[foxl]

Joe ... I WOULD gain. I know I WOULD. I have spent many years (like 25) frustrated with my diet and weight ... if not gaining, maintenance at least. Probably, yes, as Subby says, contemplating using insulin could make me gain!

I don't think everyone would, but ME ... I would.

[Joeprep4820]

Originally Posted by ant hill

I am now beginning to think that Insulin is evil too. No matter what we do as we just get FFF Fat!!!

What's Missing???
Exercise!!!!!!

Diet as well. A good diet is not necessarily one that is low carb.

[telizas]

Until this forum, it never occurred to me that using insulin would make me gain weight. I don't WANT to use insulin - its simply the best thing for *me* and its working to keep me healthier. I don't want to die of a heart attack from eating crappy food just because I could take insulin for the carbs! Since being on insulin, I'm eating better, started exercising more. I pay $35 a month for the stuff and the fewer carbs I eat, the less I use and the further that $35 goes! I'm also telling my doc all the carbs I eat, which is a GREAT way to cut down!

To the OP: I am not a Type 1. I could get away with eating whatever I want, but I don't. Its hard. Its hard to self-police, and its hard to have other people watching you. It sounds like you aren't doing yourself any favors by depriving yourself. Eat what you want in moderation for a week. Write everything down and compare it to your numbers. Give yourself some time to figure out how things affect you. Its all trial and error. Two slices of pizza aren't going to kill you, and maybe you can learn more about your disease by having them and testing. Pizza everyday, probably not a good idea.

My #1 philosophy about eating is, if it's going to be something "bad" for me, it had better be REALLY good. Today we had a birthday brunch for some family members. It was at a place that has the most AWESOME food. I ate what I wanted. I skipped the syrup on my lemon ricotta pancakes, only had a bite here and there of the dessert, filled up on the berries and my daughter's (uneaten) eggs. It was FABULOUS. I would rather have a couple of bites of some decadent chocolate cake made fresh than a Hostess cupcake, and when I DO have a treat, I make it worthwhile. If I get pizza, I try not to waste it on Pizza Hut, but go to an awesome place where I know I can truly satisfy my craving.

Don't let food rule your life.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by foxl

Joe ... I WOULD gain. I know I WOULD. I have spent many years (like 25) frustrated with my diet and weight ... if not gaining, maintenance at least. Probably, yes, as Subby says, contemplating using insulin could make me gain!

I don't think everyone would, but ME ... I would.

It's really unfortunate that you, who have shown yourself to be extremely disciplined, have lost weight, modified your diet, jump up and down at any BG excursion and do what needs to be done, have in your mind that insulin use is SUCH a threat, such a hard thing to manage and such an automatic precurser to weight, you can only cast a vote of complete non-confidence in using it sensibly. I think it's an unfortunate lack of confidence in yourself and a very unfortunate sentiment to be showing here. I also think it's quite illogical if you do lose further insulin function in the future and need to supplement it in order to have closer to normal insulin levels in your body, that insulin will automatically lead to weight. It may, it may not. Certainly in the camp of type 1s, you can get very overweight people, but you get a whole bunch of pretty "normal" kind of people, like me a bit heavy, or sticks, or...

Take that for what you may. You can obviously hold this fear, you can obviously share it, but consider in context of the OP and the thread it may not be helpful for others who have no choice but to integrate insulin into their life, to have the fearmongering that "just thinking about insulin" might make someone fat - the example to cave so easily to affordable fear. Those who are insulin dependent do not have this luxury. I do not quite see how it is useful or relevant or kind, here.

[Joeprep4820]

Disagreements like these kind of remind me of the Jets and the Sharks from West Side Story

[Subby]

Haven't seen that. I don't know if you are suggesting that it's people ganging up on each other - if so that wasn't my intention. I can sympathise with you Linda, really! I can especially understand it considering you were cast a "type 2" for a while and went a lot of low carb information, some of which tends to be very strong and concrete where I feel it may not have a right. To put it another way, I do think there is a sense of indoctrination about this absolute mentality you have against insulin working well for you. I just don't like to see such fear held by someone so obviously rational, and for it to be spread to those who are trying to find their own relationship with this necessary hormone replacement in their life.

Even Bernstein himself (the ultimate low carber), would in no way suggest painting any insulin use as leading to weight gain for a type 1. He suggests very low levels, yes, but not blanket "insulin leads to weight gain". The subject is complex, and deserves to be treated with feet firmly on the ground.

[Gangrel]

I've always thought the only way insulin makes a person gain weight is by increasing hypo episodes, forcing us to eat tons to get back to "normal".........

[foxl]

Originally Posted by Subby

It's really unfortunate that you, who have shown yourself to be extremely disciplined, have lost weight, modified your diet, jump up and down at any BG excursion and do what needs to be done, have in your mind that insulin use is SUCH a threat, such a hard thing to manage and such an automatic precurser to weight, you can only cast a vote of complete non-confidence in using it sensibly. I think it's an unfortunate lack of confidence in yourself and a very unfortunate sentiment to be showing here. I also think it's quite illogical if you do lose further insulin function in the future and need to supplement it in order to have closer to normal insulin levels in your body, that insulin will automatically lead to weight. It may, it may not. Certainly in the camp of type 1s, you can get very overweight people, but you get a whole bunch of pretty "normal" kind of people, like me a bit heavy, or sticks, or...

Take that for what you may. You can obviously hold this fear, you can obviously share it, but consider in context of the OP and the thread it may not be helpful for others who have no choice but to integrate insulin into their life, to have the fearmongering that "just thinking about insulin" might make someone fat - the example to cave so easily to affordable fear. Those who are insulin dependent do not have this luxury. I do not quite see how it is useful or relevant or kind, here.

Aw Subby I do not see insulin as a threat ... it is the use of it to "cheat" that I see as a threat! And it is MY capacity to abuse it that is the real threat ... but to put it more simply ... I am just feeling fat right now. I don't think I even gained any weight -- just this crummy infection bumming me out.

[Maddogg]

Originally Posted by Gangrel

I do. But, as many others here have said, in moderation. I think nothing of grabbing a chocolate bar once in a while now that I know MDI and carb counting. But would I do it every single day? No.

But, compared to some on here, i'm a loose cannon..... so your mileage may vary. I try to eat healthy, do all the right things.... stay in shape.... My average A1c over the past few years has probably been 6.6-ish, which compared to what I see in some signature blocks here is a full point higher.

But, this disease has already taken things from my life like career choices, and time, and energy........ I'm not going to give it anything extra.

I keep myself heatlhy, my endo is pleased, so voila. A piece of chocolate cake or a bag of M+Ms once in a while it is.

I'll drink to that! Cheers! My A1c has also been similar to yours

I'm also finally glad to see another member of this forum who's been a member as long as I have (same month and year too). Pre 2004 members are a pretty rare thing

[musique913]

Originally Posted by foxl

Aw Subby I do not see insulin as a threat ... it is the use of it to "cheat" that I see as a threat! And it is MY capacity to abuse it that is the real threat ... but to put it more simply ... I am just feeling fat right now. I don't think I even gained any weight -- just this crummy infection bumming me out.

Foxl, I was 274 pounds at diagnosis..I understand your pain. I'm on insulin now for two months, after being on just pills for a long time. I'm 141 right now, and still losing. For me, insulin actually kick started me to exercise more and eat better..go figure.

I don't use it to cheat, for sure..it wouldn't work like that for me either..

[strack350]

I eat pretty much what I want when I want, with the exeption of candy. I have growen up with diabetes and was never allowed candy, so I don't have a "urge" to eat it. I eat lots of pasta, potatoes, fries, pizza, etc.... and carby stuff like that with the exeption of breads, rolls, muffins, cakes, and the like, I tend to stay away from alot of that. I have great control, and don't pack on the pounds. I attribute that to my exercise/gym membership, and my very active lifestyle.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by foxl

Aw Subby I do not see insulin as a threat ... it is the use of it to "cheat" that I see as a threat! And it is MY capacity to abuse it that is the real threat ... but to put it more simply ... I am just feeling fat right now. I don't think I even gained any weight -- just this crummy infection bumming me out.

That's no good about the infection Linda. One of those lovely gifts of diabetes, that illness tends to be more problematic... I know what you mean by "feeling fat". While I don't have any kind of runaway weight issues with insulin, for the last couple of years I do find it hard to lose weight easily (no idea how much it's the insulin's fault, really). I'm at a weight where I am heavier than I used to be, and it is easy to feel fatter and bloated some days, I'd love to be about 5 kg lighter because I know it doesn't happen there...

[Gangrel]

Originally Posted by Maddogg

I'll drink to that! Cheers! My A1c has also been similar to yours

I'm also finally glad to see another member of this forum who's been a member as long as I have (same month and year too). Pre 2004 members are a pretty rare thing

Well, I have taken a few "breaks" over the years I've been on this site, for one reason or another....... I'll call them mental vacations.

[foxl]

Originally Posted by Subby

That's no good about the infection Linda. One of those lovely gifts of diabetes, that illness tends to be more problematic... I know what you mean by "feeling fat". While I don't have any kind of runaway weight issues with insulin, for the last couple of years I do find it hard to lose weight easily (no idea how much it's the insulin's fault, really). I'm at a weight where I am heavier than I used to be, and it is easy to feel fatter and bloated some days, I'd love to be about 5 kg lighter because I know it doesn't happen there...

I have several times had a problem with ONE sinus ... before the D. I just called in for a second antibiotic, for this one, though! I hate antibiotic resistance!!!

Yes, I agree -- we never CAN know how much of it is insulin's fault, and how much of it is simply metabolic or storage-efficiency as we age.

[michelby]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all the advice, bickering , insights, etc. I went to the doctor today and he suggested we discuss the pump...my morning numbers are ridiculous at the moment.

I had no idea insulin could make you gain weight! I learn so much every day...

Thanks again!