[Dewey]

Originally Posted by E_Lou

So I am 22 years old and just found out I have Type 1 about 3 weeks ago. My dad has it, so I knew the basics. I dont know of anyone my age dealing with it, but it definitly sucks. I like to go out with my friends and I know you arent supposed to drink much, but can it be done carefully? like with lots of testing and food? are certain drinks better than others?

also, I found that I gained weight as soon as I started on insulin, like 10 pounds. I guess this is pretty normal, since before diagnosis I had lost a bit of weight, but I have read that taking insulin makes u gain some weight and its hard to get rid of it...is this true???
Thanks if anyone can help. I have been looking through this site and its been helpful so far.

Hi E_Lou & welcome. Yes, you can drink safely by testing more and not going overboard (drinking too much). I can't say how each person reacts when they've had drinks, but have found that my bgs are affected depending on the type of drinks I have (i.e. sweeter drinks can cause a rise in bgs, while dry drinks can cause a slower elevation...some drinks have been known to decrease bgs initially, then cause elevations later). I've heard that eating snacks or grazing slightly will help in keeping you from becoming too intoxicated and keep you from dropping too low. However, it is a balancing act and testing more frequently is the best way to keep troubles at bay.

It's really hard to say whether insulin causes weight gain or not. There are so many factors involved, and everyone has his or her own views on it. People have argued this for quite some time now. Some believe that the more insulin a person takes, the more they have to eat to prevent or treat lows (correcting). Others feel that eating in & of itself has caused weight gain (and that more insulin is then required)...It's somewhat of a vicious cycle in that regard. Personally, I think it's a little of everything, and almost anything is possible. We're different & things affect each of us in different ways.