Type 1 Diabetes & Weight Loss with MFP

BarbaraCarr1981

Hello,

Is there anybody else who has Type 1 betes and it trying to lose some weight??? If so, I would appreciate knowing how you are doing so I can feel good that my plan will work. Thanks

kit2783

I'm a type 1 as well, and I've lost about 24 lbs so far! The biggest thing that MFP offers is an easy way to track what I'm eating - particularly with carbs (which you have to monitor anyway for your insulin dosing) and with calories.

What's important is to be realistic with what you can lose and how quickly you can lose it. Also, consider the impact to your A1c. My endo said typically for every 1% reduction in A1c people typically gain 10 lbs...and the converse holds true as well. Also, my doctor said it's considerably more difficult for type 1's to lose weight in general, so set realistic goals for yourself. I've lost 24 lbs in about 7 months - slow and steady wins the race!

Good luck!!!

tabatham1982

What's important is to be realistic with what you can lose and how quickly you can lose it. Also, consider the impact to your A1c. My endo said typically for every 1% reduction in A1c people typically gain 10 lbs...and the converse holds true as well. Also, my doctor said it's considerably more difficult for type 1's to lose weight in general, so set realistic goals for yourself. I've lost 24 lbs in about 7 months - slow and steady wins the race!

I agree! I'm a type 1 and it is slowly coming off! I reached one set of goals and then I just reset my goals and start over, it just makes it easier for me to see little goals met rather than one big goal and it not seem like I am not reaching it....

kit2783

Small goals have been working for me too! Sometimes they are completely arbitrary like "I want my BMI to equal X so I need to lose 2 lbs" or something more concrete like "I want to get into the next 10 bracket, which is only 3.6 lbs away".

It's good practice for me (not that I would recommend this to everyone) that I weigh myself often, typically every other day. It's very easy for me to fall off the wagon so as long as I know I'm maintaining my weight loss I feel good.

Exercise is the tougher thing for me though - my numbers run a bit lower and I find myself needing to eat more. I haven't changed my Novolog as a result, but my endo said that if I'm really focused on the weight loss and can maintain my good A1c (6.4%) we can talk about lowering the dose. Again, it goes back to what I said with the A1cs : higher A1cs allow for weight loss. The difficulty is allowing a slightly higher A1c to maximize the weight loss without compromising your overall health and well being.

keeponkickin

I'm a type one since the age of 12. I've lost 110 pounds. I also use an insulin pump. Anyone is welcome to add me if you like.

BarbaraCarr1981

I absolutely HATE diabetes and what it has done to my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've had it since I was 10. And what is the sense of lowering your A1C (which is supposed to be a good thing) only to find out that you will GAIN weight! F THAT! I would rather die!

kit2783

Diabetes is a completely manageable disease if you have the right attitude. And, gaining weight by lowering your A1Cs is typical but not a given. I dropped my A1C from 7.5 in May to 6.4 in October and lost nearly 20 lbs in that time frame. It's not easy, but it can be done. The hardest thing is watching those lows...they are a very easy way to gain weight if you have to eat to counter them.

I really am sorry that you're so concerned with your weight that you're willing to put yourself at risk health wise. Body image is something that many of us grapple with, and being diabetic doesn't help. I have been diabetic for 18 years, so believe me when I say I understand where you're coming from. However, it's amazing how far a positive attitude and an optimistic outlook will get you.