Has anybody had any success with using Weight Watchers or any other weight loss regime to lose weight? I've been diagnosed just under a year, but want to lose weight. Does insulin hinder weight loss in any way or being diabetic on general? I had great success using Weight Watchers in the past but this was before Type 1 when I didn't have to worry about eating extra calories for hypos!
phdiabetic
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 879
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
I am currently trying to lose weight - always been at a healthy weight but I gained a couple of kilos off hypo treatments a while ago and I'm slowly trying to get rid of it. How many hypo treatments do you eat in a day? I found that I was getting hundreds of calories off juice and lollies, and while trying to cut back on that is good, it's impossible to stop eating them completely or to know exactly how much you will eat. Steps I have taken include
1) try to run my blood sugars slightly higher to avoid lows (= avoid hypo treatment food)
2) cut back on planned carbs. I used a calorie calculator on the internet to help plan out what I would eat (my goal is somewhere between 1200-1400 calories a day including hypo treatment - the broad range leaves some wiggle room since I may need different amounts of sugar on different days)
3) exercise - this is the tough one for me since it always makes me low, which means eating, which completely negates any gains from exercise. So if like me you struggle to exercise, don't have a snack beforehand, instead adjust your insulin (easier with a pump - set a temp basal. With MDI you can reduce your basal, and/or reduce your previous mealtime bolus). I've been trying (and failing!) to do 30min walking every day. Some days your blood sugars just won't allow it, and that's ok - just try your best and remember some exercise is better than none, every little bit counts.
I have heard people say that insulin causes weight gain but I'm not sure how true this is - I lost weight AFTER my T1 diagnosis (no DKA) and remained at the same weight for a couple of years. I know my weight gain was caused by eating too much.
1) try to run my blood sugars slightly higher to avoid lows (= avoid hypo treatment food)
2) cut back on planned carbs. I used a calorie calculator on the internet to help plan out what I would eat (my goal is somewhere between 1200-1400 calories a day including hypo treatment - the broad range leaves some wiggle room since I may need different amounts of sugar on different days)
3) exercise - this is the tough one for me since it always makes me low, which means eating, which completely negates any gains from exercise. So if like me you struggle to exercise, don't have a snack beforehand, instead adjust your insulin (easier with a pump - set a temp basal. With MDI you can reduce your basal, and/or reduce your previous mealtime bolus). I've been trying (and failing!) to do 30min walking every day. Some days your blood sugars just won't allow it, and that's ok - just try your best and remember some exercise is better than none, every little bit counts.
I have heard people say that insulin causes weight gain but I'm not sure how true this is - I lost weight AFTER my T1 diagnosis (no DKA) and remained at the same weight for a couple of years. I know my weight gain was caused by eating too much.
Thanks for your reply @phdiabetic. I don't have hypos daily but usually at least 2-3 times a week. I began Weight Watchers on Monday and was already frustrated on Day 1 when I had a hypo before bed and had to eat unwanted calories after being so good all day! I have run low today and had to have a few glucose tablets to get my numbers up...again frustrating! I just feel that loosing weight is a battle anyway and that diabetes is already sabbotaging my weight loss...
NicoleC1971
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- Type of diabetes
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Hello Hollie04, I feel your frustration when its Me-0 and Diabetes - 1 ! I have had to drop out of exercise classes to neck down hypo stuff then feel sabotaged and ravenous!
It is easier for me now because I am on a pump and minimising my carbs so I don't have to guestimate my bolus insulin dosing.
The thing about insulin is that it does encourage the body to a) store unused carbs as fat b) stop your body from burning existing fat stores. If you are type 1 and have slightly too much insulin you may feel hungrier Yes you have to chase that insulin with excess food to gain the weight but the more insulin the more gets stored as fat.
Exercise isn't as important right now as getting into a regime where your insulin is 'just enough' so if you can spot any patterns to the hyops and prevent them that would be good. Sometimes it seems there are no patterns though so I would be wary of over treating e.g. 100ml lucosade + 1 biscuit may be enough. If we are talking 2-3 x hypo per week this should not sabotage your weight loss.
Bear in mind that just being a lot more mindful about what you are eating means you are likely eating less and will therefore need less insulin (basal as well as bolus). As you lose weight this will also reduce insulin needs unless you are overdoing the carbohydrates (more protein and fat versus carbs should help to keep you fuller without spiking the blood sugar too).
It is easier for me now because I am on a pump and minimising my carbs so I don't have to guestimate my bolus insulin dosing.
The thing about insulin is that it does encourage the body to a) store unused carbs as fat b) stop your body from burning existing fat stores. If you are type 1 and have slightly too much insulin you may feel hungrier Yes you have to chase that insulin with excess food to gain the weight but the more insulin the more gets stored as fat.
Exercise isn't as important right now as getting into a regime where your insulin is 'just enough' so if you can spot any patterns to the hyops and prevent them that would be good. Sometimes it seems there are no patterns though so I would be wary of over treating e.g. 100ml lucosade + 1 biscuit may be enough. If we are talking 2-3 x hypo per week this should not sabotage your weight loss.
Bear in mind that just being a lot more mindful about what you are eating means you are likely eating less and will therefore need less insulin (basal as well as bolus). As you lose weight this will also reduce insulin needs unless you are overdoing the carbohydrates (more protein and fat versus carbs should help to keep you fuller without spiking the blood sugar too).
