I know that my first and foremost concern should be my health, and getting my life on track as a diabetic (which I am definitely doing), but I am also human. As someone who has constantly struggled with maintaining an ideal weight, I was thrilled with my inexplicable weight loss before being diagnosed with Diabetes. I had been in Europe for a few months, eating whatever I wanted (including fresh crusty loaves of Italian bread, homemade Czech pastries and rolls, German chocolate, and sooo much beer and wine-in other words a bunch of fattening, high carb, high sugar foods) and traipsing about thinking "Wow, I am lucky, my metabolism has really taken a turn for the better"! I can look back now and chuckle about this, and when I tell my friends about the symptoms I was experiencing that led me to diagnosis, we share a laugh together.
Of course when I was diagnosed, I understood the weight loss and it scared me. However, after 2 weeks of knowing that I have diabetes, and changing my eating habits for the better, I am a bit surprised at my weight gain. I of course left the overindulgent eating habits in Europe when I came home mid November. But, I was still consistently eating sweet and/or fattening foods (albeit natural), upon my return home. I realize that my body was eating into itself but when I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago, I completely cut out all white and refined foods and essentially have been eating proteins, raw green vegetables, whole grains (in moderation) and an almost entirely low fat/low carb/low glycemic/no sugar diet. So why, oh why did I gain 10 pounds in 1 week?!
I did a lot of research about insulin usage and have gotten so many mixed results. A lot of sources said that insulin doesn't make you gain weight, but maintaining the same eating habits before insulin therapy is what makes you gain weight. Well, my eating habits have gone from healthy to super healthy and I have still been exercising. What gives? I am a bit neurotic, I won't lie, but I am petrified of struggling with weight gain as a result of using insulin, even though I am easily eating 1/3 less than usual (portion and calorie wise). At the same time, I am hell bent on tackling my diabetes and taking all necessary precautions to make sure my blood glucose doesn't get too high (i.e, using insulin) Hrmmph!
Well, I've got a similar problem. As a matter of fact, I am Czech and I too bake those delicious pastries :-) During 2 years of my diagnosis I've gained 20 pounds... I eat healthy and exercise a lot but still, things like stress and school and erratic daily schedule get in the way of being perfect. Maintaining tight blood glucose levels doesn't help either because that means you're getting more insulin...
About insulin - it is an anabolic hormone. In theory, insulin should not make you gain weight if you use only as much insulin as you need to cover energy from food that you burn throughout the day. So if one eats more than he should -> uses more insulin to cover it, the result is weight gain. Insulin resistance contributes to weight gain as well. The problem is that people with diabetes don't have a natural way of insulin delivery - it goes under the skin, than to the whole system (muscle and fat cells) and then the rest goes into the liver. It should be the other way around. And because of that people with type 1 diabetes usually need more insulin than they would had they been healthy (had they had a physiological way of insulin delivery).
Hence you get more insulin, you gain weight - that's how I see it. However, it's not the end of the world. There are many many people (women - men have a bit different metabolism and usually don't have that much problem with excess insulin) that are T1D and stay skinny despite eating a lot (usually they do sports a lot, eat healthy and so).
If there is anybody who has already figured out how to eat normally (healthy), take insulin -> maintain good diabetes control and doesn't have weight issues, I'll be glad to hear your advice. Because as Frankie writes, although I know quite a lot about diabetes, insulin and nutrition, the theory seems to be a bit different than the reality...
It is perfectly normal to notice a large jump in weight after diagnosis and starting on insulin. It is simply your body restoring itself after a period of utter starvation. It is great to balance healthy eating and watching your weight, but it may be nearly impossible trying to keep your body from restoring to it's natural setpoint. My recommendation, don't look at your scale, instead focus on healthy eating and exercise. If you are unhappy with your weight and body composition after a couple months, you can work on that.
Well, the thing about me is that I have type 1, not type two, which as you know is completely different. So for me, I haven't started off at a heavy weight in the first place. That is part of why this is so frustrating. It is true I have been exercising, but not any more than I ever have, so the weight gain definitely isn't muscle.
Thanks for your comments Claire and Bsc, It is nice to learn a bit more information about insulin (i.e, it being an anabolic hormone). I am still learning about the terminology and such, but essentially I am only on 20 units of Lantis and 0-6 units of Novolog a day. From what I can tell, this isn’t a ton of insulin and I am eating small, square, balanced meals. So, hopefully, my body is just getting itself back on track and will stabilize once my blood glucose and routines stabilize.
yeah, you're probably still in the remission phase when your pancreas still works a tiny little bit. That helps with blood sugars control :-) you're really OK with insulin, based on tables, a person should use about 0.6 IU/kg of body weight per day.
I think the best way to go is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, stay motivated to control your diabetes and wait how things turn out.
I mean, I have type 1 diabetes but I consider myself being healthier and in a better shape than many people around me :-)
How much weight did you lose before diagnosis? It could simply be your body returning to its natural equilibrium. Which may not be the same as what you might mentally consider your 'ideal' weight.
I put on 10% of my pre-dx weight in the 4 weeks after dx despite being too terrified to eat anything in those weeks. However my BGs rapidly stabilized and that was the much more important thing. Really, what the bathroom scales tell you is just a number which ultimately is not very meaningful. The numbers from your meter are the ones you should listen to :)
I lost about 15 pounds but it was over the course of 2+ months so I got used to it and even bought new clothes! Your points are so valid though, I especially like what you said here:
"Really, what the bathroom scales tell you is just a number which ultimately is not very meaningful. The numbers from your meter are the
ones you should listen to :)"
My diabetologist says that insulin does cause weight gain. It is a bit of a ■■■■■ but I do feel better with it. I was severely underweight - having always been - er - cuddly but not grossly overweight! I found myself going down and down rapidly and buying smaller and smaller clothes. At first I was happy about it but then it got scary and I thought I had cancer. I went back and forth to the doctors and not once did they pick up on it!!! I had all the symptoms for 10 years before I was accidentally diagnosed while in hospital for something else!
Hey, diabetes sucks, but it was a relief to know what I have. The insulin itself is not what causes the weight gain but having too much insulin (and the wrong sort!!) and eating because of hypos (and excess insulin is stored as fat, particularly around the middle) is what causes it. If you can find the right balance - and that is the scary thing - too much and you hypo etc, too little and you are constantly running on high. I maintained goodish weight control for a couple of years and then it piled on. Recently because of other health issues I have been running too high and then I have been losing a lot. Again it is a bit scary but at least I do know what is going on.
However I must not (nor should you) make the fact that you are getting bigger an excuse to stop the insulin or you will open yourself up to complications. Work with your doctor and watch what you are doing and try to find the consequences of what you are doing yourself. Everyone is an individual! That is what is so difficult! What works for one may not work for others. Keep testing and keep records of your results and see if you can find a pattern. Your highs in the morning may follow lows at night and once the insulin has faded out your body will raise the bars so to speak to compensate. A bit like going into starvation mentality.
Mine goes down at about 2pm - and I know that is often because I forget lunch!
Good luck and I wish you well in the future. It is a bummer but at least you know what the problem is and you need to experiment to some degree as to what is best for you. It is early days yet. I wish you a happy 2011 with health and success in all you do!
I should probably just be patient until I get in for my first endo appointment. I was diagnosed just after two weeks ago and won't be seeing someone until the 5th of January. Everything that I have learned, has been self taught up until this point, and my mom who is a nurse is assisting me with regulating insulin usage/blood sugar. I definitely do not over eat with lows, or in general so who knows. I am hoping the endo does!
Frankie, I was not suggesting that you do overeat during hypos but it is a distinct possibility that the sugar we take in during a hypo can lead to weight gain. Bear in mind that for me I was put on the wrong doses of insulin - and the wrong type - I was hypoing up to 6 times a day! Turns out I am allergic to the "human" insulins. The more reasonable theory is that insulin when not used by the body is stored as fat.
I used to suffer from hyperinsulinism - too much insulin in the body - and could never lose weight. It was only discovered when I kept getting hypos and I went back to my homeland (guess where?) and they discovered that I had two tumours, one on my pancreas which could be why I was like there. I vaguely remember a warning that this could cause diabetes later in life but I stupidly ignored it. Oddly, following a low sugar diet did help with the hyperinsulinism and I did lose weight! I ate more frequently and low sugar and it helped enormously to keep me steady. Unfortunately despite translated diagnosis papers the doctors in UK poo pooed the theory and ignored the symptoms of diabetes for 10 years!!! The doctors at home wanted to remove the tumour - but I would have had to go to Moscow - strange land, strange hospital, strange language (and I would have had to pay through the nose as Communism was rife at the time!) and there was a distinct danger of a fatal bleed in the liver, so I still have the tumour!
Be thankful that your mother is a nurse! Mine does not understand the difference between sugar and insulin! Probably never will!
Wow! What a story! It is difficult to trust doctors, and especially our Western health care system at times, when it comes to proper diagnosis and care. Thanks for your words.
Hey -
We are talking about the same things! I just posted a discussion about weight gain a few days ago – concerning my daughter, who put on 15 lbs in one month since diagnosis.
Samsmom, how old is your daughter and out of curiosity, did her diet change (i.e quantity, food types, etc) after diagnoses? Also has there been more or less exercise?
My daughter is 14 & her diet is definitely changing now. I have to wear my reading glasses at the grocery store! She was your regular teenager, eating double cheeseburgers, fries, Doritos, drinking Coke. And loving ice cream! So that has changed drastically. Yes, we found low-carb ice cream. We’re measuring portions & counting carbs & eating more healthy. Low-carb bread, low-carb tortillas, baked chicken strips, sometimes cheeseburgers with no bread. Diet Coke. She exercises a lot & is currently playing basketball. She had just finished her field hockey season when diagnosed. That sport is very physical. Next will be softball.
That’s what I was curious about-you would think with your daughters dietary changeover that she would have lost weight, especially with the sports involved. In my case, I already eat extremely healthy (a lot of raw veggies, vegetable proteins, whole grains low dairy and fat, etc) but I have definitely been eating less than before (since I am counting carbs), but still the weight gain! Grr. How frustrating, but really makes me believe it is just straight up insulin that is doing it!
That’s what we’re waiting to see – is it the insulin? She was a little underweight, so it’s ok to put some on. But it is strange that the healthy new diet can pack on those pounds & she’s still exercising. Of course, the CDE told her she could eat basically whatever she wants: just take insulin for it. So sometimes she has that attitude - like, I’m going to eat a basket of chicken wings & fries & take 10 units of insulin to cover it. But I think we need to reign that in. I told her we need to watch her daily carb intake & really watch how much insulin she takes just to get a good grasp of her needs & see how her body responds. And I think the weight will level off.
