Diabetics using insulin for muscle gain?

My two cents: Toying around with insulin dosing for the purpose of hypertrophy as a somewhat new diabetic is a recipe for potential disaster. Be careful.

I would not use insulin for anything other than its intended purpose...ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DIABETIC. You can't afford to be playing with your blood sugars like that.

I agree dont use it for anything other than what its intended uses are. if you want to build muscle do it the right way. you are risking your organs as well if you use more or less insulin than your body needs.Ive seen what too much insulin can do too a person and I have seen the effects of what too little can do as well and neither is pretty. why would you want to ruin your health for muscle gain? thats not any better than taking illegal "muscle builders" in my opinion.dont take it that way unless you have a death wish

If you're suggesting messing with your insulin dosage to gain some advantage in the gym, I simply shake my head at you because to put into text what I think of that would probably earn me some pretty bars over my avatar.

I have a friend with a young son who is type 1. To think you can get some gain from your medication in terms of fitness would be enough to have the wrath of thousands of mothers and fathers brought upon you, and rightfully so. Also I do believe that using any prescribed medicine for ANYTHING other than its intended use is ILLEGAL.

m95damico wrote: »

I guess it's a no, nobody does that. I'm not saying that I alter my doses or anything, even though a lot of people do if you look it up. I just have noticed that when I eat more carbs, and then take more insulin for it, plus spend more time at the gym, I gain muscle much easier. I don't just take insulin and then go work out. And my A1C has been at 5.5 every reading since getting out of the hospital for the first time. I know what I'm doing

Funny how that works, huh?

This is possibly one of the most asinine ideas I've read on here. And that's saying a lot.

m95damico wrote: »

I'm not exactly asking if people do that method exactly. I would just like to know if there are any type 1 diabetics who aren't on here asking for people to motivate them to lose weight. It's pathetic sounding when no matter what keyword you type in regarding diabetes, all of the conversations are regarding losing weight. And that's what makes stereotypes for diabetes, even with type 1

No your title says "using insulin for muscle gain" not "Any other diabetics who are wanting to bulk?"

Notice there's no talk of using medication improperly.

I'm curious to know if anyone is using insulin to try to gain muscle, being that it is a hormone and can open up both your fat and muscle cells.

Not asking if anyone is diabetic and bulking instead of losing. You're asking if they are USING INSULIN in a manner for which it is not prescribed. End of story. So what if there's a stereotype about diabetics needing to lose weight, because it beats the pants off diabetics trying to use their insulin as freaking juice to bulk themselves up.

m95damico wrote: »

Hey guys,
I am a somewhat recently diagnosed diabetic and I have been reading all of the conversations on here about type 1... And everyone is saying that they want to lose weight and have a hard time with it. I'm curious to know if anyone is using insulin to try to gain muscle, being that it is a hormone and can open up both your fat and muscle cells. Since being diagnosed, I have taken this as an advantage in the gym.

Turning a negative into a positive. I like your style sir.

m95damico wrote: »

I'm not exactly asking if people do that method exactly. I would just like to know if there are any type 1 diabetics who aren't on here asking for people to motivate them to lose weight. It's pathetic sounding when no matter what keyword you type in regarding diabetes, all of the conversations are regarding losing weight. And that's what makes stereotypes for diabetes, even with type 1

Okay...I am a type I who isn't really trying to lose weight. My goal at this point is to gain strength and to build muscle. I do it through proper cardio and strength training doing reps and sets appropriately. I'm 46, but I was diagnosed when I was 15 and was about 15 pounds overweight at that time and lost by exercise and diet back then (mid to late 1980's.) I kind of agree with you about the stereotyping. I did get quite heavy at one point and no one, at that time, believed I was a type I because type I's are thin, right? WRONG. As far as that goes, my oldest son, who was never fat, was diagnosed with type I diabetes at the age of 18. He's 25 now. Hang in there. Work out properly. With age comes the weight and it doesn't have to be fat if you follow an appropriate routine.

Is this the Lance Armstrong thread?

The only thing I have read about strength training and insulin dosages is that extra insulin might be needed in order to combat any typical rises in BG because of the exercise. If, for instance, I notice that I typically rise 60mg/dL an hour after exercise (and my sensitivity factor is 1:60), I might program my insulin pump to give me a unit of insulin before strength training in order to prevent the spike in the first place. Of course, I still need to keep fast-acting carbohydrates and closely monitor my BG to make sure that I'm not dropping into hypoglycemic ranges.

I'm also a type 1 with plans on switching from losing to recomping within the next few weeks/months. I primarily use MFP for the sole purpose of tracking my macros (I've been experimenting with bolusing for fat and protein and seeing if that'll reduce my average standard BG deviation) but want to start regaining some of the muscle I lost due to the DKA and undiagnosed diabetes.