Did the pump make you gain weight?

[Patti]

Hi everyone. I've been a pumper going on three years. I've never had a weight problem, but seems like since I got my pump I've slowly been gaining weight. Has anyone had this problem?
Thanks

[tanyatype1]

Hi there Patti! I've only been on the pump for just over a year and so far so good - no weight gain! I think that it would be easy to do though because it's so easy now to eat whatever you want and just push a couple buttons on the pump! Before the pump, I would want to eat a treat, but the thought of giving myself a needle for it would really make me think twice whether or not it was worth it. Why is it soooo easy to gain weight, but soooo hard to lose it????!!!!!!

[flash]

Yes I have gained weight on the pump. I think it depends on your carb intake and the amount of insulin you have to bolus for them.

Flash

[camjen1]

I gained a few pounds when I started the pump and I contributed it to the much more stabilized blood sugars.

[Tony]

Not here. I can't gain weight If I tried.

[tanyatype1]

Not here. I can't gain weight If I tried.

LUCKY DUCK!

[Funnygrl]

Yep, I gained 10oz the second I started!

[Cyborg]

At first I lost weight, but then I gained it back, plus a little. I'm now trying to lose it for good by introducing exercise, thus reducing my insulin requirements.

The pump gives you a lot of freedom to eat whatever and whenever you want. That can be a bad thing if you aren't careful.

[parrotletzoo]

My pump didn't make me gain weight. Eating more because I could bolus for the carbs and additional junk food I didn't eat prior to pumping made me gain weight.

Increased control and chasing lows with carbs can cause weight gain also.

The chasing lows can be avoided by tweaking basal rates and carb ratios and the additional calories from eating more, well we all know the remedy for that one. ;)

After and initial weight gain when I went on my pump I managed to get back to my start weight. :D

[pooh3465]

If I am not mistaken :confused: insulin has a fat retaining cell so the more you have to take the more likely it is you will gain weight. I know when I bolus correctly I am using about 60-70 units a day:eek: , that's when i know I am eating more then I should. If you are eating your recommended diet you won't gain the weight :) but when you eat what you want and bolus for it then the weight pours on :( I gained 25 pounds in a matter of months now to loose it it may take me a year depending on how skippy I want to get on the diet and exercise:T .......I hate the weight issues lol;)

[Lilly164]

has caused me to lose weight. I'm not hungry and feeding the Lantus now.

Lilly

[Patti]

Thanks everybody! I've gained about 20lbs. UGH!! since I got the pump. It'll be 2 years this month. I'm going to try exercise too Cyborg. Maybe that will help get rid of this extra weight. Maybe start walking again. I have neuropathy and sometimes it really bothers me to walk. I'll have a talk with my Dr. and see what she suggests.
My smarty pants husband said it's probably age creeping up on me. I'm only 53!!! Well I know what he's getting for dinner tonight!!!!!

[am1977]

HI Patti,

I also gained some weight by moving onto the pump, but I think it also had to do with being able to just push a button whenever I wanted to eat something. It made things a little too easy :rolleyes:.

However, now that I've been on the pump for a while now- I find that I am able to have more control over how I manage my diabetes. It's nice having the ability to change your basal rates and bolus rates etc... and I have been able to cut down on the insulin I take and, ultimately, lose weight.

Also, like someone mentioned, gaining better control can also contribute to a little weight gain. However, IMO, that's more important than putting on a pound or two.


If it's something you want to work on, try watching how much insulin you are taking, see if you are treating more lows, and possibly work in more exercise to your routine.

Good luck :)

[Injecto]

I've gained weight, but it's not the pumps fault, it's the diabetes fault. Fear of going low and going high (the juggling factor) keeps me eating and bolusing just to stay in range, and as a result, gain weight.

[panda1076]

I have gained some weight, but it's because I eat more now! Before the pump, I would think twice about snacking since it meant another shot. And in my case, my ratio was 1:35, so I could not take a shot unless I was eating at least 35 carbs.

Also, using insulin in general can cause you to gain weight. So if you are using more now that you are on the pump than you used to, that could be one reason. i know I use about double the insulin I used to simply because I am eating more and bolusing more.

[Doug]

I lost almost 60 lbs

But its mostly due to the fact that I was on WAY too much insulin

Lantus is NOT my friend

Doug

[Patti]

Thanks for all you help. I know, I must exercise and that is what I plan to do. Going to have a talk with my endo . Thanks again!!

[dgrilli]

I was loosing alot of weight before I went on the pump the wrong way. The pump has put a stop to the weight loss. I'm not gaining any but I'm not loosing any either.

I guess if used properly you could use it to gain weight. Also if you wanted to loose I can just reduce my insulin for several days and loose weight, probably not the greatest way but it works.

[notme]

I definitely gained and it had nothing to do with taking more insulin to cover foods I didn't eat before pumping. I think why I gained was better control. My A1c went from in the 10's to the low 6's. I have lost some of the weight, but not all.

I also gained weight on Statins.

I am about average in weight. I would like to lose about 15 pounds, but who wouldn't?

[barbarac]

Yes a definite weight gain. I keep mentioning it, but they don't seem concerned. Am eating about the same (which no one wants to seem to believe) at meals, etc. I have had a steady and much too quick gain though. Last time I went off the pump through dieting I had lost 53 lbs. Now back on the pump I have gained most of it back. It is very discouraging. I really feel insulin does cause part of this, but they just keep increasing it. I still don't think my basals are right. They add a little at one time, throws another one off. I am suppose to start this exercise program, but I also know it will all be off again when I do. So exercise and drop it, then have to eat and raise it. One big circle. I don't feel I eat enough to cause this weight gain though, and keep increasing the insulin basals. Wish there was some magic way to control all of this.

[notme]

barbara, you sound like me. I tried for years to try and get the doctors to listen to me. Many do not gain weight on insulin. Men seem to have a lot less of a problem than women.

I wish I could tell you that I have found a magic bullet. I have had some success and I have been able to lose a few pounds and maintain my weight, but it is always a struggle.

Keep exercising. Cut your fats as much as you can and try and steer clear of the processed foods. Get to the healthiest weight you can and remember that you are striving for health first and weight loss second. It can be done, but it will be slow and steady.

Some people will tell you that you are feeding lows. Your doctors will look blankly at you and tell you that insulin does not cause weight gain. Some people will tell you that "they" never gain weight because of insulin. Not me. I understand and I agree with you.

[Lloyd]

I've never had a weight problem, but seems like since I got my pump I've slowly been gaining weight. Has anyone had this problem?


It's only been 3 weeks on the pump for me, but I've lost 1 lb. It is very encouraging for me that I am no longer hungary 3 hours after a meal.

-Lloyd

[karen]

I have gained 20 lbs in 4 years of pumping, because I eat too much with the ease of giving insulin and then that leads to lows, which leads to eating, which leads to weight gain. I also tend to avoid exercise, because I have lows and then I have to eat again, it is a very vicious cycle for me.

I also eat a lot more things that I use to avoid like the plague.

On shots, I would not eat because I did not want to shoot up.

I truly believe pumping and lows and avoiding strenuous exercise has put weight on me, plus the aging factor, ahhh!!!

Karen

[notme]

Ugggghhhh....... the aging factor. I forgot to factor that one in Karen. Thanks!!! :eek:

[karen]

No problemo!!