Trouble losing weight since starting insulin

[KennyA]

Hi, a few words of explanation on the graphic above. It's taken from Bilous and Donnelly "Handbook of Diabetes" and is figure 5.20 in the 4th edition. You'll see the number of places that "ins" appears in the graphic. That's where insulin has a job to do.

(NIMGU btw is non-insulin mediated glucose uptake, cats is catecholamines, cort is cortisol, glcg is glucagon)

Yes, insulin does play a role in the storage of glucose as bodyfat and use of bodyfat for energy. It equally plays a role in the storage and use of glucose in and by skeletal muscle and the creation of glucose and glycogen by the liver. In other words, it's a necessary item for remaining alive.

[edited for spelling error]

 

[AloeSvea]

Yeah, the way I have understood it is, insulin is a fat storage hormone, amongst many things, as in levels determine whether or not our bodies get a signal to store - excess? - energy as body fat. So, if you have excess, and you are taking in extra (excess? for those with severe insulin resistance type two....?) you will more than likely gain body fat.

Very very easy to have an excess of energy with food and drink - especially in winter/cold seasons? So very very very easy to gain body fat when on insulin I would have thought. How much is another thing, and like everything metabolic - individual differences reigns supreme I would have thought....

I see myself as being really diabetes-health literate, and I see those amazing diagrams as being truly wonderful to illustrate the complexity of our blood glucose regulation system. As well as how complex it is when that BG regulation system goes wrong, as in - diabetes, and insulin resistance based diseases.

I have gazed at them in all their wonder many times, but never castigated myself for not following them or memorising them. Just see them as indicative of the complexity.

Well done youse who are not only gazing but doing a deep dive into those cycles.

But I would hazard a guess that most of us gaze at them in awe at the complexity, without the deep dive...

Very happy to be corrected by crowds of people with diabetes proving me wrong