WLS & Diabetes..

HI there! Well, not that I envy everyone who is reaching or has reached their 4 month anniversary and having large w/l amounts - I mean that's why we all did this, right. But I guess it seems that due to diabetes my loss is not all that great - or maybe I'm just feeling depressed today. I'm eating right and exercising - even hired a personal trainer and feeling good but at the same time I don't feel that I've had the success others have had for the same time period. I asked Luis, my trainer - "It seems that with the diabetes my metabolism has difficulty moving." And he said "Yes, it does". I thought I was okay about it - cause what can you do, right? But it's NOT FAIR, I work hard and feel that I'm not gonna get there. Any diabetics having success out there?? Is there hope?

I was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago. Since my surgery I have now been diabetes free for around 2 months. My pcp told me to throw my meds away and not worry about it. I have never felt better. My only problem now is sodium and high blood pressure. Seems a lot of these low carb sugar free stuff is high in sodium so I have to be careful. Keep the faith. Many have gotten diabetes free with this surgery and your turn will come eventually. Keep up all your good work so far! Doreen

Hi Ruth! Do you mind me asking how much you've lost so far? I had my 4 month anniversary on 1/23. I have been a type II diabetic since 1999. I lost 10 pounds prior to my surgery and have lost 53 more since surgery. I decided to take myself off my diabetes medication the day before surgery and have not had any since. I monitor my numbers regularly and feel that they are within a pretty normal range. Nothing like my number before surgery with the meds, they're much better now. I feel so much better, but like you, I feel like I'm a slow loser. I tend to lose in spurts. I stall for about 2-3 weeks then lose for 1-2 weeks and repeat the cycle over and over. I exercise as much as possible. I tend to do 3 miles on my treadmill 3-5 times a week. When I had my 4 month checkup with my surgeon I asked him if I was a slow loser, he said yes but that I reminded him of another patient who lost at the same "slow" rate who's now at goal. He told me to be happy that I'm losing slower because it gives my body and skin time to get used to the weight loss. I guess we just have to hang in there and know that eventually the weight will come off. Don't get discouraged, just remember how much more difficult it was to lose weight before surgery. For me it was nearly imposible! There's always hope! You came this far didn't you? Julia

Hi Ruth, I had very bad diabetes (and I was a bad patient) and have pretty much normalized now. I haven't taken any meds since I left the hospital. I am losing slowly also and never thought about the fact that it could be related to my metabolism being screwed up from the diabetes. (I also eat more calories and more food than many post ops, I think.) I definitely think there's hope and you can reach your goals. Your working out is going to tone you and strengthen you whether you have diabetes or not, (not to mention rev up your metabolism) Just keep up the good work and remember these are lifestyle changes for us, so we will see the results eventually. Hang in there! Love, Sue

Hi I was taking 76 units of insulin a day and 2000 mg of oral meds for my diabetic situation and I am proud to report I use nothing related to being a diabetic..........I am not losing as fast as some but it is positive not being a diabetic or should I say taking the medication Hugs and good luck with your situation Anita

Hey, I am diabetic, and before surgery I took two different kinds of meds for it(actos & glucaphage), but now I don't take either, and my blood sugars are very good(usually 80-95). I sometimes feel like I haven't lost much, but then I realize I did lose 33% of my excess weight at 3 months, which is what I was suppose to..so I fell good about that. I suppose it could have been a better loss, if I would have exercised a bit more. Can't be superwoman though! That doesn't work for me. I also have an underactive thyroid(they don't think it works at all)...which makes me feel like not exercising at all, so what I do get in, I push myself hard for. Just keep plugging away at it....you'll get where you want to be, and when you do get there, hopefully you will never need meds again for your diabetes. April

Hi I was a severe diabetic .....I was taking mega insulin and pills to boot. I had surgery sept 14 and I am no longer on any dibetic medications... I had doctors to tell me I would never be insulin free ..........I just wrote those doctors and gloated lol hugs and god bless Anita