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?

Activity
- 5 hours, 45 minutes ago
  
  Fabio Gobeth likes your comment at
  On average, how long does it take you to recover from a low glucose episode?
  Generally, it only takes about 10 minutes,, if I treat promptly. I set my CGM to alarm at 85, so I have time to treat quickly. Even if I go lower than 70, I'm able to function pretty well,
- 6 hours, 44 minutes ago
  
  Steve Rumble likes your comment at
  How often do you over-correct low glucose levels?
  Depends on how low. The lower the more likely. The response also varies. A pair of 4 gram sugar tabs can raise my Bg 60 points or none.
- 11 hours, 5 minutes ago
  
  KCR likes your comment at
  How often do you over-correct low glucose levels?
  Some of the time. Usually, it occurs when I have a severe low blood glucose. Then I get that insatiable appetite. Most of the time, I do well with corrections.
- 20 hours, 32 minutes ago
  
  Amanda Barras likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  It would depend on if it was blood sugar responsive. I currently have an A1c near 6 and don’t want to give up control.
- 1 day, 2 hours ago
  
  Bruce Schnitzler likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I like having control over the amount of insulin I administer according to my diet and physical activity.
- 1 day, 6 hours ago
  
  Molly Jones likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I responded "Unsure" because I'd need more information about this before I would be willing to try anything...
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Mike S likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  If it handled basal and bolus correctly, where my time in range was 80-90% and I only had to do one shot a week that would be amazing
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Mike S likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  Would this be a basal insulin? How would meal-time insulin be administered? And how would fluctuating insulin needs (day vs night, sedentary vs active) be managed with a single dose? I have many questions that outweigh the possible convenience of a single injection (if that’s what this question is about).
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Mike S likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I responded "Unsure" because I'd need more information about this before I would be willing to try anything...
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Mike S likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I like having control over the amount of insulin I administer according to my diet and physical activity.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Mike S likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I said moderately because being on Medicare, I’d need much more information such as how many weeks would I be able to have on hand without additional prescriptions? Would I still need some kind of preauthorization once per year that’s a hassle getting? How long would it stay good - the same amount of time? Would the pump take a week’s worth or how does that work with pump supplies?
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  eherban1 likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I'm MDI and if we're talking basal it isn't a big deal to me. Now if we're talking fast acting, that's a much different story!
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Marty likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  Would this be a basal insulin? How would meal-time insulin be administered? And how would fluctuating insulin needs (day vs night, sedentary vs active) be managed with a single dose? I have many questions that outweigh the possible convenience of a single injection (if that’s what this question is about).
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Marty likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I responded "Unsure" because I'd need more information about this before I would be willing to try anything...
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Marty likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I like having control over the amount of insulin I administer according to my diet and physical activity.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  KCR likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I responded "Unsure" because I'd need more information about this before I would be willing to try anything...
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  KCR likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I'm MDI and if we're talking basal it isn't a big deal to me. Now if we're talking fast acting, that's a much different story!
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Bonnie Lundblom likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I responded "Unsure" because I'd need more information about this before I would be willing to try anything...
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  eherban1 likes your comment at
  On average, how long does it take you to recover from a low glucose episode?
  I find I can normalize my BG in 15-30 minutes. But after ~50 years with T1D and maybe due to getting older I am fairly exhausted for hours after a hypo.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  eherban1 likes your comment at
  On average, how long does it take you to recover from a low glucose episode?
  To feel like it hadn’t happened I need a nap.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Derek West likes your comment at
  On average, how long does it take you to recover from a low glucose episode?
  It varies from 5 minutes to 20 minutes. The exception to this is the very occasional low that's resistant to resolving and - as Anthony said in his comment - I continue adding more glucose until I begin to feel the symptoms ebb. Once the low is gone the extra glucose will slowly but surely result in a higher-than-desired blood sugar.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Derek West likes your comment at
  On average, how long does it take you to recover from a low glucose episode?
  I answered 15-30 minutes, but there are times, especially at night, especially when very low, that it can take 1-2 hours. That's a real pain. I just keep throwing glucose at the problem which will creat high readings later, but I have to get the glucose reading to rise and it won't. Also, my best quality decisions are not made when awoken in the middle of the night.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Debbie Pine likes your comment at
  If insulin became available in a once-weekly formulation, how interested would you be?
  I responded "Unsure" because I'd need more information about this before I would be willing to try anything...
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  How often do you take a “vacation” from wearable diabetes technology (insulin pump, CGM)?
  Never! I think about my blood sugar so much less with all these devices attached. And I barely notice them once they are on. It’s such a blessing that when I have to take them off that’s more of a problem/inconvenience than a vacation.
- 1 day, 10 hours ago
  
  Lawrence S. likes your comment at
  How often do you take a “vacation” from wearable diabetes technology (insulin pump, CGM)?
  Never. I have severe hypoglycemic unawareness. No symptoms even at glucose levels of 40.
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 has worked in the diabetes research field 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 Marketing Manager 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)

1

3 years ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Kilwein

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

3

3 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.

3 years ago Log in to Reply
1. KarenM6
  
  Wow!! rick phillips!
  Congratulations on your awesome weight loss!
  That is truly amazing and inspirational. 😀
  
  3 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?

3 years ago Log in to Reply
1. Modee
  
  You’d be surprised
  
  1
  
  3 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
  
  3 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

3 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

3 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.

3 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

3 years ago Log in to Reply