If you have had a procedure where you had fat removed from your body (e.g., removal of fatty tissue from abdomen, thigh, buttocks, etc. through surgical or non-surgical means), did it change how your body absorbs insulin in those areas?

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  I kept my Tandem pump, but changed From Dexcom G6 to G7.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
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  I switched from Dexcom G6 to G7 this year. I've had the same Tandem T:slim X2 pump model for many years now, although it's been replaced a couple of times for charging problems.
- 4 hours, 2 minutes ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
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  I changed to the Dexcom G7 from the Dexcom G6. I got a new Tandem T:slim X2 last year (2023) to replace my old one that was out of warranty.
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  Do you try to have healthier options on the days leading up to a holiday get-together?
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  Do you try to have healthier options on the days leading up to a holiday get-together?
  Your brain may be having a holiday, but your body is still T1D. It doesn’t take vacations or holidays. Changing routines rarely works out well.
- 18 hours, 39 minutes ago
  
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  In 2024, how much did you spend out-of-pocket on diabetes medications and supplies?
  I had to enter not sure. I can’t recall any direct expenses. However, I paid several thousand dollars for Medicare and the supplemental insurance that paid for my supplies.
- 1 day, 1 hour ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  I had 4 with my endocrinologist because I have a pump and Medicare requires it also had 1 appt with a diabetes pharmacist
- 1 day, 1 hour ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  My endo would be happy to see me only 2x a year vs 4x a year because of my good diabetes control BUT, Medicare mandates a visit every 90 days to the prescribing physician for any approval of claims for insulin pump supplies....penny-wise and pound-foolish, IMO.
- 1 day, 4 hours ago
  
  TEH likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  My endo would be happy to see me only 2x a year vs 4x a year because of my good diabetes control BUT, Medicare mandates a visit every 90 days to the prescribing physician for any approval of claims for insulin pump supplies....penny-wise and pound-foolish, IMO.
- 1 day, 5 hours ago
  
  Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
  In 2024, how many appointments did you have with your T1D healthcare provider?
  Oh, I also went to diabetes training camp for the second year and honestly, that's the most helpful thing I do. Several days with endocrinologists, educators, dietitians, sports physiologists, and others, most of whom also have type one.
- 1 day, 18 hours ago
  
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  In 2024, how much did you spend out-of-pocket on diabetes medications and supplies?
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- 1 day, 18 hours ago
  
  dholl62@gmail.com likes your comment at
  In 2024, how much did you spend out-of-pocket on diabetes medications and supplies?
  I had to enter not sure. I can’t recall any direct expenses. However, I paid several thousand dollars for Medicare and the supplemental insurance that paid for my supplies.
- 2 days, 14 hours ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Before I get to using the long acting insulin, I’d go to my backup pump then the MDI.
- 2 days, 14 hours ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Yes I do and I keep long acting insulin in my supplies. But for periods of a day or two I usually just take small doses of my fast acting (Novolog) every two to four hours and do fine with that... Luckily I am 75 years old and get up to use bathroom several times through the night; also my insulin needs are low, about 25 to 30 units per day
- 2 days, 22 hours ago
  
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  Do you use insulin pens or vials?
  I do! Also for if I want a larger bolus (I'll often use the pod for part and the pen for part) to avoid over saturating the pod site, or if I'm worried my site isn't absorbing well enough but I'm not 100% convinced enough to pull it off. I always have a pen in my bag in case of emergencies (though I do use vials to fill my pods) and I figure it's good to use the pen occasionally in the "use it or lose it" mentality. I'm happy keeping an active pen for many months or even a year but I'm sure it would fail eventually and need to be tossed.
- 3 days ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Yes for close, accuracy is a challenge and the dose may be off, just part of the process.
- 3 days ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  I am blessed, in 30+ years of pumping I've only had one pump failure. A Minimed pump failed on a flight home.
- 3 days ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  Before I get to using the long acting insulin, I’d go to my backup pump then the MDI.
- 3 days ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  I don’t know how much long acting insulin I would need if my pump stopped working. I would simply contact my doctor, asking for the long acting that I’ve have used and would ask him to help me figure out how much of it I would need on a daily basis. When that has happened recently, I would just give myself periodic shots of my regular fast acting to tide me over.
- 3 days ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  If you use an insulin pump and it fails, do you know how much long-acting insulin to take?
  I don't, but I also don't have any long acting insulin
Clear All

If you have had a procedure where you had fat removed from your body (e.g., removal of fatty tissue from abdomen, thigh, buttocks, etc. through surgical or non-surgical means), did it change how your body absorbs insulin in those areas?

If you use an insulin pump, when changing your pump site, do your blood glucose (BG) levels rise afterwards? If so, please share in the comments if you take any steps to adjust for the rise when changing your site.

Sarah Howard

Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.

11 Comments

Trina Blake

Since no one has commented, I’ll open it up. No I haven’t had fat removal surgery (although I wish I could afford it!) I want my ballet dancer body back (those ballet company reunion-type events can be brutal to one’s self-esteem)

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2 years ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Kilwein

Never had fat removed but would be happy to! I’ll even donate!

3

2 years ago Log in to Reply
rick phillips

I have a bunch oh weight, not by a surgical means but with WW. Yes after being down 160lbs, insulin absorption works so much better. It is night and day different.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
1. KarenM6
  
  Wow!! rick phillips!
  Congratulations on your awesome weight loss!
  That is truly amazing and inspirational. 😀
  
  2 years ago Log in to Reply
Tom Caesar

What kind of question is this? Does it really pertain to a large number of us diabetics?

2 years ago Log in to Reply
1. Modee
  
  You’d be surprised
  
  1
  
  2 years ago Log in to Reply
2. Martina Schockemoehle
  
  it’s interesting! Especially if you have some superfluous pounds you might consider to remove…
  
  1
  
  2 years ago Log in to Reply
Kristine Warmecke

I’ve had fat removed unintentionally during surgery and I had a fat transfer with my tissue expander removal, to attempt to repair the damage of the first plastic surgeon during my mastectomy. I don’t think it had any affect on how my insulin is absorbed.

1

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Lynn Smith

I had liposuction and a tummy tuck a little over a year ago. Since then I have not placed my Omnipod on my abdomen. I prefer my thighs for my pod and my abdomen for my Dexcom. Sorry I can’t give any useful information about the question.

1

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Mig Vascos

I never had fat surgical removed from my body, neither would I take that risk, but this year I changed my diet slightly and have lost 12 pounds, plus I got a coach for pickleball and have lost a lot of fat. This was a surprised to me, since I have done a lot of cardio and it did minimal changes to my body.
As a consequence of the weight and fat lost, my body absorption of insulin has changed in different ways and I’ve been having more lows than usual.
Just this morning I adjusted my pump by lowering my basals.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Lucia Maya

I had a tummy tuck 18 years ago, after 2 huge babies and a lot of extra skin, plus separated stomach muscles. I was surprised that I can’t use my belly for pump sites, as the skin/myofascial tissue itself is very sensitive (still) and I get big reactions to the sites there. No one had mentioned this going into it, so thought I’d share!

2

2 years ago Log in to Reply