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Louwalker71

Louwalker71

Active Member
Messages
25
Location
Hertfordshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi my name is Louise and I've just registered to the forum.
I've been diabetic (type 1) for 15 years. Initially I had gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy and when my daughter was born in the February I had a GTT and everything was back to normal. However later that year, in the December I had all the diabetic symptoms and a trip to the doctors confirmed my thoughts.

Over the years I have struggled with my weight but after going on a dose adjustment (IDAC) course I have fairly easily lost 3 stone, am now running 5k 3 times a week and on the other days walk my dog for a couple of miles (she is another reason why I have managed to lose weight!)

Think the weight loss is mainly due to the fact that I am having about 1/3rd less insulin than before the IDAC course - would be interested to find out if anyone else has managed to easily lose weight after going on a dose adjustment course.
 
Hi Lou welcome to the forum :D And well done on the weight loss you must be well chuffed.

It just goes to show how important these courses are, as a lot of us seem to just try our best and flounder along, so great news that is was so successful for you.

I know that during both my pregnancies ,and I had been type 1 for quiet some time prior to both my insulin needs went up a huge amount, well with the first one. With my first I put on nearly 5 stone and I could have been on a permanent insulin drip :shock: My second was totally different I put on just under 1/2 a stone and though my insulin levels did rise for the growth of the baby they did not go crazy through the roof like with my first child.

I can't say looking back I ate differently through either pregnancy, the only real difference was the huge amounts of insulin I was on during the first (due to pre-eclampsia)....so yes I'm sure the insulin made me gain the weight.
I have also noticed that when I change locations for my injections, say from my tummy to my leg or arm, whichever area I use to inject in I get a fair amount of subcutaneous fat there. I'm skinny with hardly any body fat so it really stands out to me...so yes insulin certainly attracts fat :cry:

The more you can safely cut down the more weight you will lose and the more weight you will lose the less insulin you will need, it really is a win win situation and it sounds like it's really working for you, so well done :D
 
Hi Louise,

Yes I can concur that dose adjustment courses not only help with diabetes control but also can help with weight management.

Much like yourself my insulin requirements have reduced over the last few years, probably injecting a third less insulin then I was before, this is due to reducing the carbs in my diet but also learning how to correctly match my insulin to the carbs in my food, I always knew the principles of carb counting but my knowledge was vague, however DAFNE showed me so much more and helped me get my basal dose just right which was always a problem before.

The less insulin sloshing around the less like you are to experience hypo's, treating hypo's is a pain and the inconvenience of eating when not hungry doesn't help with one's weight either, so reducing the episodes of hypo's by applying the principles of dose adjustment certainly does help to keep those pounds off! :)

There's no better excuse for walking when you have a dog, I walk my mutts 40 plus miles a week come rain or shine.

Nigel
 
Thank you both.

When I initially started to lose weight without supposedly trying I was worried that I was I'll! Then I realised how much I used to eat to compensate for the amount of insulin I was taking and by counting yout carbs you also think about what you are eating!

My first daughter was 10lb 3oz (gestational diabetes) and second 13lb 1oz (type 1), I wish I had done the course before my 2nd pregnancy it would have helped a lot!
 
Louwalker71 said:
Thank you both.

When I initially started to lose weight without supposedly trying I was worried that I was I'll! Then I realised how much I used to eat to compensate for the amount of insulin I was taking and by counting yout carbs you also think about what you are eating!
Click to expand...

All rings true Louise, it's a good feeling when you can dose adjust to the carbs in your food and still get great bg readings without the dreaded hypo's.

Nigel
 
Hi Louise and Noblehead

It's good to hear that the DAFNE course has been of so much benefit to both of you. I'm going on one very soon so it will be a lot less guessing and more of an educated guess I hope . I've self adjusted for 20 years, I've not done too bad of a job but I would have loved to have something concrete to work from,so I really do have high hopes for this.

I like the sound of less hypo's Nigel, treating hypo's especially just before you are going to sit down for a lovely meal is such a pain. So I' hoping for good results.
 
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