Weight gain on insulin

[Sarah69]

Hi, I'm on lantus and novorapid. Is there an insulin that I can change over to that doesn't cause weight gain. I had a hip replacement in May this year and since then I've gained almost 2 stone which I find shocking as I'm more mobile than I was! I'm due to see my DSN next week and I'd just like some ideas before I go. Thanks for any help.

 

[iHs]

Hi

Lantus unfortunately, has a tendancy to cause some degree of weight gain especially if you are injecting a fair amount of it to help control your bg levels along with the Novorapid... If you can change to Levemir you will find that better than Lantus where weight gain is concerned.

Another way to control body weight is to eat less food that contains carb and by doing so, you should be able to also reduce your insulin as well. Also, do a small amount of exercise if you can as that will help.

 

[anna29]

Hello Sarah69.

Lanctus is known for weight gain as a side effect - Levemir isnt as damaging with this side effect.

With most insulins this can happen and it is best to consider other things to reduce this happening.

Low carb meal planning [including portion control] and try to keep as active as is possible helps too ...

Treat it all as a whole package , your insulin therapy plus your future meal plans and routine
to include an active happy lifestyle :thumbup:

I 'do' this and it 'works' ...

Hope this helps you.

Anna.

 

[Sarah69]

Thanks for the replies. I'm on 34 units of lantus. I have been told in the past that fast acting insulins will increase weight gain but never the long acting. It has been suggested many times before about a low carb diet but I could not sustain that as it cuts out the foods I like. I have for breakfast 1 weetabix, lunch is 1 sandwich and then my tea. I rarely eat between meals. I suppose you could say that my tea can be quite large but if I reduce portion size what do I then do when I'm hungry?

 

[SamJB]

One unit of long acting insulin has the same affect as one unit of short acting insulin. Long acting insulin crystallises once injected and is steadily dissolved through the day.

As others have mentioned insulin is also used to aid fat storage. I don't know how 34 units of Lantus compares to everyone else, but mine fluctuates between 6 and 22 units depending on how much exercise I'm doing.