• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Insulin weight gain....?

ChanelNorth

ChanelNorth

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have been diabetic for 17 years, I was diagnosed at the age of ten and since then I have noticed that my weight fluctuates dramatically. I can gain and lose a stone in a matter of days. Can anyone explain this or help in any way. My doctors don't seem to be able to advise (cant be ***** and speak to me like a child)
 
Hello,
Dramatic weight gains and losses as you describe are unlikely to be fat or muscle - this would be due to water I would suggest. Blood sugar levels, certain hormones and medications (as well as diet) can significantly effect how much water you retain versus excrete. Diabetes can exacerbate this in various different scenarios:

E.g. High blood sugar lead to greater excretion
E.g. reducing carb intake increase water excretion conversely higher carb diets lead to great water retention

etc.

Hope that makes sense/helps.
J
 
It would probably depend on how good your control is as if you was having high blood sugars alot then you would lose more weight quicker as you would be drinking more and urinating more! And then if your sugars are a lot better you tend to put on more weight...which is my case! But Low carb will help to keep it stable! :)
 
While I was using porcine insulin my weight was very stable,but,after changing to analog insulins I have hat this problem and BG control is good.I spoken to my Endo about this,he has checked my medical records and he agrees this is a fact,but has not given me a sensible answer!So I will keep searching for the answer.
 
yingtong said:
While I was using porcine insulin my weight was very stable,but,after changing to analog insulins I have hat this problem and BG control is good.I spoken to my Endo about this,he has checked my medical records and he agrees this is a fact,but has not given me a sensible answer!So I will keep searching for the answer.
Click to expand...

Same... Two months on analogues = 8lb weight gain; despite good control.

One month off analogues / 3 weeks on porcine = 4lb weight loss.

Nothing else has changed in terms of diet/lifestyle etc... I hadn't lost weight prior to starting the analogue insulins as my diagnosis was gradual... Too early to say whether it will continue/stabilize etc - but my doctor could also clearly see the weight gain and link to starting the newer insulins. May be worth a thought.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I did go through a stage of feeding my insulin and put on a couple of stone within a year. Was told by specialist it was nearly impossible to lose weight - great! Once I got my ratios correct after DAFNE course lost 3 stone within 12 months so proved him wrong and control was much better also.
 
I’ve recently started dating a woman with Type 1, and she is quite… errr… plump.



With my ignorance of the subject (though I’m trying to educate myself fast), I thought she must overeat a lot, and have high blood sugar. However, having known her for a month or so now, she actually eats surprisingly little.



I’m not concerned about her weight – only her long-term health. So is it true that you guys LOSE weight when your sugar is too high, and gain it if it’s too low?



My brain hurts :hungover:
 
hogweed yes that is true, also no offence but I really don't think you should be commenting on your partners weight unless you have her say-so. It's actually none of your business and has little to do with blood sugar.
 
Back
Top