Increase Appetite :(

[Ania1996]

Hey guys,

So I've been a type 1 diabetic for just over a year now,
Can anyone tell me if a sudden increase is even normal? baring in mind i am struggling to keep my sugar at a stable level..
Any advice on what to do for this increase of appetite i don't like it...

 

[Kristin251]

Both carbs and rfljctuating bs make me hungry. The carbs hang around for awhile making me crave more. More so than fluctuating ba but maybe work on that as well

 

[azure]

Hey guys,

So I've been a type 1 diabetic for just over a year now,
Can anyone tell me if a sudden increase is even normal? baring in mind i am struggling to keep my sugar at a stable level..
Any advice on what to do for this increase of appetite i don't like it...

Two points that occur to me - hunger is completely normal early in diagnosis. Your body was starving before diagnosis as you couldn't use the food you were eating, so once you were diagnosed and started on insulin your body would be hungry for food to,rebuild itself.

My second thought is that high sugars can cause hunger too - for a similar reason as above but not quite so fierce .

If you get your sugars under control, then your body and the hunger should feel more at a normal level

Do you count carbs and adjust your insulin to match? Have you got the Type 1 'bible' - Think Like A Pancreas?

 

[therower]

Hi @Ania1996 . As above, early on after diagnosis things can take a while to settle down.
One thing I know from personal experience is that raised BS levels increase my appetite.
Good and steady control definitely helps with what and when I eat. Carb counting is an invaluable tool and if you haven't already I suggest you try to attend a course.
I know it's difficult but if you can get more stable BS levels I think you'll find food/appetite easier.

 

[Ania1996]

Two points that occur to me - hunger is completely normal early in diagnosis. Your body was starving before diagnosis as you couldn't use the food you were eating, so once you were diagnosed and started on insulin your body would be hungry for food to,rebuild itself.

My second thought is that high sugars can cause hunger too - for a similar reason as above but not quite so fierce .

If you get your sugars under control, then your body and the hunger should feel more at a normal level

Do you count carbs and adjust your insulin to match? Have you got the Type 1 'bible' - Think Like A Pancreas?

Hey, so i haven't been taught about carb counting as the hospital have completely abandoned me completely and i have been dealing with my diabetes myself with multiple admissions to hospital.
Is there a way to decrease weight gain?
I go to the gym, eat healthy, drink loads of water, coffee too and eat plenty of fruit, however i feel very uncomfortable within my body due to this, and i feel depression coming on.
is there anyway i can stop this?

 

[Ania1996]

Hi @Ania1996 . As above, early on after diagnosis things can take a while to settle down.
One thing I know from personal experience is that raised BS levels increase my appetite.
Good and steady control definitely helps with what and when I eat. Carb counting is an invaluable tool and if you haven't already I suggest you try to attend a course.
I know it's difficult but if you can get more stable BS levels I think you'll find food/appetite easier.

Thank you, i mean is there anyway that i can stop this weight gain?
Is there anything at all... i go gym, eat healthy drink loads of water, the odd cheeky meal here and there..

 

[azure]

Hey, so i haven't been taught about carb counting as the hospital have completely abandoned me completely and i have been dealing with my diabetes myself with multiple admissions to hospital.
Is there a way to decrease weight gain?
I go to the gym, eat healthy, drink loads of water, coffee too and eat plenty of fruit, however i feel very uncomfortable within my body due to this, and i feel depression coming on.
is there anyway i can stop this?

Yes. Once you've learnt how to carb count then you can eat normal meals of your choice and your weight will gradually stabilise at the right level for you

Remember what I said about your body 'rebuilding' itself. It's completely normal to 'overshoot' a bit but your weight will stabilise over the next few months. I lost a lot of weight before diagnosis, put back that weight plus a little more, then settled down to my normal weight as my body got used to things

Get the Think Like A Pancreas book and have a read so you can get a general idea of how to control your diabetes.

What basal insulin are you on?

 

[azure]

Here's a useful link about carb counting:

https://www.bertieonline.org.uk

I'm not sure how old you are, but remember too that your previous weight may not actually have been your natural,weight, depending on how quickly your Type 1 came on. You may have had higher sugars for a while that stopped your body nourishing itself properly.

Unfortunately, there are no shortcut's with Type 1. You need to learn how to control it and that will make everything so much easier.

 

[therower]

Hi @Ania1996 . Your weight gain could be down to many things.
What was your weight let's say 6 months prior to diagnosis? At time of my diagnosis I weighed about 160 lbs, 6 months prior I weighed about 224 lbs. As soon as I was diagnosed and started on insulin my body weight went back on in a matter of a few months and settled around 210 lbs. This just happened and I really had no control of it.
I'm only suggesting that you could be returning to your normal weight pre diagnosis.
Another reason could be " healthy eating ". It's possible to eat healthy but slightly over do it which can lead to weight gain.
Going to the gym burns energy, that energy needs replacing and again it can be very easy to get the balance slightly wrong.
I know this isn't the best answer to your problem, but I'm sure if you step back, accept that your body is recovering after a traumatic period and just reassess how much food you actually need to keep a good balance you will get control of the situation.
Good luck and don't get stressed that will just make things worse ( comfort eating ).
Sorry I can't help more.

 

[Shiba Park]

I found that I felt fat for a good while after diagnosis when the weight came back. I wasn't, just my point of reference was completely warped! While you might be feeling fat, try looking at yourself as others do. It's unlikely they think anything other than you're looking healthier... and as others have said, the weight does stabilise.