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

Weight loss type 1

ELK-1984

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Wasn’t sure whether to post this here or in the weight loss section of the forum - see a lot of chats there are T2 so thought best to ask here to get advice from other T1s

I’ve currently got a frozen shoulder (other side starting to show symptoms too, which is worrying!) and a frozen hip. Had these for 18 months now and not having any joy with the various “treatments”. I am undergoing tests to investigate underlying issues but, in the meantime, really struggling with my weight!

I’ve always been pretty active but, over the last year and a half, the pain has been pretty horrendous and I’ve been unable to exercise as a result. Even things like swimming are no gos at the minute, which is incredibly frustrating!

Honestly, the impact on my mental health has been significant too, and I have definitely been guilty of comfort eating as a result.

I’ve put on quite a bit of weight since I started experiencing the pain and lack of movement and am finding it very hard to lose it. A bit part of this is that fact that, other than short walks, I’m unable to exercise with the joint issues I am experiencing.

I know I can make changes to my own diet - and I have - but without exercise, the results are slow at best.

I know Mounjaro (or whoever you spell it) isn’t available to T1s via private prescription, and I am assuming it will be the same via the NHS too.

Just wondering whether anybody had find anything else that helps to speed up the weight loss that is suitable for T1s?

E x
 
Don't have any info on weight loss drugs. However I take pregablin alongside cocodomal which allows me to swim for a bit. Ask DSN/consultant or GP to a referral to a Pain Management Clinic they should be the best to assist with the immediate pain part at least. I found I had to take senna a type of laxative as cocktail of drugs gave me constipation
 
I also tried pain patches those didn't work for me lidocaine and something else. You may have better luck with those than I did
 
I developed T1 some 9 years ago at 39, and I've always been fat with a bmi of around 35 for a couple of decades.
I've never actively tried to lose weight (saw too many friends being miserable tryig to diet and decided to not go that road as a teenager), but I found dosing my insulin and staying in range much easier on a lower carb way of eating.
This had the unplanned side effect of slowly losing 20 kg over the past 9 years.

So not at all a quick fix, but because of my diabetes and aiming for normal numbers I can keep this up indefinitely.

I also started open water swimming two years ago, which may have speeded up the weightloss. I don't swim fast or long, usually 10 to 20 minutes in summer, 1 to 5 minutes in winter, about 5 days a week.
I’ve always been pretty active but, over the last year and a half, the pain has been pretty horrendous and I’ve been unable to exercise as a result. Even things like swimming are no gos at the minute, which is incredibly frustrating!
Being in the water even when not doing a workout may be beneficial, you can just float and relax, moving whatever doesn't hurt
 
My advice is keep active besides the pain & watch the calories.

Frozen shoulder of which I have had in both sides is painful and goes through various stages including thawing.

Look at the restriction is current movement and start to stretch plenty of exercises online for this & do them often.

Interestingly frozen shoulder if you hang of a bar with feet on ground it's impossible to straighten but for me it was 2 years to free it back up to normal movement.

I was out of work whilst for 2 years aged 50 when the right shoulder started & could only get a job dropping flue liners down chimneys & could not use the right arm to carry chimney pots down from roof. Luckily my workmate placed them onto my left shoulder so it was very difficult but whilst in a job you do not have time to worry days go to weeks then months and years and before long the shoulder is free again. Only for the other side to start years later.

In summary keep moving no matter how little and do some shoulder exercises where the movement is limited.
 
I too have had frozen shoulder both sides. The first took 3 years from start to 95% functionality and has only returned to completely normal now after ten years. The second was much faster ( a year) and I attribute the improvement to treatment with physio from the beginning....

As for weight, for me improved diabetic control and low carbing has helped, lost about 10kg in 18 months so it wasn't fast. Cheese and alcohol are my two kryptonites for putting it back on.

Hope you get some pain relief soon
 
Thanks, all. I’ve been seen by various people/clinics for the main and lack of movement. It’s honestly been a bit of a nightmare! Painkillers aren’t doing much, the injections into the joints have done naff all, and despite physio and stating as active as I can, both are getting worse not better.

Not being able to exercise properly is something I’m finding so hard to I used to cycle 40+ miles each week, swim five times a week, and do weights-based exercises and body combat classes.

Can’t believe how fast the weight went on, to be honest. Know the fact that I am not eating as well is definitely a part of it, but I certainly wouldn’t say I’m eating badly. Body perhaps just used to the exercise and now isn’t sure what to do with itself (and I can’t totally relate!)

My Hba1c is 42 so good control, and I do get plenty of fruit and veg. Was hoping there would be a mounjaro equivalent to help.

Thanks all for your replies. Really helpful :)
 
Hi
I feel your pain as i had surgery recently on my left shoulder which had been frozen for 3 years and hydro dilation on my right one.
Upshot is that whilst both are better i still don't have the same reach i used to have.

I'm in good shape for 57 and keep weight off by averaging about 19000 steps per day and i realise my legs are fine but your hip isn't.

I wish you well

Tony
 
Can I ask if you are peri or meno ? Lack of oestrogen apparently can be an issue with joints and frozen shoulders, something I learned after getting mine. It was after around 4 months and through lack of sleep as more painful at night time when lying down, I gave in and asked my GP for a steroid injection, took around 2 weeks but it came right again, I also now use exercise, stretching, strength training to help with mobility/fitness and it's been over a year and been fine. I would focus on getting the shoulder and hip right and then get focus on weight, best to tackle these and get yourself right before working on your weight.
 
Back
Top