Does insulin REALLY make you gain weight?

One of the main barriers to starting insulin is the notion that people gain weight. But is this really true and if so, why does this happen?
In this video I demonstrate how insulin works and why it might not necessarily be the insulin that is causing you to gain weight.

[@wexsweetman]

There's still hope for weight loss! Thanks just the pep talk I needed!

[@TheWellnessCues]

great informational video 👍

[@SteveSmallwoodthemachine]

I'm on insulin now over 6 months and eat less than before on insulin . I've gained like 40 lbs. It is driving me insane.

[@belvadalidowich5314]

I've been on insulin for several years. When I first went on it I gained 40 pounds in the first month and did not change my eating at all. I kept that new weight for years but every time a doctor increased my insulin to a higher amount I gained a little but when I could decrease the amount I did not lose. I am elderly now and disabled and it is near impossible to lose for me. I hate this. I try to eat healthy but it really doesn't seem to make a difference.

[@mannyruiz8493]

@@belvadalidowich5314you’re likely consuming too many calories and or not as active !

[@maxmarrero-sb5ej]

@@mannyruiz8493 if is type 1 diabetes or severe insulin resistance, it will be hard to lose weight even if someone is active.

[@maxmarrero-sb5ej]

@@belvadalidowich5314There's no “healthy food” each body is different. Some “healthy foods” are good for some people but bad for others. I only eat a small can of whole corn daily, may be incredible because is corn, but corn helped me to at list lose some ounces of weight monthly. If I eat even a little more, I gain weight. That's how difficult it is to lose weight with chronic diabetes.

[@user-ex1te2ji7g]

Thank you so much for explaining

[@Melanie-gu4cl]

Hi Mark. I was just wondering - will the "Bolus" Insulin (After Meal Insulin) also cause you to gain weight (or) is it only the "Basal" (Slow & Long Acting Insulin) that will cause you to gain weight? I know you told me in your previous reply that I should not go on insulin just to gain weight. As far as food goes, can you recommend which foods I should eat to gain weight that has low carbs? Thanks - Melanie.

[@diabetesdietguy]

Hi Melanie All insulin has a small anabolic effect - makes you gain some weight. It’s hard to advise on specific circumstances over KZbin as I know nothing about your case. I can only do that in a formal appointment unfortunately. It’s not safe and would likely violate our code of conduct. As a general rule, high fat will help you gain weight but if you’re reducing carbs at the same time, you may find the calories balance out. So to gain weight, typically you need to eat more overall. But I wouldn’t want to tell you that only to find I then make your diabetes worse for example So id need full context I do offer 1:1 appointments because it’s the only way I can advise specifically to you. The services are published in my website

[@MrSnake9419]

This is my third cut going from 20% body fat to 12% as I usually do for each summer but this is the first time that I'm not cutting carbs but it is very hard to cut the fat compared to when I wasn't eating carbs at all

[@LaLoMorena]

Thank you! It’s my 1st day on insulin 💉.

[@diabetesdietguy]

Good luck

[@gp2580]

Come off the insulin before it's too late. CUT OUT CARBOHYDRATE. Your disease was caused by elevated insulin!

[@shawons0171]

That was an awesome video

[@Melanie-gu4cl]

Hi Mark. I have not gotten my C-Peptide test done yet. I will do it before my next appt. with my endocrinologist in July. "If" the C-Peptide test confirms that I have Type 2 diabetes & my pancreas is still producing insulin (hopefully it will be the case) , if I take insulin, will it help we "regain" my weight? Back in 2013 my weight was between 115lbs-120lbs. So if I ask my endocrinlogist to "put me on insulin" will I "get back" that weight range of 115lbs-120lbs? Could you kindly respond ? Thanks, Melanie.

[@diabetesdietguy]

Hi Melanie Thanks for the comment. I hate to say it but I can’t advise on this over KZbin I’m afraid. Not without a detailed view of your case. So I’d speak with your endocrinologist. If you’re not on insulin yet and walking around ok, you’ve overwhelming have type 2 diabetes. A c-peptide isn’t always needed as sometimes the presentation of the diabetes is fairly obvious. However, if your presentation is a bit more precarious, then it may very well be justified. So yes, have a chat with ya team. And the fact your body weight is fairly low, it may very well be justified👍 One thing I would say is I wouldn’t use insulin as a mechanism to gain weight I.e. don’t just go on insulin to gain weight if there’s other options available. However, if your glucose levels have been high for a while, then yes, going on insulin does help gain weight as all those glucose calories start to be absorbed. Whereas before, they would have been peed out Keep us updated 🙏

[@jimlofts5433]

Hi doctor - thanks for the advice and comments 4 months ago on vlogs, "3 ways to prevent dawn phenomenon" and "Can you pass the basal insulin challenge" You asked (big mistake ) for an update haha - 73 years of age, 12 months into low carb keto now down 30 kgs from 122kgs insulin up from 8 to 9 units a day but not taking 2 humalog daily but still have just in case. My dawn effect seems to be better and have a daily glucose range of 5.4 - 7.4, but mainly in the 5.4 to 6.8 range and estimated HBA1C about 5.6 - I have now also started a seniors strength for life, twice a week lifting weights and balance exercises and feeling better - Not a problem but the body / metabolism has woken up to whats been going on and is not happy at all, so I have a mini stall in the 90.6 - 92.6kg range - Have started some more IF by skipping breakfast giving a 18 - 6 a few days a week - but very happy as my target was 90kgs by xmas so I need 2kg in 5 months and even then won't quit if that is not achieved - Thanks again as your vlogs do cover areas that other vlogs don't especially your basal insulin vlog regards and all success a very grateful Jim

[@diabetesdietguy]

Jim that’s made my day and only 7:40 here so a good start to the day! Well done. What a turnaround. Congrats. Now keep it going!

[@Melanie-gu4cl]

Hi Mark. I have Type 2 Diabetes but I'm "losing" weight. Is it possible that I might be "misdiagnosed" as having Type 2 Diabetes? Is possible that I might be a Type 1 Diabetic? Is there a test I can get to find out which type I really have. Your response is very much appreciated. Thanks, Melanie

[@diabetesdietguy]

Hi Melanie Yes it’s possible to be misdiagnosed Normally it’s difficult to misdiagnose conventional type 1 diabetes due to the speed at which the condition manifests. It’s normally a very acute onset resulting in excessive thirst urination weight loss and blurred vision. That said - occasionally patients develop a slower onset version called LADA. There are blood tests to confirm this One is called c-peptide - this measure how much insulin your body produces. However this will only show how much insulin you produce at the time of the test I.e. if your body is still producing insulin - even if type 1 but all your beta cells haven’t yet been destroyed and so you still produce insulin - it will show insulin being produced. And an Anti GAD (most common one)/ other anti body tests as sometimes different anti bodies are produced. - there’s a few - these test the autoimmune response that your body produces to destroy the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. If this is highly positive it shows type 1 The downside of this is once the process has happened and is complete, the anti bodies will disappear and be undetectable However, if that has happened, then your c peptide will confirm type 1 So if you’re years after being diagnosed type 2 and still producing insulin, it’s overwhelmingly likely it’s type 2. But obviously it’s hard to comment if you’re not one of our patients without the full picture But yes, it is possible- rare but possible 👍

[@Melanie-gu4cl]

Thank you so much for responding. I'm going to see an endocrinologist to get both the C-Peptide & Anti GAD tests. Wish me luck. Thanks again, Melanie

[@lucky-hd1yv]

So basically if we follow a reduce calorie diet, exercise, and still take insulin as prescribed, it wont interfere with weight loss?

[@diabetesdietguy]

That’s it 👍

[@mediaapps]

Thank you. I thought that one of the challenges in lowering glucose was that sugars were not sent to the bladder by the kidneys but went to the liver instead. Unless, you are using one of the medications that allow this. It's either or both Trulicity and/or Ozempic I think. I seem to recall my educator saying that because of the sugars being excreted in urine fungal infections can occur when you're on the meds but not as likely otherwise.

[@diabetesdietguy]

I think I’m understanding what you’re saying but forgive me if I’m not. When blood glucose is high it increases infection risk because your body excretes the excess sugar via the kidneys and you pee it out. Bacteria likes sugar. So infection risk goes up. Particularly UTIs but all infections are more likely. When you take any glucose lowering therapy you will reduce this chance assuming the medication has the desired effect. When you lower blood glucose levels, you redirect the glucose to where the energy is destined to go. First that’s muscles and places that need energy. Then storage in the liver kidneys and muscles. Then if you’re over eating, into fat cells where it’s stored as fat. So I think your description is kind of there but not quite how it is if I’m understanding you correctly 👍

[@mediaapps]

@@diabetesdietguy No. It was my understanding that the kidneys always only send sugar to the liver; part of the body's strategy to store energy. They only send it to the bladder if one of those recently created meds is being taken.

[@diabetesdietguy]

@@mediaapps no that’s not the case I’m afraid.

[@hectormora60]

No more butritos😢