Type 1'ers after WLS

Hi all, I just found this forum and excited to find other's in my situation, well few Type 1's, but nevertheless. I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 27 and have been insulin dependant ever since. I gained over 100 lbs in five years and my insulin requirements just keep rising year after year. Researched WLS for 2 yrs on this site & I also tried to find all the Type 1's before having RNY. I have two small kids and was scared of dying on the table. Well, I had my surgery in March, almost 6 months ago, down 1/2 the amount of insulin (was taking 120 units of Humalog via pump), and lost 72 lbs. Okay, my question....... I feel like now that I can eat more, my insulin requirements are creeping up and I'm worried that even with this weightloss, and hopefully future weightloss, that I'll be back to where I was before with insulin. Also if I have the slightest bit of carbs, my blood sugar goes sky high...close to 300, then I give myself insulin, and within 2 hrs..I'm going down to the 30's! I feel like I can't win, I'm either high or low. I've been living on Glucose tablets because of the lows so that I don't overeat. Before surgery I would eat when my sugar dropped, now I can't, so I use the glucose. Can anyone relate or give advice, thanks! Wendy 275/199.50/160

Dear Wendy, Hi, I can not give advise but I can tell you about my insulin changes. I too, am a type 1 diabetic. After my surgery I started seeing a diabetes specialist and he changed my insulin as well as my regime. Pre-op I used R and NPH insulin. Now, I am taking Lantus at bedtime and a shot of Humalog at each meal so I went from three shots a day to now 4 shots a day but with a LOT LESS insulin. I eat carbs, not a lot but some and occasionally on days that I do not exercise or a few days before my period starts my blood sugar rises. Some nights before bedtime (if I do not eat any carbs at dinnertime) my blood sugar drops very low. From day one I have been able to drink orange juice or any type of juice (Very Slowly) to bring the sugar back up. Also, carnation sugar free instant breakfast with 2 percent milk brings my glucose readings back up. Everyday is a challenge. We will always need insulin, we will always need carbs. to help us use the insulin, and we may lose weight a little slower than others. Talk to your diabetes educator, he/she may need to change the timing or type of insulin you are on. I wish you good luck. There are very few true type 1 diabetics that have this surgery and more studies need to be done on its affects.Take care.

Hi Wendy, If you haven't seen your endocrynologist yet, you should start there. I have type 1, (diagnosed at age 6), for almost 25 years and my endo has been wonderful during this whole weight loss surgery process. I had surgery about 4 months ago, and I'm down 48 pounds! My insulin requirements dropped insanely the first month, (because I wasn't eating at all), but now they're back up to about 75% of what they were pre-op. I'm also on a pump, so I don't concern myself much with how much insulin I'm taking. The lows suck! Talk to your doctor, and work on changing your basil rates, it should help. Good luck Michelle

Hello, I had surgery in July and have only lost a total (start to now) of 40 lbs.  i have an insulin pump and am at a stand still.  has anyone else gotten in a rut since Christmas?

Wendy, I have had type 1 since I was 10 yrs old. I now am 43 will be 44 in Dec. I can really relate to waht you are saying. I have gained 112 lbs in just 10 yrs. My insulin requirements have gone up lots. I suggest you recalculate your basil rate on the pump. You are not exactly right yet. I also suggest that you really think about the boluses before you give them. I decided to come off of the pump for a while after having been on it for 12 yrs. My A1C's were aweful. My sugars still go up and down but not as badly. I am definately considering surgery as I don't want to die and have major complications that result from type 1 diabetes. Please contact me if you have any questions I'll be glad to help. Donna

I keep forgetting about this board until somebody asks a question about diabetes on the regular board. I'm 52 and have been a Type 1 since the age of 29. I'm what some would refer to as a "lightweight" in that I have only about 85-90 pounds to lose, but as you all know---it is virtually impossible for us to lose weight on Insulin. I have so many other co-morbidities that contribute to my inability to lose, so I figured I might as well go ahead and have the surgery before I get any larger. I have a pump and was recently switched from Humalog to Novolog in my pump and this seems to have made a difference. I'm still pre-op, but my sugars have been haywire lately----highs in the 600's and low's in the 30's. Still having some highs and lows with the Novolog, but nothing like they were before. Also, sounds like your basil may need some adjusting. Have you discussed these things with your endocrinologist? Maybe he can shed some light on the situation.

i just had the surgery on Oct 4th 2004 and my insulin has been almost none. I take lantus at nite and then Novolog when i eat each meal if i eat carbs. I have been really sore and not eating at all since last week. But my blood sugar did fall to 53 today and that really took me for a loop. I didnt have glucose tabs and if i would have i proabaly would have taken them all. But i did have some slim fast left and i drank it. It didnt make me sick but it did bring my BS up. After reading some of these messages on this Type 1 Diabetic Board I am really wondering if i should have had this done. I know that the dr. that did my surgery told me that...in the comming months that I may just get off insulin all together and be on pills. IS THIS NOT TRUE???? Is it going to be worse now that i had the surgery then before??? Kelli WSL 10/4/04 I have had diabetes since i was 4 and i am now 32 with one child....should i even consider having anymore???