How to lose weight with Type 1 diabetes

[magkenmare]

My daughter has had diabetes for 10 years and has experienced significant weight gain.  She has tried over the years to lose with diet and exercise but to no avail.  She has recently done Weight Watchers for one month and followed it religiously.  She lost practically no weight.  She also exercise at least five times a week for an hour and a half.  She is very frustrated and I don't have any answers.  Unfortunately, her doctors over the years don't seem to be able to help.  Should we be looking at type of insulin?  She presently talkes Lantus and Humalog.  Does high protein help?  Her weight is in her back across her shoulders, in her middle and thighs.  She usually injects in her stomach and sometimes her thighs.  Does site matter?  Any suggestions would be so appreciated.  Thank you.

[becca810]

My story is a little wild. I studied and graduated with a degree in Nutritional Science 18 years ago. A year later my 12 month old baby boy was diagnosed with Type 1. I adjusted perfectly because of my background and today he is a thriving, happy, and healthy  17 years old athlete that truly is
an amazing kid.

Over the last 16 years I became a diabetes educator, an insulin pump trainer, and have a wealth of personal knowledge through my son and through the 1000's of patients I've treated

Im 41, have 5 young kids, maintained my weight since my 20's and can honestly say Im in better shape today then ever even with a slow thyroid without any crazy fanatical diets ,,,,and here's the KICKER!!!..I was just diagnosed with TYPE 1 myself a month ago. I am very in tune with my body and  knew I had it immediately.

And in a sick crazy way kind of way, I giggled, smiled, bc I look at it as a challenge. Time for me to really practice what I preach. Now I can be the BEST Kind of Diabetes Educator.

Within 1 day, I had my sugars from 300-400 (A1C was 8.4 btw),down to low 100's. I  have figured out my insulin to carb ratio and correction factor, through trial and error. (but haven't had to use it) . I presently keep insane notes and journal my food intake.

Now my big test is to see if I can maintain my weight (125). Ill need a good 6 months to be able to give any good sound healthy advice. Wish me LUCK!

[jbuggee]

Please get your eyes examined for glaucoma regularly even if you don't have the insurance to cover it.  It is essential to have your eyes checked.  I am a Type 1 who was recently diagnosed with glaucoma and I take eyedrops religiously each evening before bed-time. You've got to stay on top of it.  My older brother - also a type 1 - became legally blind but his eye problems were from broken capillaries, he did not really take good care of himself and was very flippant about staying on top of things.  Be vigilant about your eyes.  See a professional and get them checked regularly.

[momo8973]

Hello magkenmare, I too have type 1 diabetes and have had it for nine years. I have also had a lot of trouble trying to lose weight because I have gained a little weight an it is hard.I am 19 years old and i do exercise 5 times a week ( about 8 hours a ;karate, swimming, and biking to school). I find it really hard to lose weight in my middle section as well as your daughter. I have lost some weight but then I get hungrier and then gain it back. I too inject in my stomach and my thighs which are my two body areas in which i carry more weight. I eat pretty healthy, I include my fruits and veggies.I use novolog and lantus. I am sorry i could not answer your question but i hope th information i gave u can help to fingure ou something to help out your daughter and I wish you  and your daughter the best of luck because this issue is very frustrating and depressing as well.

[LorendaO]

I have been a diabetic for 26 years, since age 9 and I was on insulin injections until I was put on a pump 7 years ago. As a result of the many injections I would take I to had knots and fat deposits under my injection site so I would rotate sites using my thighs, arms, stomach and hips, to lessen the deposits in each area. I would also use a good shea butter or cocoa butter to massage the area to help prevent extra fluid build up and to break up the scar tissue left from injections. I hope this helps!!!

[fitzie311]

Hi there!  I am a Type 1 Diabetic and have been for 7 years now (I'm 27) and gained 30 pounds in the first two years after diagnosis, so I completely understand how much this must frustrate everyone posting on this board.  I've managed to lose 20 pounds, gain it all right back and now have lost 25 pounds again and kept it off for over a year.  I found three things have really helped me finally keep the weight off, though I will say it is VERY easy to gain weight back and takes a lot more work to lose weight than it did before Type 1.

Things I have found worked for me (and I am not an MD, RN, or anyone giving out medical advice other than as someone else dealing with this frustrating disease):

1) Symlin or Victoza - both are appetite suppressants approved for use for Type 2 diabetics.  My endocrinologist prescribed them to me when I found myself eating everything in the house as my blood sugars rose after a meal (thus making them higher, thus more carbs and higher blood sugars = pounds).  Symlin didn't really do anything for me, but Victoza was amazing.  I've been off of it since August after having kept the weight off for 9 months due to its high cost, but have only gained back 5 pounds.  This ability to keep the weight off I have attributed to:
2) Minimal highs and lows - I have switched to as much of a "paleo" style diet as possible.  During a meal challenge, my blood sugars went from 110 to 375 after only an hour and by the end of the 4 hour challenge I was right back to 102.  So what me and my endo learned was that I have a crazy reaction to carbs.  In order to prevent that peak that results in me eating a ton, keeping on weight, and having insulin issues, I've switched to lower carbs - lots of lean protein, fruits, and veggies.  I've found that the better my A1C, the happier my scale makes me.
3) Taking over 12,000 steps a day - I became a big runner about 18 months ago and between that and wearing a pedometer, I've been able to get to 12000 steps a day.  I never realized how little I was moving around outside of my 30 minutes on the elliptical or in the gym until I wore that thing and now I've made it into a daily challenge.  "I'm at 7,000 steps.  If I run 3 miles, I'll be at 13,000 steps.  You can do it!"

I'm not saying this is going to work for everyone - I've tried EVERYTHING under the sun, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, just letting my blood sugars run high, exercising for 90 minutes a day every day, you name it and I've seen me get close to losing the weight and then almost immediately gain it back.  This is what I have found worked for me and continues to work for me.  I hope this helps someone because man, Type 1 is a pain to deal with alone!

[italib]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT allow your child to go to sleep whilst hypo or immediately after a Gucose Gel or 'frosting' as you called it. Glucose gel MUST be followed by a wholemeal snack otherwise his sugar will peak and then drop lower than the original reading. As he is already asleep, unless you spend the night beside his bed you will not be aware of that. Your son's diabetic specialist shouls have explained that to you and, more importantly, to your son. If he has regular 'lows' or 'hypos' during the night he should be taking control of it by discussing it (with your support of course) with his doctor. His insulin may need adjusting.
It is important that he has full control of his own diabetes before he becomes a teenager or he will rebel by eating the wrong foods or by not eating properly. Take this with good wishes from someone who became diabetic at 9 and lived through it and was not given full control of her own condition until she went to university and suffered throughout her first year as a result. Responsibility is good, I promise you!