Weight gain

joeysrib

Has anyone had a crazy weight gain after starting insulin? Like 15 lbs in 2 weeks!

albertabeefy

The hard truth of starting insulin therapy (according to several studies and anecdotal evidence) is approximately 80% of those starting insulin therapy for diabetes gain weight. In some cases, drastic amounts.

There are several possible mechanisms for this, but overall the conclusion is that reducing overall caloric intake is often required when starting insulin therapy.

In my opinion (and that of many well-informed experts), lowering carbohydrate intake considerably - especially refined carbohydrate (flours, sugars) and starches - is the best method of staving-off weight gain. It also means you need LESS insulin, which contributes to the prevention of weight gain.

I'm a Type II that has very little pancreatic beta-cell function left, often referred to as "Type 1.5" or "LADA" (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). The majority of people with my diagnosis are on both basal and bolus insulin ... but I don't need insulin whatsoever as my carbohydrate intake is very low - usually 40-50g a day on anywhere form 2,200 to 3,000 calories. This dietary approach combined with daily exercise keeps my HbA1c's in the 5.1 to 5.4% range, after a diagnosis at 12.2%

Many experts and researchers are now recommending this approach (a very-low-carb, ketogenic diet) for diabetes treatment - and there's solid scientific evidence to support it, but the American Diabetes Association (and others) are very slow to adopt this method of control for various political (not health) reasons.

If you'd like some links to studies showing a low-carbohydrate approach being best for diabetes, please copy/paste this link into your browser: http://www.nmsociety.org/diabetes-research.html

An excellent diabetes forum (Type I, Type II and others) is http://www.diabetesforum.net

Other excellent sources of information are:

http://www.bloodsugar101.com

http://www.mendosa.com

http://www.diabetes-book.com/ (a promotion site for Dr. Richard K. Bernstein's 'Diabetes Solution' - but several chapters of the book are free online)

nczuczu

I have been on insulin for almost 5.5 years but wasn't really watching anything when I first started, so not sure if I was gaining weight. I do know, that since I have been watching my food intake and exercising, the pounds have been coming off. Sure I make mistakes and slip up, but my doctor was thrilled with my progress and is starting to reduce the insulin I'm taking.

That does seem like an awful lot of weight to put on in such a short period of time. Have your testing numbers gotten better? Are you drinking lots of water?

You should probably talk to your physician and make him/her aware of this. There might be something else going on.