Does insulin make you gain weight?

Does insulin make you gain weight?

Insulin by itself does not cause weight gain.

Leading up to a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, many people experience profound and rapid weight loss since their body has to break down muscle and fat for energy instead of being able to use glucose from the food they eat. Once they receive treatment in the form of insulin for their diabetes, they usually gain some weight since all of the extra glucose in their blood can be used as energy or stored. In this case, it’s understandable why someone may think that insulin itself causes weight gain, when, in reality, it’s just that your body is able to use and store energy again like it normally should.

Having persistently high blood sugar can also cause severe dehydration, so people who receive treatment after their Type 1 diabetes diagnosis may also gain weight in the form of water, or rehydration.

Everyone’s body needs insulin in order to be healthy and survive. If you have Type 1 diabetes, it’s essential to take your insulin as instructed by your healthcare provider.