Diabetes and weight gain

ThereseMM
ThereseMM Posts: 2
in Food and Nutrition
Hello! I am between endocrinologists, and trying to get my sugar levels under control. It looks like I might be diagnosed as a Type 1.5...did not know it existed until I read about it! I lost 50 pounds about 2 years ago, and as I have been taking insulin my weight is creeping back on. Any diabetics on insulin out there who have put on unexplained weight (eating right and exercising)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I will see a new doctor next month, and a dietician...but curious about it in the meantime. Thank you!

Replies

  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Taking insulin and eating carbs is likely to give you more weight gain - the opposite of diabulemia.

    Keeping the blood sugar relatively low is important, so moderate the carb intake.
  • chboyer69
    chboyer69 Posts: 10 Member
    I am a Type 2 diabetic that is on insulin (Lantus and Humalog). I have put on over 30 lbs since I started the insulin. I have had a hard time losing weight and getting my blood sugar under control. I am new to using MFP but I am seeing some results and I am hoping to have my insulin levels reduced when I see my doctor on my next visit. She tells me that insulin makes it very difficult to shed any weight so the first thing she told me was to get my sugar under control so that I can reduce the need for insulin and then when I reduce that I should see weight come off easier. ThereseMM I have sent you a friend request so that we can try and beat this together.
  • 6ftamazon
    6ftamazon Posts: 340 Member
    I've been type 1 diabetic since I was 2. Insulin is a bulking hormone. However, because of the insulin, your metabolism tends to be faster. You shouldn't be gaining weight unless you're eating more. However, keep in mind that if you're experiencing a lot of low blood sugars, you could very easily be eating more than your body is burning. I've had times where I must have eaten 1000+ calories because my sugars were so low.

    And to add, high blood sugars tend to make diabetics lose weight (don't lose it this way!). But the important thing is to keep your blood sugars in the normal range. To high or to low is not healthy.
  • _Resolve_
    _Resolve_ Posts: 735 Member
    Never heard of 1.5 I was diagnosed type 2 in 2012 but since then have been able to control it without medication due to nutrition and exercise. I was never on insulin so don't have much to offer, hope you figure it out.
  • ThereseMM
    ThereseMM Posts: 2
    Thank you everyone! Chboyer69, yes! Let's see if we can encourage each other! I am taking lantus before bed, and I am sure things will change once I see my new doctor next month. I have significantly reduced my carb intake, and I exercise 5 times per week...yet the weight is slowly coming back. I am going to start logging my food every day again, as I think I could be underestimating how much I am actually eating. Best wishes everybody, and thanks again!
  • chboyer69
    chboyer69 Posts: 10 Member
    I have been staying around my calorie goal of 1750 and the past 2 days I have been experiencing sugar lows. Past 3 mornings I woke up with readings at 53, 53 and 49. Lunch yesterday was 50 and dinner at 49. I walked on Tuesday for 30 minutes and everything else has stayed the same. Not quite sure what is going on. Today is my weigh in day for the week. I will see if any of this has deterred the weight loss. Don't like the feeling of sugar lows, especially the shaking.

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