I am T1D for over 1/2 my life. My mother, brother and nephew all diagnosed T1D at various ages (3 yrs to mid 30s).
I’m struggling to find support or discussion threads regarding T1’s who are considering or have had bariatric surgery. It seems to be a somewhat niche subset.
I am in my mid-50s and after pandemic and menopause, I had gained an unhealthy amount of weight. I utilized the healthy choices program at Kaiser Permanente which involved several months of prep before they authorized surgery. I had my surgery a year ago (Feb. 2024). Was it easy, no. But I absolutely don’t regret it either, it offered me a hard re-set & jump start onto a healthier path and lifestyle.
Without going into further details about myself, I’m seeking forums/discussion threads that might be supportive and helpful of the challenges and considerations T1Ds may consider or experience pre & post bariatric surgery.
I’ve participated in numerous Bariatric support groups (via KP) and whenever I speak up asking if there’s other T1D’s post bariatric, I get nothing but crickets in response. I feel there’s a unique set of challenges and considerations a T1D faces that further complicate managing life post-surgery.
I’m open to suggestions from forum moderators. If there’s an existing discussion thread that might be helpful please let me know. I would welcome starting a thread about this subject if the moderators feel it may be beneficial.
@latinleprechaun Welcome Casey to the Breakthrough T1D Community Forum. You are welcome, and encouraged, to create a New Topic about bariatric surgery. On the forum ho,e page, scroll down past the “Newly Diagnosed” and “Latest” topics and you will see on the right in a blue oval - “+New Topic”. Click that and begin.
Hello @latinleprechaun Welcome to Breaktrhough T1d. @Dennis has some important information and you have certainly started this as a topic. From personal experience, if I do too specific of a search I may not find any information. Just a suggestion here and you do not have to respond, but there will be much more feedback if, for example, you are having trouble with insulin and lows, and given you’ve had a procedure, you may not be able to, again for example, drink more than a few gulps of juice to raise a low.
Perhaps if you have more specific questions… food cravings, fixing lows, fixing highs, insulin, exercise, recovery from surgery, pain management and blood sugar… etc., you can find more input and feedback.
good luck I hope you can get the support you need!
Apologies if you’ve already tried this but I’m wondering if you might get some contacts by asking your endocrinologist to put you in touch with other patients who are considering or have had a bariatric procedure? Of course HIPAA won’t allow the office to release information about other patients to you, but I don’t see why they could not share yours with others if you authorize them to do so.
I hope you find what you’re looking for - all the best to you.
@latinleprechaun ,
Congratulations on your success with bariatric surgery! I bet it is challenging to find type ones to communicate with. I wonder if the surgeon’s office might not be able to offer options.
I haven’t had bariatric surgery, but have had a substantial weight loss over the past year. I didn’t use injectables either. It’s difficult to find many type ones who have a substantial weight loss for me too, regardless of how they did it. It’s odd. Maybe, there aren’t many out there….anyway. I hope you locate some others similarly situated.
