Suggest Remedy For Weight Gain In A Teenager With Type 1 Diabetes

Brief Answer:
Weight gain in Type 1 Diabetes: possible causes

Detailed Answer:
Good day,

Noted your concerns. When type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, many children present with weight loss and once insulin is started, they regain the lost weight.

Besides, you must understand that Insulin is an anabolic hormone which cause weight gain.

There are several other challenges in type 1 diabetes like hypoglycemia which make them to eat excessively. It often becomes a problem and the weight gain causes secondary insulin resistance . In addition to that, during teen ages, growth hormone and pubertal hormoes cause insulin resistance which is another challenge. All these demands excess insulin dose which causes further weight gain. It is a vicious cycle and it is important to find the excat cause.

Depression is often associated in teens with type 1 diabetes which is another rsk factor for weight gain.

Hypothyroidism can be present alng with Type 1 diabetes , but i am sure her endocrinologist would have done necessary blood works to exclude it.

In my practice i often add Metformin ( off label use in Type diabetes) in kids above 10 years of age with Type 1 DM and insulin resiatance. It is a drug for Type 2 diabetes But works well in Type as well when there is insulin resistance. It helps to lose weight as well. Besides, it helps to reduce insuin dose which further cause weight loss.

You must discuss with your endocrinologist if they are willing to start Metformin in your daughter. A team work is important in these ages. Parents/Endocrinologist/Dietician/Diabetes educator should work as a team and find out an exact solution. I am sure that your diaeticin would have educated her about counting the carbohydrates in diet and adjusting insulin accordingly. A 24 hour diet recall by an experienced diabetes dietician often can find out the problem.

Her endocrinologist must also look in to other occult hormonal disorders which can lead to weight gain.

How are her menstural periods? What is her height ( centimeters) and weight (Kilogram)?
What is her exact age by date of birth.
It would be helpful to know the height of parents as well ( in centimeters). This will help me to plot her height chart. This is helpful in that, plotting her exat weight and height in a growth chart periodically can identify some hormonal disorders.

Regards
Binu

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Brief Answer:
Irregular periods need investigations

Detailed Answer:
Her height is with in the curve. Which means , her height gain seems to be okay.
She is arond 9-10 kilos excess for her height. Weight gain normally is a problem in pubertal age and this is the age when they require excess insulin dose.

Regarding her irregular periods, has she had hormone tests prior to starting on estrogen/progesterone pill ? What about thyroid fuctions?
High dose estrogen pills can cause weight gain, but now a days, low dose estrogen is widely used.

Weight gain can cause secondary PCOS ( poly cystic ovary syndrome) which cause irregular periods as well.

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Brief Answer:
Do you a copy of the hormone tests?

Detailed Answer:
Do you have the results of hormone tests done in the past?

Apart from being hereditary , the high cholesterol may be secondary to weight gain itself ( Metabolic Syndrome)

As I mentioned earlier, it is important to rule out Hypothyroidism and Excess cortisol secretion ( Cushing's Syndrome) as a cause of weight gain and high cholesterol. These are reversible.

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