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

No insulin, no weight gain?

T

taylorline12

Member
Messages
6
I'm a bit confused on the topic of losing weight for type 1 diabetes.

Am I correct in saying that insulin is what makes your body absorb fat into cells?

So if you didn't take insulin after eating like a McDonalds or something fatty with carbs, you wouldn't abosrb that fat and calories?

Not that I or anyone should do this! That would be bad because the consuquences of not taking insulin are not recomendable!

I was just curious, and also can anyone tell me how to lose weight? Could you possibaly not have to take insulin, providing you exersise what you eat off, till your blood sugar is normal?

Thanks :)
 
Hi Taylor,

It's an interesting question and I hope I can clearly explain why not taking insulin for a type 1 diabetic can be lethal. Being a type 1 diabetic means that you are insulin dependent, without insulin your BG levels would rise to dangerous levels causing Ketoacidosis - if there is not enough insulin then carbohydrate cannot be used to provide essential energy or fuel and body fat is broken down and used for energy while the unused blood glucose continues to rise. The breakdown of fat causes a by product called ketones which can be detected in the urine or blood - these are acids and as these rise you can become unwell - leading to vomiting and shortness of breath, it also prevents other areas of the body working well and can eventually lead to coma - therefore we need insulin to survive.

I have learnt the best way to lose weight as a type 1 is firstly to get your basal/bolus injections absolutely spot on, so avoiding highs and lows, to eat a sensible diet and exercise. Also a low carb diet so you take less insulin and therefore less margin for error with going high or low. It probably sounds like good old fashioned advice but it's spot on, it also means that keeping good control means less complications and a longer healthier life - something I think everyone with type 1 would be very happy with.

Please dont ever consider not taking your insulin, it is highly dangerous and the side effects are too unpleasant to think about - PM me if I can help in any way :)
 
Back
Top