Weight loss Type 1

[Emily95]

I have had type 1 for 18 years (basal/bolus). I have been going to the gym for an hour a time since July. I eat one meal a day, in the evening, the meal is around 1000-1200 calories, 70-90g carbs. I still haven’t lost any weight.

Just wanted to hear from any type 1’s with a ‘normal’ BMI about how you’ve managed to lose weight because I feel like I’m putting in actual effort and getting no where, it’s disheartening.

 

[Grant_Vicat]

I have had type 1 for 18 years (basal/bolus). I have been going to the gym for an hour a time since July. I eat one meal a day, in the evening, the meal is around 1000-1200 calories, 70-90g carbs. I still haven’t lost any weight.

Just wanted to hear from any type 1’s with a ‘normal’ BMI about how you’ve managed to lose weight because I feel like I’m putting in actual effort and getting no where, it’s disheartening.

Hi @Emily95 My initial reaction is that 90g of carbs is quite a lot for one meal. Obviously we are all different and regimes have dramatically changed in the last 25 years. Personally dietitians never put more than a 60g of carbs for one meal (lunch or supper). Whether this is the cause of your problem I cannot say, but might it be possible to split this into a snack of 30g earlier in the day and a main meal of 60g? I completely understand your frustration.

 

[Jaylee]

I have had type 1 for 18 years (basal/bolus). I have been going to the gym for an hour a time since July. I eat one meal a day, in the evening, the meal is around 1000-1200 calories, 70-90g carbs. I still haven’t lost any weight.

Just wanted to hear from any type 1’s with a ‘normal’ BMI about how you’ve managed to lose weight because I feel like I’m putting in actual effort and getting no where, it’s disheartening.

Hi,

What is your goal. How much weight loss is your aim?

 

[Badger09]

Muscle wieghs more than fat, I think you want to lose wieght but you are actually converting fat to muscle hence no wieght loss. I remember when i ran 5 miles every other day/ had 6 pack/ not an ounce of fat anywhere and the diabetic nurse said I was obese and needed to lose wieght. An evening meal only, gives the body no time to burn off those calories before rest/sleep. Food processed in the evening/night is stored by the body rather than used. An eat when you are hungry approach with the last food no later than 17.00 is likely to yield better results as you will be eating when your body actually wants to use/burn off the energy/food you consume rather than store it as fat/blood sugar

 

[Lucky12345]

I have had type 1 for 18 years (basal/bolus). I have been going to the gym for an hour a time since July. I eat one meal a day, in the evening, the meal is around 1000-1200 calories, 70-90g carbs. I still haven’t lost any weight.

Just wanted to hear from any type 1’s with a ‘normal’ BMI about how you’ve managed to lose weight because I feel like I’m putting in actual effort and getting no where, it’s disheartening.

Hi,
Am also a type 1 , I walk a lot with my dog, 2 meals a day, try not to eat after 6 .
I have begged my doctors to help me, I am considered obese. No matter what I do I can’t get the weight off.
Nobody will help me, I am desperate to get the weight off, tried starving myself, was told off for that .
So, I understand what you are going through and I sympathise with you.

 

[Sandra_Azucar]

Hi Emily, I hear your struggle. I am a T1D with a "normal" BMI of 23-24, but until about 9 years ago I struggled with weight. I have long reacted to higher carb meals with weight gain and high blood sugars, so I decided to try low carb back in 2017. That's been quite helpful to maintaining my weight where I want it, since higher carbs require more insulin to keep sugars down. But that's not the only thing I've done...

Since I also noticed insulin resistance at the same time (needing more insulin with no diet change), I had my thyroid checked and learned that I had low thyroid and needed a bit of medication to normalize it. I regard this medication (Cytomel/T3 for thyroid) as having been VERY helpful in correcting my low thyroid along with the related insulin resistance and weight gain.

Could low thyroid be an issue for you too?

I also use some other things that are helpful too: insulin mimetics like Alpha Lipoic Acid (a supplement) have helped my body be more insulin sensitive, so I use less insulin. And lower insulin requirements mean less weight gain. Other kinds of insulin mimetics would include Berberine, which acts like metformin in making people more insulin sensitive, but can be useful to T1Ds.

There may be other things going on for you that you haven't mentioned, like excess stress or lack of sleep or sickness, that can make us less sensitive to insulin and more likely to hold onto weight. So, if you can think of these other things, please fill us in.

Also...some resources I've relied on: Low Carb Down Under has some great videos on Youtube, if you want to explore low carb. And Dr. Berg on Youtube is also very supportive of T1Ds with low carb.

Best wishes!

Sandra (T1D, 1986)

 

[becca59]

Hi @Emily[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji6] my main take on your post would be that actually you are not eating enough calories. If that amount is your daily intake then your body will think it is being starved and go into a sort of defensive mode. Google- ‘what happens when you don’t eat enough calories in a day.’