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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- 1 minute ago
  
  Rob Smith likes your comment at
  The food we choose to eat as people with T1D is so personal, and each food impacts every person differently. What foods do you prefer to eat for your first meal of the day? Share what works for you in the comments!
  fasting
- 4 minutes ago
  
  Jeff Marvel likes your comment at
  The food we choose to eat as people with T1D is so personal, and each food impacts every person differently. What foods do you prefer to eat for your first meal of the day? Share what works for you in the comments!
  My usual breakfast before I head to work is a (gluten free) bagel with cream cheese and a cup of black tea with milk and sugar. I've seen several nutritionists over the last five years and one of them recommended that I incorporate more protein into my diet, especially at breakfast. But, when I experimented with (plant based) breakfasts higher in protein, I found a) I didn't like most of them very much and b) my morning/lunchtime blood sugar levels became much more volatile. With the bagel, my blood sugar usually spikes shortly afterwards but then gradually falls back to target and is usually in range at lunch. I can work with that. I don't like worrying about low blood sugars while at work. I do I like consistency. And I like bagels.
- 4 minutes ago
  
  Rob Smith likes your comment at
  The food we choose to eat as people with T1D is so personal, and each food impacts every person differently. What foods do you prefer to eat for your first meal of the day? Share what works for you in the comments!
  Don't eat breakfast. Lunch and dinner are low carb high protein.
- 5 minutes ago
  
  Rob Smith likes your comment at
  The food we choose to eat as people with T1D is so personal, and each food impacts every person differently. What foods do you prefer to eat for your first meal of the day? Share what works for you in the comments!
  Keto OMAD or TMAD
- 40 minutes ago
  
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  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I have one diet ginger ale and an ounce of bourbon every night with ice. I admit it. Only one drink. Helps get me by….
- 41 minutes ago
  
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  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Poison by any other name! Water and coffee are best for me
- 42 minutes ago
  
  Ahh Life likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I can't recall how long it's been since I last drank soda ... either 'regular' soda or 'diet' soda ... but I'm thinking that it's probably 25 years or more ago.
- 19 hours, 23 minutes ago
  
  jo likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I drink several diet cokes (typically a store brand) per day. Doesn't impact my blood sugars. I am sure the artificial sweeteners aren't good for you but I avoid so many foods/drinks because of the impact to my blood sugars that I figure I'm allowed one unhealthy addiction!! :-)
- 19 hours, 24 minutes ago
  
  jo likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I used to drink diet soda EVERY day -- and I finally quit many years ago. Within a few months after quitting, my tastebuds finally realized it tastes like pure chemicals. Bleh. Now I can't stand the taste of any fake chemical sugars.
- 19 hours, 24 minutes ago
  
  jo likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I no longer drink diet sodas thought I used to love Dr Pepper! I just grew tired of them and started to prefer to drink water when I began hiking with a local group. Now I drink tons of water every day, though not from the tap since ours tastes yucky!
- 19 hours, 26 minutes ago
  
  jo likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Grew up on Tab before I had diabetes, Loved Diet RC, Switched to Diet Coke, can tolerate Diet Pepsi, after 65 years, I am doing great.,
- 19 hours, 26 minutes ago
  
  jo likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I never drink any kind of soda, diet or regular. On occasion, if I am having leg or foot cramps at night I will have some diet tonic. It helps! This was recommended to me by my podiatrist.
- 19 hours, 29 minutes ago
  
  jo likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I have one diet ginger ale and an ounce of bourbon every night with ice. I admit it. Only one drink. Helps get me by….
- 20 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Grew up on Tab before I had diabetes, Loved Diet RC, Switched to Diet Coke, can tolerate Diet Pepsi, after 65 years, I am doing great.,
- 20 hours, 23 minutes ago
  
  Karen Tay likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Grew up on Tab before I had diabetes, Loved Diet RC, Switched to Diet Coke, can tolerate Diet Pepsi, after 65 years, I am doing great.,
- 20 hours, 23 minutes ago
  
  Karen Tay likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  49 years with T1D. I used to drink diet soda on a daily basis, now less than rarely/never. Times change.
- 21 hours, 24 minutes ago
  
  Phyllis Donahue likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Poison by any other name! Water and coffee are best for me
- 21 hours, 24 minutes ago
  
  Phyllis Donahue likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  49 years with T1D. I used to drink diet soda on a daily basis, now less than rarely/never. Times change.
- 21 hours, 24 minutes ago
  
  Phyllis Donahue likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I used to drink diet all the time but have been reducing the amount. I know it’s bad, formaldehyde, for me and the taste has been off. The sparkling waters have been tasting better lately.
- 21 hours, 26 minutes ago
  
  Tracy Jean likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I drink several diet cokes (typically a store brand) per day. Doesn't impact my blood sugars. I am sure the artificial sweeteners aren't good for you but I avoid so many foods/drinks because of the impact to my blood sugars that I figure I'm allowed one unhealthy addiction!! :-)
- 21 hours, 31 minutes ago
  
  MT likes your comment at
  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I have one diet ginger ale and an ounce of bourbon every night with ice. I admit it. Only one drink. Helps get me by….
- 21 hours, 43 minutes ago
  
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  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Poison by any other name! Water and coffee are best for me
- 22 hours, 3 minutes ago
  
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  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Poison by any other name! Water and coffee are best for me
- 22 hours, 23 minutes ago
  
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  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  Poison by any other name! Water and coffee are best for me
- 22 hours, 23 minutes ago
  
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  If you are a person with T1D, how often do you drink diet soda?
  I love Diet Coke. There are so many foods I stay away from because of how it affects my BG. And it’s my only vice!
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 Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange. Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.

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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3 months ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Kilwein

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

3

3 months 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 months ago Log in to Reply
1. KarenM6
  
  Wow!! rick phillips!
  Congratulations on your awesome weight loss!
  That is truly amazing and inspirational. 😀
  
  3 months 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 months ago Log in to Reply
1. Modee
  
  You’d be surprised
  
  1
  
  3 months ago Log in to Reply
2. Martina Schockemoehle
  
  it’s interesting! Especially if you have some superfluous pounds you might consider to remove…
  
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  3 months 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 months 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 months 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 months 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 months ago Log in to Reply