Hi!
I’m 22 and was just diagnosed with type 1 about 2 months ago. When I was diagnosed there wasn’t a huge drop in weight but since i’ve been diagnosed i’ve already gained 8lbs. I’m very active, and haven’t been eating more then usual so was wondering if this was a normal thing after being diagnosed and how to manage weight better. Maybe i’m overly concerned because i’m recovering from an eating disorder so there’s been a lot of new changes and i’m not used to eating 3 meals a day haha. Just wondering what some tips were for maintaining weight or keeping it off.
Hi @Autumn_Rose and welcome to TypeOneNation. Many people are severely dehydrated when they are diagnosed and immediately gam back water weight when they start insulin. If you had a gradual onset, many people lose a significant amount of weight. I am 5’-10” and weighed only 95 pounds when I collapsed the morning of my diagnosis.
So once your metabolism stabilizes, you can watch fats and total calories while controlling your blood sugar to lose weight. Many people find it effective to limit carbohydrates to the minimum and that way you need the least amount of insulin.
Cheers and good luck 
Thanks for the info! I’ll try that!
@Autumn_Rose Hi Autumn, and welcome to the JDRF TypeOneNation Forum! Congratulations on conquering the eating disorder; I know how difficult some people have with eating issues.
What you haven’t said, is anything about your body size, and how relevant 8 pounds is to your total weight; I know that I’d really like another 8 pounds on my body, and the cardiologist agrees with that. I’ve been using insulin for 64 years.
You say that you are “active”, so I’m presuming that you are gaining muscle, and muscle weighs more than “body fat” that takes up the same size - my body size hasn’t changed since I stopped using a gym 3 days a week, and working “construction” 2 daus a week, at the end of February, and I’ve lost about 10 pounds in that time-frame. So my question for you, what does your doctor say about your weight? Is your body mass index {BMI] at an appropriate number? I’m not chauvinist, being the only male here surrounded by females, so I’m aware or feelings about appearance.
By definition, insulin is a growth hormone, and it also has some affect on metabolism, so it could very well be causing your gain in weight. I remember that following my diabetes diagnosis and beginning insulin, I was able to gain back the 30, or so, pounds that had dripped off me over a period of six ++ months that my condition wasn’t diagnosed. What was your weight before you slid into those eating issues?
Hi! Thank you! current im 5’7 and weigh 155lbs, my doctor says my weight is fine and they haven’t said anything about my BMI but last I knew it was in the normal range. I never really had a normal weight because I had the eating disorder for about 7 years, but this is my 2nd time in recovery but I know this isn’t my typical weight given the circumstances.
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It’s perfectly normal. Most people when they are diagnosed they loose tons of weight. It’s normal that you start to gain pounds or suddenly want to eat more than usual. That’s just your body trying to gain weight! 
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Hi, I am recently diagnosed and lost lots of weight, 55 pounds, 40 of which I needed to drop. Was 190 at 5’6” and now I am 135. For my liking, I wish to gain 10-15 pounds. I understand exercise is essential for all over good health but I cannot afford to lose another ounce. My Endo says I will be complaining about weight gain in a few short months. I suppose it is since my body is now absorbing the foods I eat. Is this the case even if eating between 1500-2000 cals a day? I hope so.
Thanks!
Hi @HopeFloats2020 and welcome to TypeOneNation. It’s common to regain all of the water weight you lost very quickly. Then it all depends on calories in and calories burned. I think your best bet is to work with the CDE to learn how to control your blood sugar and ask to see a dietitian for how many calories you need to gain, sustain, or lose weight. I always think that the book “Think Like a Pancreas “ is a good read for the insulin and blood sugar parts. Good luck
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