[karabea]

Hi all-
I have been diabetic since 1989 (at age 11). I have never been super skinny, but never really overweight either. I have noticed that since I have switched from NPH and regular to Lantus and Humalog I have gaind approx 35lbs in the last 4 years. I stated the insulin pump two years ago and went from 178 to 202 in three months (dr said that it was water weight) and I went off the pump as I was so bloated that my shoes, rings and pants did not fit. I have worked hard the last 6 months to get that weight off (going from 194 to 171). I always took my Lantus, but was hit or miss with my Humalog (blood sugars stayed pretty good, I am not a big eater). All of my test for kidney, liver, eyes are normal, and my A1C is a little elevated- 7.1. Recently I have decided that I want to in the best health that I can be. I exercise (cardio) at least one hour a night, eat between 1100 and 1350 calories a day, and my blood sugars have been in the low 100s. However, I have gone from 173lb to 182lb in a week. My dr keeps telling me it is not weight gain,but water retention, however the numbers on the scale are all the same to me, and my clothes are not fitting right anymore. I am getting really frustrated...any suggestions?

[morrisma]

Insulin is a growth hormone.

Also if you eat your way out of hypos, that can contribute to weight gain. It's a delicate balancing act.

[xMenace]

What sex and height are you?

Best control is usually achieved with a pump when used correctly.

[notme]

I soooooo sympathize with you! I have always had the issue with weight gain and control. I have had diabetes for 21 years and also gained the 30 lbs I lost before diagnosis and 30 on top of it. I expected to gain the weight back that I lost before diagnosis, but never expected the extra 30. I have fought this for 21 years and wish I had an answer for you.

Like you, i have never been skinny. I am also not a big eater. Actually, I am a pretty picky eater. I am not to much overweight now, but enough that it makes all of my clothes feel very uncomfortable and I don't like the way I look.

Many people here do not have the weight gain issue we seem to have. There is obesity in my family. My older sister and my Mother was obese. Neither one of them have diabetes. My younger sister and I were more average size and I am the only one with type one diabetes in my family.

I know that not having the blood sugar swings does help with weight gain. Getting an A1C in the sixes would be helpful, but you have to do that without lows. If you go low you eat. Calorie counting instead of carb counting is key for me. I have to avoid fats and I do better with the weight gain. The biggest key for me is constant exercise. That being said, I have never been able to lose more than 10-15 pounds.

Let me know if you find the miraculous cure.

[karabea]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am a female- 30 years old and am 5'5. I am taking synthroid (religiously). I don't seem to go low all that often ( maybe once or twice a month). I take 24 units of Levimir at 7 am and at 9 pm, and usually between 5-8 units of apidra a day.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by karabea

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am a female- 30 years old and am 5'5. I am taking synthroid (religiously). I don't seem to go low all that often ( maybe once or twice a month). I take 24 units of Levimir at 7 am and at 9 pm, and usually between 5-8 units of apidra a day.

That's a very odd ratio. Perhaps your levemir is way too high and you need better coverage of your meals with more Apidra. Too much basal insulin can create gaps in coverage that require food to keep you from going low. Do you find you need snacks to keep from going low in mid morning, late afternoon, or before bed? Right now I'd bet your insulin is forcing you to "feed the disease" Basal insulins should keep you flat when you omit food. Here's some reading.Getting Down to Basals :: Diabetes Self-Management

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by karabea

I stated the insulin pump two years ago and went from 178 to 202 in three months (dr said that it was water weight) and I went off the pump as I was so bloated that my shoes, rings and pants did not fit.

The pump did give better control and since that the better control that you have, You will gain the weight.

[karabea]

But even with the exercise and food management, I would think that some should be coming off. Has anyone found any meds that help with the fluid retention?

[Richard157]

I gained 57 pounds in the late 1990's when I changed from N & R insulins to NPH & Humalog. That weight gain caused me to develop insulin resistance. I was then a Type 1 with Type 2 symptoms. I was a "double diabetic". I am taking Avandia for the insulin resistance and pumping with Humalog. I have lost 26 pounds by eating only 150g of carbs per day and exercising at least 6 days per week. I am not gaining but I have leveled off and I think I will have to further reduce my carb intake and exercise more as well. I need to lose 31 more pounds. I willl always have the insulin resistance even if I get back to my ideal weight of 185 lbs. Work on that weight so you don't become a double diabetic like me. BTW the Avandia has worked very well for 9 years. The weight is my only problem now. Good luck!

Richard

[barbarac]

I was never heavy, but have gained a great deal of weight since being diagnosed. I have tried insulin, the pump twice, and do not really over eat. I don't care what anyone says, I believe diabetes and/or insulin puts on weight. Not only puts on weight, but makes you "out of proportion" if you know what I mean. It seems to all go to the middle. I was never heavy before diabetes. Also, it would be nice if I could get the pump to work right. Have tried. Doesn't seem to want to work right for me.

[Gary_W]

How are you actually testing your needs for basal insulin?

The reason I ask is that when I first went on Lantus, the advice given by the clinic was to keep ramping it up until my morning BG was good. Result was awful control and nearly 4 stone in weight (around 55lbs). No fun.

I was essentially taking twice as much Lantus as I needed. When I got the dose right, the weight fell off.

The 'Eureka' moment for me was having it pointed out that the vast majority of people are within a little of a 50/50 split between basal and bolus each day. I was on far more Lantus than ever I was Novo, and consequently had to feed the Lantus.

If I've got it right here, you are taking 48u of Levemir each day and then only 5-8u of Apidra. This ratio just does not sound right.

Have you done fasting tests to check your Levemir dose is actually correct?

Gary

[kgm0612]

Kara............I truly believe a lot has to do with genetics as to whether or not you gain weight from being on insulin.

One suggestion would be to add 500-mg of Metformin twice a day. I'm a type 1 pumper and take Metformin with breakfast & dinner. My endo believes (and there have been articles written on this) that it helps to keep the weight off. I've been the same weight (give or take a pound or two) for the last 5 years. I walk almost every night, 3 to 3-1/2 miles, and I limit my carb intake to under 100g a day.

Karen

[notme]

I tried Metformin and it did NOTHING for me. My endo finally suggested that I stop taking it. My blood sugar did not improve and my weight didn't change at all.

I am not obese, but I did gain weight after diagnosis that has never budged no matter how hard I tried. I often eat less than 1200 calories a day and I do exercise. My blood sugar does better, my muscles are much better, but I don't lose weight. The only time I lost any significant weight was when I all but deleted fat from my diet. You can only do that for so long. I gained it all back.

[Alice]

One thing I've started is tracking the calories (not just carbs) of the foods/glucose that I eat for lows. I find that on some days those carbs easily can add a few hundred calories to my daily total. I can remain the same weight at 1500 calories...and need to reduce to 1200 to lose weight slowly. Doesn't sound like a lot, but at 5 foot 2 inches, those pounds jump on quickly.

Also, I found I was concentrating on carbs to match with my insulin. Have that talent down pretty well! But, I was losing sight of the calories and have gone back to tracking calories.

Even though I attend Weight Watchers, I still count the calories instead of the points. I think after watching several segments on TV about true calories in restaurant food (Blooming Onion at Outback is over 2000 calories...)...I find I can eat through my 1200 calories very easily if I don't track them.

[aperfectbass]

I thought I'd share my experience. I don't think it will help you, Karabea, but maybe someone else who is reading this might benefit.

In addition to lowering b/s, insulin makes fat. Its really the only thing that makes fat accumulate. This is what makes the Atkins diet work. I had some weight issues in the past year or so and read this somewhere and has really helped me. So ask yourself, are you eating for you or for the diabetes?

For me, I was feeding the diabetes (when I'd go low, I'd eat for that reason) So I backed down my insulin to match my eating habits. I've lost a little bit so far. The extra 10 units or so of humalog and 5 of lantus i would give myself each day would essentially turn my excess eating directly to fat.