade]

Hello Kerry how are you yes same as you believe or not before I started on Novo rapid I was 11 stone in old figure's now 15 stone my diabetic consultant said the insulin wasn't helping with losing weight but said they didn't want to change my reglme as IV been using it for last 15yrs also I'm on lantus before bed sticking to right foods as blood sugars are no higher then 8most of time if I may ask how many units of Novo rapid are you having I'm on 46units 3 times a day and 58units lantus nighttime exercise pretty hard for me as I'm in a wheelchair after having 3 strokes so I certainly think type of insulin hasn't helped with my weight please reply soon thanks

 

[Kerry-Michelle]

Hello Kerry how are you yes same as you believe or not before I started on Novo rapid I was 11 stone in old figure's now 15 stone my diabetic consultant said the insulin wasn't helping with losing weight but said they didn't want to change my reglme as IV been using it for last 15yrs also I'm on lantus before bed sticking to right foods as blood sugars are no higher then 8most of time if I may ask how many units of Novo rapid are you having I'm on 46units 3 times a day and 58units lantus nighttime exercise pretty hard for me as I'm in a wheelchair after having 3 strokes so I certainly think type of insulin hasn't helped with my weight please reply soon thanks

Hi Dairygrade! Before diagnosis I was 10 st since then I've fluctuated between 5-6.5 st gain.

I too have had the same response! I am on Levemir 14 units a day but split dose 7u am and pm, my novorapid varies day to day depending on carbs, on an average day I take between 3-7u for breakfast, 4-6u for lunch and 5-12u for dinner. I have done the DAFNE course which has really helped me and dropped my insulin intake considerably! Definitely recommend it to others!

Sorry to hear about your mobility, I have read a few articles online about weight gain with certain insulins but I don't always trust these articles!

 

[Kerry-Michelle]

Also I forgot to add that I am on 2000mg a day of slow release metformin too! I also wonder whether this doesn't help too!

 

[Dairygrade]

Thanks Kerry Michelle for replying like you I don't always believe what articles say after all if we believed what paper's etc say we would have been free of diabetes years ago saying there's a cure just around the corner when I was diagnosed 43yrs ago still waiting oh well on with the jabs anyway hope you keep well and keep in touch on forum best place to be.

 

[Kerry-Michelle]

Thanks Kerry Michelle for replying like you I don't always believe what articles say after all if we believed what paper's etc say we would have been free of diabetes years ago saying there's a cure just around the corner when I was diagnosed 43yrs ago still waiting oh well on with the jabs anyway hope you keep well and keep in touch on forum best place to be.

You're most welcome and thank you! I hope that you keep well too! Best wishes to you! This forum has gotten me through a lot couldn't praise it enough!!

 

[Dairygrade]

Quick update Kerry Michelle about your metformin just had a look in my medical book it doesn't say anything about weight gain so can't really help I have never used it if I see anything linked to it I will certainly let you know bye for now.

 

[TorqPenderloin]

I'm not terribly comfortable with the dialogue that's transpired so far as it can lead to some serious misconceptions if interpreted incorrectly.

First, Novorapid is extremely common and widely used. It's called Novolog here in the USA and to my knowledge is the most widely used bolus insulin for type 1 diabetics in the world.

Second, the most likely cause of why you're not losing weight is this statement here: "I'm carb counting and low-carbing too, exercising 5/6 days a week and to no avail barely any weight loss!"

-Carb-counting is an insulin management approach and by itself has nothing to do with losing weight.
-Low-Carbing is an approach that's worked for many of us but we each define "Low" differently. For some, that's 200g while for others it's literally zero. I can tell you right now that I can eat less than 50g of carbs in a day and still gain weight (although it's fairly difficult).
-Exercise is fantastic. It's a huge part of my diabetes and bodyweight management, but it's not the ONLY PART. I can run 8-10 miles a day and still easily gain weight. As the saying goes: you can't outrun a bad diet.

I'm not saying that there aren't other possible reasons for your struggles losing weight. However, it's generally wise to start with the most obvious and likely causes first before assessing the less likely and more complicated reasons like the type of insulin you're using.

How are you tracking your carbs?
How are you tracking your calories?
How are you tracking your exercise?
How are you tracking how many calories you burn in a day?

Some people are lucky that they don't need to know the exact answers to those questions. However, if you're struggling with losing weight, you need to know the answers to them and they need to be exact.

 

[Kristin251]

I concur with everything @TorqPenderloin said.

I'm on novolog and lantus. Is vlc, meaning less than 20 carbs per day all from above ground veggies, nuts and avocado. I will gain weight if I go over 20 fo sure

Other things pack pounds on me. All grains and starches, fruit, too many nuts, all forms of dairy.

I don't calorie count but I need to be careful. I could eat far more food than I actually need. I also watch my protein intake and eat just enough for maintenance and repair. Then I fill the rest in with healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, olives and a FEW nuts or pumpkin seeds.

Insulin doesn't make you fat by itself. Feeding insulin does. I take less and I eat less. Then I don't gain. I could eat more and take more but I would gain because I don't need all those calories.

Many who want to gain weight are advised to eat dairy/ cheese, nuts, pate and even low carb grains.

You might need to look at the foods you're eating and count your carbs aiming for lower. Reducing protein. Or fat if need be.

A few months ago I switched from red wine to vodka and water and lost weight. There's carbs in wine. I also had to eat. A lot of fat at meals to stop from dropping low with just one unit. I reduced the fat and now take a half unit to stay steady.

It is much easier for me to eat the same macros at each meal and know my bolus. I do switch up my proteins and veggies but same size meals. I can't random eat as I can't seem to get my insulin there at the same time as my food. This would be boring for many people but I love my food!

Good luck

 

[Scott-C]

@Kerry-Michelle , have you got a bike?

I used to do a lot of cycle touring, stick a tent on the back of the bike and went off cycling round the Scottish Highlands for a week (civilised, though: tent always went up in close proximity to a pub). Weight fell off despite stuffing my face. Insulin need also went way down: glucose seems to be find pathways in exercise without insulin.

Can't find the reference now, but I recall reading an article which said if you're doing high intensity stuff like running a marathon, the body's preferred fuel is glucose (which is why runners 'hit the wall' after 20 miles) but if you're doing low intensity stuff like gentle cycling, the body says, right no need to use up that scarce stored glucose, I'll start burning fat instead.

Don't know if a certain amount is needed before this starts happening, was generally doing about 50 miles each day at an average 12 mph but the weight loss was noticeable. It's pretty easy to rack up 10 miles on either a road bike or on a rack in front of the telly, so no harm in giving it a go.

I've been lucky enough to not have any weight problems, been about the same weight for the last 30 years, but I'm approaching middle age when guys can start stacking it on. I've found that after, for example, xmas excesses, spending some time on soups, nice chicken broth or asian ramens, loses weight. Probably for no other reason than that the water fills you up and has no calories. Curiously, ramens also seem to stabilise my sugars for a day or two. Probably again just because of the water/low carbs but there's some research about spices and their effect on sugars, so maybe it's down to the chillies. Whatever, still tastes good so it's win win.

 

[tim2000s]

The other thing that it's really important to remember is that before you were diagnosed is not a good point to compare your current weight to. The majority of type 1s before diagnosis have lost weight as your body has started to effectively eat itself, and the weight you regain after diagnosis is getting back to a healthy level.

 

[TorqPenderloin]

To Tim's point: here is a picture of what I went through before and after my T1D diagnosis.

Sadly, I didn't realize how bad I had gotten in the August picture (left). The number on the scale had dropped significantly, but I failed to realize that it wasn't fat I was losing, it was muslce.

For frame of reference look at the size of my arms in both pictures. My waist/stomach in comparison was the same size (34") in both pictures.

 

[cassie091]

It sounds to me as though you are taking very high doses of insulin which must mean that you are eating lots of calories and carbs otherwise you would be having hypos. You should talk to your diabetes specialists about a weight loss diet. If you have a sedentary lifestyle you need far fewer calories than someone who is rushing about all day. I agree with the person who says you cannot compare your weight when you had untreated diabetes to what it is now but you can take control of it by eating the right foods in the right amounts. If you eat more calories than your body requires it stands to reason that you will put on weight. My diet is low in carbs. I eat a lot of veg, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower. I limit root vegetables and peas and broad beans that are high in sugar. Same for pulses. I don't eat large amounts of meat or cheese. It is matter of understanding the nutritional values of different foods. Fruit, for example contains lots of sugar. I have been on insulin for 60 years and weigh 7st 10lb. about 49 kgs. although my weight has fluctuated wildly over the years due to my eating too many carbs. Incidentally I am female. Hope you get the answer to your problem.

 

[SarahMarzouq]

Hi guys! I hope you are all well?

I have a question regarding insulin and weight loss.

I have been using novorapid since diagnosis (type1) almost 5 years ago. I've been struggling to loose weight! which I gained a several months after diagnosis. I'm carb counting and low-carbing too, exercising 5/6 days a week and to no avail barely any weight loss!

I was wondering if anyone else has had or is having the same issues?

Thanks in advance!!

Kerry

Hi guys! I hope you are all well?

I have a question regarding insulin and weight loss.

I have been using novorapid since diagnosis (type1) almost 5 years ago. I've been struggling to loose weight! which I gained a several months after diagnosis. I'm carb counting and low-carbing too, exercising 5/6 days a week and to no avail barely any weight loss!

I was wondering if anyone else has had or is having the same issues?

Thanks in advance!!

Kerry

Well, i have no idea what`s happening with you honestly, but my weight is stable now after ups and downs. i was diagnosed when i was 9 and now i`m almost 23. I still suffer sometimes with my weight; stay strong!

 

[ontario_ogirl]

I use novorapid and lantus and am on a low carb, moderate protein diet. My weight never fluctuates more than 2 lbs at most. I get good results with novorapid, and I split my lantus into two doses during the day.