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Type 2 Basal insulin and weight gain

R

Ronnie_dog

Well-Known Member
Messages
47
Location
Leicestershire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone, I’m on basal/bolus regime. I’ve been strict LCHF for 4.5 years therefore very rarely have to inject with meals so only take the basal insulin (6 units am and 6 Units pm). Since starting insulin I have gained a lot of weight. Does anyone know which basal insulin is best for avoiding weight gain so I can ask my DN to swap. I exercise regularly and have always been slim. This is getting me down now, any help most appreciated.
 
It’s surprising that after ~4 years of strict LCHF you need insulin at all. How long have you you been using it? Are you sure you’re not developing autoimmune or othwrwise clapped-out pancreas? I can’t help with any information regarding the different types of insulin or dosing, but for sure, elevated levels of either endogenous or exogenous will facilitate weight gain. That’s its purpose...to regulate energy storage.
 
Ronnie_dog said:
Hi everyone, I’m on basal/bolus regime. I’ve been strict LCHF for 4.5 years therefore very rarely have to inject with meals so only take the basal insulin (6 units am and 6 Units pm). Since starting insulin I have gained a lot of weight. Does anyone know which basal insulin is best for avoiding weight gain so I can ask my DN to swap. I exercise regularly and have always been slim. This is getting me down now, any help most appreciated.
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Ronnie_dog - I'm so sorry you're having a wrestle with weight.

Is this something you have discussed with your doctor, and been investigated? Whilst, for some, insulin can result in a weight gain, there are many other reasosn too, such as a thyroid going a bit out of whack. Hypothyroidism is incredibly common - especially in those with diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

If you haven't already, it could be an idea to have a chat with your Doc and ask for a decently broad panel of bloods, to include thyroid and vitamins. Some vitamins, like Vit D and Ferretin (that's certainly not exhaustive; just an example) need to be at decent levels for our thyroids to work well. At this time of year, in UK, I doubt there's been much natural Vitamin D generated for a while.
 
Jim Lahey said:
elevated levels of either endogenous or exogenous will facilitate weight gain.
Click to expand...
Whilst I understand "elevated levels of insulin" can lead to weight gain, the OPs dose (a total of 12 units of insulin per day) is not a lot of extra insulin.
I agree with Juicyj and suggest discussing weight gain with the doc - it is always easy to blame diabetes, the one thing we know about, for new symptoms but this is often not the case.
 
helensaramay said:
Whilst I understand "elevated levels of insulin" can lead to weight gain, the OPs dose (a total of 12 units of insulin per day) is not a lot of extra insulin.
I agree with Juicyj and suggest discussing weight gain with the doc - it is always easy to blame diabetes, the one thing we know about, for new symptoms but this is often not the case.
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Indeed, but as OP is apparently type 2 I’m making the assumption that there is also a fair bit of endogenous sloshing about. It’s one possible factor, that is all.
 
Jim Lahey said:
Indeed, but as OP is apparently type 2 I’m making the assumption that there is also a fair bit of endogenous sloshing about. It’s one possible factor, that is all.
Click to expand...

Just looking at a previous post by Ronnie, she states she had a fasting insulin test done which showed she wasn't producing any.
 
Jim Lahey said:
It’s surprising that after ~4 years of strict LCHF you need insulin at all. How long have you you been using it? Are you sure you’re not developing autoimmune or othwrwise clapped-out pancreas? I can’t help with any information regarding the different types of insulin or dosing, but for sure, elevated levels of either endogenous or exogenous will facilitate weight gain. That’s its purpose...to regulate energy storage.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply. I really don’t understand endo/exogenous at all. I will take a look, thanks
 
DCUKMod said:
Ronnie_dog - I'm so sorry you're having a wrestle with weight.

Is this something you have discussed with your doctor, and been investigated? Whilst, for some, insulin can result in a weight gain, there are many other reasosn too, such as a thyroid going a bit out of whack. Hypothyroidism is incredibly common - especially in those with diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

If you haven't already, it could be an idea to have a chat with your Doc and ask for a decently broad panel of bloods, to include thyroid and vitamins. Some vitamins, like Vit D and Ferretin (that's certainly not exhaustive; just an example) need to be at decent levels for our thyroids to work well. At this time of year, in UK, I doubt there's been much natural Vitamin D generated for a while.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I did have bloods and hormones done a few months back and all apparently normal. I’m an unusual case!
 
helensaramay said:
Whilst I understand "elevated levels of insulin" can lead to weight gain, the OPs dose (a total of 12 units of insulin per day) is not a lot of extra insulin.
I agree with Juicyj and suggest discussing weight gain with the doc - it is always easy to blame diabetes, the one thing we know about, for new symptoms but this is often not the case.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply. I think you’re right, I shall discuss the weight gain with my surgery. I do shy away from discussing anything at all these days as I’ve been so frustrated with their views, however, needs must
 
Ronnie_dog said:
Thank you for your reply. Yes, I did have bloods and hormones done a few months back and all apparently normal. I’m an unusual case!
Click to expand...

Ronnie - as you're saying you're going to the GP anyway, it could be helpful to you to get he results of your bloods that were done and look at them yourself.

Unfortunately, some hormones have very wide normal ranges, which can leave some folks bewildered. For our hormones, as well as being in range, there are often reasons why being high, or low in a range is a good thing.

My personal experience, with my own GP is that she is scant on the detail, when it comes to Endo matters. She freely admits this, and makes regular reference to the Endo. If your GP is similar, you might need to learn a bit yourself.

Good luck with it al, and let us know how you get along.
 
DCUKMod said:
Ronnie - as you're saying you're going to the GP anyway, it could be helpful to you to get he results of your bloods that were done and look at them yourself.

Unfortunately, some hormones have very wide normal ranges, which can leave some folks bewildered. For our hormones, as well as being in range, there are often reasons why being high, or low in a range is a good thing.

My personal experience, with my own GP is that she is scant on the detail, when it comes to Endo matters. She freely admits this, and makes regular reference to the Endo. If your GP is similar, you might need to learn a bit yourself.

Good luck with it al, and let us know how you get along.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, I will.
 
Ronnie_dog said:
Hi everyone, I’m on basal/bolus regime. I’ve been strict LCHF for 4.5 years therefore very rarely have to inject with meals so only take the basal insulin (6 units am and 6 Units pm). Since starting insulin I have gained a lot of weight. Does anyone know which basal insulin is best for avoiding weight gain so I can ask my DN to swap. I exercise regularly and have always been slim. This is getting me down now, any help most appreciated.
Click to expand...
How slim are you and what would you like to be??
 
Jim Lahey said:
It’s surprising that after ~4 years of strict LCHF you need insulin at all. How long have you you been using it? Are you sure you’re not developing autoimmune or othwrwise clapped-out pancreas? I can’t help with any information regarding the different types of insulin or dosing, but for sure, elevated levels of either endogenous or exogenous will facilitate weight gain. That’s its purpose...to regulate energy storage.
Click to expand...
My endo believes I will still need basal after my bariatric op. Of which will be less than its current 230units per day though.
I can stop novarapid on occasion, currently on 800cals but once I stop basal my bgs go berserk.
Ive tried mixed and seperate insulins. On mixed I had loads of hypos.

I'm still of the theory my insulin pathway is broken and until fixed I won't be able to stop a basal.
R-ala supplement helps. After my bariatric surgery to get rid of as much excess weight, I should see some light.

Its good to remember that reducing bgs doesn't necessarily mean it's a weight loss exercise. However if overweight. Weight loss does open up more opportunities for type2s.
 
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bulkbiker said:
In which case I'd be querying the T2 diagnosis?
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You are still type2 even if you no longer produce your own.
Types are due to cause of the disease. So unless cells in pancreas are affected due to antibodies then you still stay type2 if you once had insulin of your own but cells have been overused.
For me I produce no basal insulin but not sure if born that way. At 6yrs old my weight and other symptoms were obvious affect.
After bariatric operation and more weight loss I will still need basal insulin. However it may be in tablet form soon. Fingers crossed.
I believe a type2 can be in a form of remission even if the basal insulin is needing to be replaced.
I feel type1s can have excellent control or brittle diabetes, just like type2s.
Brittle diabetes doesn't just affect type1s.
 
Really, type 2 is a disease of insulin resistance so for sure you can remain insulin resistant whilst also developing an insulin deficiency. In fact it’s not unheard of for insulin deficient autoimmune diabetics to also become insulin resistant through poor dietary choices.

In this context though, the OP’s T2 in conjunction with insulin deficiency explains why even the LCHF diet still necessitates basal exogenous dosing.
 
Jim Lahey said:
Really, type 2 is a disease of insulin resistance so for sure you can remain insulin resistant whilst also developing an insulin deficiency. In fact it’s not unheard of for insulin deficient autoimmune diabetics to also become insulin resistant through poor dietary choices.

In this context though, the OP’s T2 in conjunction with insulin deficiency explains why even the LCHF diet still necessitates basal exogenous dosing.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry if you thought my post said otherwise. I have tagged agree on your post. Maybe I constantly need a poster like you to correct everyone of my posts as obviously my posts don't put it in layman's terms enough for you?
Maybe what you don't like is I'm saying type2s are not ALL able to be cured. I'm sorry that offends you.
We are all different.
Not all type2s have the same insulin problem.
This is what my post was saying.
Not everything is so black or white.
 
Not at all. I was simply building upon your point. If I disagreed I would have said so. I didn’t even quote your post.

Maybe go back to bed and try getting out the other side? ;)
 
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