Weight loss frustration

[Dudette1]

Can anyone please tell me if they lost weight on insulin?
By the time I’ve exercised I’ve had zero calories, average around 60-70g carbs a day, eat 3 times a day although not much.
I’m like a lunatic on a mission and haven’t so much as lot a pound. I’m getting desperate now to the point I’m reading things I shouldn’t read that aren’t good for my health.

 

[Dudette1]

Can anyone please tell me if they actually lost weight on insulin. I feel like I’m on a losing battle, I eat zero carbs a day once I’ve exercised, eat around 60 carbs a day, I don’t want to get to the point of reducing and reducing insulin I’m just not happy with myself and feel so depressed how I look it affecting my overall mental health. I don’t want to look like this it’s disgusting.

 

[Dudette1]

Meant to say I’m on 5.5 tresiba in a morning and take nova rapid with meals 2 units for each meal. 10g of carbs for 1 unit..I also still take metformin

 

[MissMuffett]

Don't worry about counting calories but maybe reduce the carbs a little. I’m Type 2 so I don’t know how low type 1s or 1.5s can go on the carbs. Concentrate on protein and natural fats (this will keep you full and the cravings down). Have you calculated your daily ideal protein intake? There are lots of websites that have free calculators.

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Dudette1 I'm sorry you are feeling frustrated. I had a very quick look at some of your old posts and see you used to be T2 but were rediagnosed (after a DKA???).

As a long term T1 and insulin user I find weight loss difficult and frustrating but not totally impossible. For me, exercise and lowish carb helps but I have to watch the cheese and alcohol. I long ago decided to prioritise my blood sugars over any weight loss so I match my insulin to my food and only reduce it if my bg meter tells me I need to.

But it's not uncommon for people to lose weight before a T1 diagnosis and then regain some of it when they start the insulin they desperately need.

Have you gained a lot of weight since starting insulin?

 

[Dudette1]

Hi @Dudette1 I'm sorry you are feeling frustrated. I had a very quick look at some of your old posts and see you used to be T2 but were rediagnosed (after a DKA???).

As a long term T1 and insulin user I find weight loss difficult and frustrating but not totally impossible. For me, exercise and lowish carb helps but I have to watch the cheese and alcohol. I long ago decided to prioritise my blood sugars over any weight loss so I match my insulin to my food and only reduce it if my bg meter tells me I need to.

But it's not uncommon for people to lose weight before a T1 diagnosis and then regain some of it when they start the insulin they desperately need.

Have you gained a lot of weight since starting insulin?

Thank you for the reply,
I’ve gained 2 stone since diagnosis, it’s so heartbreaking, I lost a lot of weight before I was diagnosed because I went low carb and started exercising, I started at 17 stone in 2018 and got down to 11st 3 I think, a lot of hard work I put in to do that. I took the dreaded tablet jardiance and went into dka. I’m miserable if I’m honest. I don’t mind being diabetic I hate been fat

 

[eventhorizon]

It's difficult but I have had success. I generally eat a lower carb diet. Avoid hypos as much as possible. Treating them can add significantly calorie intake and over treating sets up the roller coaster of more insulin to fix the hyper. And intermittent fasting, namely nothing for breakfast and eating between 1pm and 7pm only. Combined with an active job and some exercise.

 

[Dudette1]

It's difficult but I have had success. I generally eat a lower carb diet. Avoid hypos as much as possible. Treating them can add significantly calorie intake and over treating sets up the roller coaster of more insulin to fix the hyper. And intermittent fasting, namely nothing for breakfast and eating between 1pm and 7pm only. Combined with an active job and some exercise.

I will give that a go thank you, I’m willing to try anything at this point. Sometimes I think are they too quick to point to type 1 because of dka, mine was purely because of the tablet. I’m inclined to ask to be re tested but have a feeling they would say no. I’m due to go on the Dafne course in December which I’m hoping may help. It’s frustrating because they want you to lose weight but don’t tell you how when on insulin

 

[EllieM]

I will give that a go thank you, I’m willing to try anything at this point. Sometimes I think are they too quick to point to type 1 because of dka, mine was purely because of the tablet. I’m inclined to ask to be re tested but have a feeling they would say no. I’m due to go on the Dafne course in December which I’m hoping may help. It’s frustrating because they want you to lose weight but don’t tell you how when on insulin

Well, in theory it's the same as for a non diabetic, but it is complicated by the fact that if you are on insulin you sometimes have to treat hypos and take sugar when you don't want to. But I think some people just find it much easier to gain or lose weight than others...

Hopefully the DAFNE course will help you.

 

[Dudette1]

Has anyone been wrongly diagnosed? Just wondering if I can request another blood test, I’m not in denial by any means but I do remember querying my c peptide because it was more in range of type 2 than 1. Can’t remember what it was will have a search.

 

[EllieM]

It's not impossible to be wrongly diagnosed. In a Scottish study they found a small but significant number of T1s were actually T2 or MODY when they gave cpeptide tests to all their T1s.

 

[eventhorizon]

How long ago was the c peptide test. Surely it's reasonable to make 100% sure what type you're dealing with.

DAFNE will be helpful. Just meeting other people and their different takes was an eye opener for me.

Insulin - too much kills you. Too little kills you. Bit too much can lead to weight gain. I was on tresiba and novorapid before moving to a pump. The pump was great to begin with. I could eat largely what a wanted and keep pretty stable levels. However steady weight gain was a undesirable side effect! But I have learnt how to micro manage my insulin requirements and it has led to a much fitter healthier me.

 

[Dudette1]

How long ago was the c peptide test. Surely it's reasonable to make 100% sure what type you're dealing with.

DAFNE will be helpful. Just meeting other people and their different takes was an eye opener for me.

Insulin - too much kills you. Too little kills you. Bit too much can lead to weight gain. I was on tresiba and novorapid before moving to a pump. The pump was great to begin with. I could eat largely what a wanted and keep pretty stable levels. However steady weight gain was an undesirable side effect! But I have learnt how to micro manage my insulin requirements and it has led to a much fitter healthier me.

August 2022 think I’m going to ask on my next appointment, no harm in asking I suppose

 

[Juicyj]

I know how frustrating it is, personally i'd like to lose weight too but am menopausal and also insulin dependent, whenever i've sought advice from others it's been down the road of count the calories, but as I try to keep carbs down I rely on nuts/cheese to quell hunger pangs, I would like to do a duathlon next year but know I need to lose at least a stone before i'd enter one. I am on the same page as Ellie though in regards to keeping good BG levels so that does come first for me and keeping them in range as much as possible.

I have heard some gain success through resistance training so that's something to look into as well as intermittent fasting (doubt i'd have the willpower for that tho!) Personally I just aim to keep weight stable so every day I walk, run or gym so am physically active every day.

 

[plantae]

I've lost weight on insulin. At first I wasn't on a lot of insulin but in the last 6 months it's tripled. This time last year I was about 95 kg. I'm now 80 kg (male, 187cm tall.. you can work out the BMI, it doesn't interest me ). I track everything I eat but I concentrate more on carbs than calories because I dose insulin based on carbs (I only really look at calories because they're there in big numbers in my diary). My calorie intake is lower than required but not a lot lower and that's only because I try to keep carbs and fat (I know a lot of people say fat is ok, but it gives me indigestion) as low as possible. I eat cheese, olives, no added sugar chocolate for snacks. But not heaps... mostly after dinner when reading my book. My exercise is less than my Dr would like because my BSL goes low. That said I do walk maybe 5km most days (I'm a botanist) but very slowly. So, based on my sample size of 1, yes it's possible to lose weight on insulin

 

[Fairygodmother]

I’ve lost weight, a little time ago now, but always return to the same approach if I notice it creeping on again.
I fill up on fruit and vegetables, the ones that aren’t carb-rich: most of the brassicas, celery, alliums, leafy veg like chard, raspberries, blueberries. A big soup or no-fry curry with a limited carb addition of potato or bread.
I try to cut out, or seriously reduce, all the things that have made me put on weight in the past, like cheese.
If I want cheese I grate a small bit of Parmesan. I do that when I make a pizza with a thin tortilla base.
Carb-counting’s essential, so the few potatoes, rice, rice cookies, tortilla, etc all get calculated.

 

[Fairygodmother]

I don’t go without protein, I have chicken, an anchovy or two in the soup/curry/pizza to add flavour, white fish, a few tinned sardines in tomato sauce (surprisingly high in carbs per weight), yoghurt, and for a treat a baked potato with a yoghurt and mint sauce dressing.
When weight’s ok again it’s back to a more varied diet, but never too much cheese, which is sad, I love cheese.

 

[Fairygodmother]

Oh, it’s always plain yoghurt unless I come across those nice low-carb fruit ones, not sure if the site allows commercial names but I think more than one company has begun making them.