Ozempic as a type 1 diabetic

eimearfox1
eimearfox1 Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss

Hi, I've newly downloaded the app as I'm a type 1 and have been put on ozempic. On week 2 now. All the maths is doing my head in with the changes to my insulin doses relating to calories in being so reduced! Anyone else out there on this particular journey. I'd love to connect and see how we are all doing.

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Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,714 Member
    edited June 5

    One of the mechanisms is Ozempic lowers blood sugar by stimulating insulin secretion, but since type 1 diabetics don’t produce insulin naturally, so how does that work. Also you say your consumed calories are reduced, so did your PCP tell you to eat less as well, considering another mechanism for Ozempic is to naturally through reduced digestive emptying reduce calories naturally. Sorry I'm just curious by nature, thanks.

  • samgettingfit25
    samgettingfit25 Posts: 39 Member

    @neanderthin I don't know much about how glp-1 like Ozempic work for Type 1 diabetes, but in other forums I've heard of people with Type 1 getting it prescribed to help with insulin sensitivity. I've heard it might be because of how the glp-1 slows digestion and maybe because it also decreases glucose production. They and their doctors believe it is beneficial, and medical researchers are studying it (though as far as I know, it is still an off-label use and not FDA-approved for Type 1 yet). This university PR update is about one of the studies/small trial that was published in Nature: https://muhc.ca/news-and-patient-stories/news/semaglutide-known-ozempic-can-be-beneficial-people-type-1-diabetes

    OP, what does your doctor recommend? Hopefully you find someone on a similar journey, I imagine you may be in a pretty small group since it is an off-label use of the medication.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,714 Member
    edited June 6
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48641022#Comment_48641022

    Thank you for the link. A close friend of mind is type 1 and we've talked about this subject for years and he is your typical type 1 diabetic where he's as skinny as a rail and finds it difficult to gain weight and he is also lower carb or at least keeps his consumption of processed foods to a minimum and anything sugar he stays away from unless he's adjusting for a hypoglycemic event where he will consume some for that adjustement.

    This study is extremely limiting, also under powered with not only a small sample size but also a very short duration and the participants were under strict medical supervision and of course it's not FDA approved, that is my first concern.

    This is by no means a critique or reflection of McMaster University, it is a highly respected University that specializes in medical research and happens to be in the province of Ontario, where I live as well, and I'm quite familiar with them.

    Second concern I have is the unexpected drop in blood sugars for type 1's considering they rely on a completely external insulin supply via a pump which can make them more vulnerable, so basically hypoglycemia isn't something to take lightly, it can be life threatening.

    Third concern is ketoacidosis which for the most part is only a danger for type 1 diabetics and not type 2 or people in general, which of course they're quite aware of which if not attended to for whatever reason is extremely dangerous and can lead to organ failure and death.

    I would think that for this to trickle down to actually be FDA approved it is going to take a path that is a long road quite well travelled.

    The obesity rate for type 1's is almost the same as the rest which was basically unheard of not too far in the distant past and I would suspect they've fallen to the same desires as the rest of the population and of course my opinion about body and health is more of a holistic one as opposed to addressing symptoms. I would personally prefer to have a healthcare provider assist in dietary interventions that address this problem as opposed to taking the first and most convenient action in western medicine which is medication, but that's just my opinion.

    imo.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,723 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10940397/ozempic-as-a-type-1-diabetic

    If your medical team has given you a calorie number to use, then use that.

    If you input your stats into myfitnesspal and it gives you a much lower number, go with what your doctor tells you. You can over-ride the calories here in GOALS, just choose "edit" and type in your number.

    I'm not sure if that's your question, but the people above have gone in another direction so I thought I'd just throw that in here just in case.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,723 Member

    @neanderthin

    Second concern I have is the unexpected drop in blood sugars for type 1's considering they rely on a completely external insulin supply via a pump which can make them more vulnerable, so basically hypoglycemia isn't something to take lightly, it can be life threatening.

    Not all Type 1 diabetics use a pump.

    I'm sure the medical teams treating Type 1 know all the things to take into consideration. Maybe they exclude pump users from using these meds.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,714 Member
    edited June 9
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48645584#Comment_48645584

    Your absolutely right. About 75% use a pump, others prefer multiple daily injections (MDI) instead because some find it uncomfortable wearing one, they would be cumbersome somewhat I would imagine and they require constant monitoring and they aren't cheap. They are more effective though and suspect that's why they're recommended and worn more often. Not to mention the injection sites become pretty unsightly with large areas with protruding fat, and fat on fat is probably not that desirable.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,714 Member
    edited June 9

    I just want to mention that the friend that I have switched from injections to a pump because it's also pair with a continuous glucose monitor and a smartphone app which allows for real-time glucose tracking, automatic insulin adjustments, and better overall control compared to the injections, he did that years ago, over 10 I believe, wow time flies.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,723 Member

    Yeah, one of my good friends has the continuous monitor/app too. She had the pump for a while but prefers the injections. I would guess that would partially eliminate the issue you originally stated, but I'm talking out of my backside because I don't really know for sure.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,714 Member
    edited June 9

    I think people do what they feel comfortable doing first and foremost. I've worn a CGM a few times because of insulin resistance and it was pretty informative and it was an eye opener as well. Now I don't see the value simply because I don't consume many sugars in all it's forms but I do regularly check my blood glucose levels and ketones with a meter, mostly out of curiosity. Funny enough my glucose rose a little during strict keto a few times, and I had fun figuring that out. 😊

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