64 years of Type 1 and still smiling

[adamrit]

I got Type 1 when I was 16. I had lost 28lb in a couple of weeks, drank about 30 litres of water every day (night and day) and turned a bit yellow. Went to St Mary’s Hospital, was given insulin and, still very thirsty, gained 10lbs in the first hour through drinking water and retaining it. Now 64 years later, I’ve been on a Medtronic pump for about 20 years and CGM most of the time because I lost hypoglycemic awareness completely when insulin changed from pigs and beef to ‘human’. I found the Medtronic CGM almost useless for accuracy and had to confirm about 8 times a day with a blood sugar tester. BUT all changed when I fixed the sensor to my thigh instead of my abdomen. For the last year I have only double checked about four times a day using a Roche Accu-Chek Mobile. I stopped eating meat about 45 years ago just for a change, but found I couldn’t ever eat it again. I eat fish quite often. We’ve got three allotments so eat our own fruit and veg a lot.
My HbA1c has been between 7-8.2 for the last 20 years, but I’ve gained about 10Kg over the last 18 months. I’ve stopped eating breakfast (oats, fruit and yoghurt) a few months ago, and had one slice of toast instead of two for lunch. I reduced biscuits to nothing and mostly missed anything at evening dinner after the first course and continued to put on a kilo or so most weeks. Mysterious. I have been doing less exercise this last year because of lockdown, but when you eat less you ought to lose weight and it just hasn’t happened.
I’m thinking of trying a low carbohydrate diet so I can get down from 82kg to 70Kg which was my weight for all my adult life until this last year.
Any suggestions, tips advice would be a great help.
Many thanks
Adamrit

 

[JMK1954]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I also lost all hypo symptoms with the original introduction of so-called Human insulin in the 1980s, but switched back to animal insulin as soon as this was permitted by my hospital clinic after around 6 years. My hypo warning symptoms were back to normal after a couple of weeks, contrary to what the hospital clinic doctor had expected.

There must be a reason for gaining so much weight. Have you had your thyroid function checked recently ? This would only involve a straightforward blood test. Thyroid problems ran in my mother's family, so I have had several relatives who put on weight for this reason. From what you say, it might be worth a conversation with your GP.

 

[Dark Horse]

As already mentioned, an under-active thyroid can cause weight gain, as can Cushing's syndrome or heart failure (where the weight gain is due to retained fluid). https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/nine-medical-reasons-for-putting-on-weight/ It's worth getting checked by your GP to eliminate such causes.

 

[adamrit]

Sorry to reply so late. I think I must have exaggerated how quick the weight gain was and I don't have any thyroid problems. Now my weight has been 75-78 kg for ages. I eat muesli or porridge again in the morning and my weight is fairly constant without trying to eat less. I am happy on the allotments, making furniture, singing and dancing and very happy with my wife. All I need is a 780G next October and the end of the current government.
Currently 640G pump with Type 3 CGM. Never had Covid, though my wife did. Due another covid jab in a week.