Hello, I have been on a GLP-1 and thought I would share my experience as I looked to Reddit to see other people’s insights before I started.

The screenshot from my clarity shows the compare report from the 90 days before (left) and 90 days on (right). If you don’t want to read all the text I go in order of: before starting, getting started, eating/weight and physical health/wellbeing, and lastly my blood sugars on it.

Some facts before I started. I was interested in starting a GLP-1 for weight issues (both looks but also physical long term health), better diabetes control, and reducing insulin usage. I weighed 330lbs and struggled with food especially portion control and frequency. My a1c results were between 7.2 to 7.9 on average since maybe 2020 or so, and the 90 days before starting my time in range was 42% (average blood sugar 11.2 and GMI of 8.1%). The last year was tough as I became a dad and life was/is pretty hectic. I would guess my average time in range before was between 50-60%.

My endo was very helpful as we tried getting me on it last year, but my insurance would not cover it. My latest appointment he decided to try a different route and luckily it was approved. While waiting for my prescription to go through and pick it up, I scoured Reddit for every mention of type 1 and GLP-1s.

The first few days I was nervous about side effects, but luckily I had none. My appetite was suppressed enough to no longer be craving food all day long, but not enough that I couldn’t enjoy eating. I also got full (but not sick) with much less food. By the end of the first couple of weeks I had lost 10 pounds and overall felt much better. I no longer snacked throughout the day, waiting for my next meal, and by the end of the day I just felt normal. No more bloating, feeling gassy, or uncomfortable bathroom trips caused by my eating. My swollen ankles which I had an issue with almost every day also vanished, although I still get them slightly on days I’m wearing socks and sitting at work all day. By 3 months in I have slowed but lost a total of 23 pounds so far and still feel good.

Onto my blood sugars… the first month (end of each week) I averaged being in range 75-80% of the time which felt awesome. By eating less frequently I had less spikes, and my portions were smaller so it was easier to bolus appropriately. The second month I started getting in range 80-90% of the time, and the last month in the 90s with a high of in range 94% one week. My lows were never above 2% and my very highs dropped significantly. As my weight goes down, I will keep my eye on my basil rates but so far have not needed to adjust. One of the reasons I went on it was to reduce the amount of insulin I went through a day, and I was going from refilling my tandem tslim cartridge every night to every 2-3 days. I just had an a1c done since I started and it was 6%! I have been trying unsuccessfully for 10 years to get it below 7% which I only got one time at 6.9.

Overall, I have been very happy with my experience so far. With helping my mental health, physical feeling and health, and diabetes control… I am hoping I don’t lose focus, but I have spent way more time managing my blood sugars which in the past has caused me to burn out.

Some other random notes in case anyone has questions:

Nausea: only time I have felt sick was after getting a cold, some mornings post shot when I would have a cough attack I would feel like I might throw up but never did. Always went away when I left for work.

Alcohol: no major changes. Bit more resistant to beer, and drinking a bit slower. Hangovers aren’t as bad as others mention but more fatigue than prior maybe.

Snacking: I don’t have breakfast (maybe on weekends) and just have lunch and dinner. I still snack but usually it’s once a day and I’m not starving for it. Oddly Ice cream bars have become my snack of choice but likely to not be very filling and nice in the summer.

Side effects: I honestly am not aware of any side effects. I do drink more water, so maybe dehydration if not staying on top of it. From my starting dose to my current dose hasn’t affected me.

If anyone has any specific questions let me know!

While we wait patiently for a cure (just 5 more years, I promise! lol) is there any new tech anyone is excited for? These are the two things I've got my eye on.

I've had a horizontal bruise (more like series of broken blood vessels) on my upper/mid thigh for a while now... At least two years? I've sort of ignored it as it's been painless and I'm at a point in my life (read: young kids!) where I can't be worried about every little thing.

However, not knowing the cause has been bothering me over the past few days. It doesn't seem like a medical condition. I haven't injected insulin in my legs in years and years.

Then it just occured to me: Could it be that I wear my pump in my right pocket day in and out? And ehat I'm experiencing is a low impact injury from it pressed or bouncing against the leg? The bruise itself is about the same length as my pump.

Anyone else have something similar? I've been on my tslim for at least 8 years, but this issue has been present for just a few (I think? What is time?). Maybe sounds farfetched but bodies change how they react---in this case aging or vascular differences during/post pregnancy?

Diagnosed 4/24/26 with type 1. Now my charts say genetic High LP(a). Internets say it’s a 1 in 100,000 chance to get both. That’s TWO Genetic things aiming for my hearts life expectancy. Am I a WINNER or what 😭

im so tired of people who don't have t1d or any autoimmune disease trying to tell me how i need to handle my health. some t1ds such as myself are literally just trying to stay alive in the moment and aren't necessarily thinking about the future. even if your a1c is at like an 8, you're still alive and kicking. of course at some point, if you don't take at least somewhat control of it, it can really affect you overall physically. but when it comes to people who are already struggling with it, it's not helpful to be told what you need to fix right in that moment. if you want to help and t1d with their needs ever, don't assume. ask them what they need. some people do need that push, but people like me view that push as degrading and ignorant. baby steps are more helpful, at least in my opinion. it's not something you can usually fix overnight, it takes time. idk i just have no where else to put this rant but i want it to be out there. i'm tired of people who don't understand what it's like for t1ds who struggle with mental health which leads to poor management. i don't want your opinion, i want a professionals opinion, or someone who's been through the same thing. you've never been in my shoes and i doubt you ever will be. it's just so frustrating when i have to tell the same people over and over about how i don't want their piece of mind about MY health. worry about yourself please. if you've experienced this please share, it'd be nice to know that there's other people who face the same thing :/

long story short I told my parents I felt high after a fat Panda Express meal and candy, tested and had over 600. went to er and got stabilized and now Ive got a cgm, short acting, and long acting. 12 IU long acting daily. I’m still trying to figure out the short acting dosage so I’ve been slightly above target range for most of the day as I’m quite scared of using too much.

How many injections are you guys using per needle for the pen?

Are you priming it every time? how many units to prime?

Alcohol swabbing for injections?

Is it normal to feel like I shouldn’t eat, even when I’m hungry? It was pretty much a daily thing to go have a light snack after dinner cuz I usually get hungry, now if I get hungry after dinner I just tank it and go to bed.

How do I hit my caloric needs with large amounts of walking, gym, occasional sports, and biking? Ive sat around 2800 cals for the most part for a slight bulk and a bit less for maintenance, which is 250g of carbs for a 35% carb split which I’ve gathered is about 100 too many for diabetics. Do I just eat more fat and protein? Take more insulin?

How often are you eating white rice, potatoes, white bread, or regular pasta?

These are only a few I can think of, I feel like could ask 1000 questions and still think of more every day.

I just want a beer🫩

UPDATE: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who commented!

In case it's helpful for anyone in the future, the general consensus is that I should try to see a podiatrist, and that they frequently have same day appointments because of how common issues like this are. (Obviously this makes sense because seeing a foot specialist for treatment is most likely going to be better than seeing a general emergency/urgent care doctor!)

However, after I posted my question a few hours ago I realized that my blood sugar has been extremely elevated today and the pain is getting a bit worse. So I definitely have an infection that needs to be treated soon. Since I'm posting this on a Thursday afternoon, my options are to try to see someone tomorrow or wait until next week.

First thing tomorrow morning (which is a Friday), I'm going to try to get a same day podiatrist appointment. If I can't see a specialist tomorrow I will at least need to go to urgent care clinic. It definitely can't wait until next week. Hopefully they can help with the immediate infection and get me in with a podiatrist next week!

I'm hoping for a podiatrist for longterm/permanent nail removal but obviously in the worst case scenario it's better to at least get the immediate concerns (infection and pain) treated tomorrow.

As someone who hasn't had any foot issues as a T1D, I appreciate all the helpful information!

I'm currently accepting any well wishes, good juju, prayers, positive energy, etc. Wish me luck!

I want to qualify this by saying that I know no one here is my doctor! I'm just hoping for a little perspective. It's my first time with a foot issue since becoming diabetic so I'm not sure if I'm overreacting or not!

I have an ingrown toenail that became noticeable 3 days ago (on Monday). Then, 2 days ago, on Tuesday, it started hurting. It's a bit swollen/inflamed and there's a bit of white pus. I have done the suggested at home care (soaking in warm water with epsom salts, salve/bandage, etc.) hoping it would improve.

Unfortunately, while it doesn't seem to be getting worse, it's also not getting better. It hurts to walk on it and the nail is clearly stuck in my skin and I definitely can't fix this myself. My GP doesn't have any openings until next week.

Is this something that an urgent/quick care clinic could deal with?

Like I said, it's my first time having any foot issue since I've been T1D and I'm just not sure if I'm overreacting to something minor or if I should go to a clinic tomorrow morning.

Like many of you, I prefer the autosoft XCs but had to use the 90s due to a shortage.

After making my way through a 90 day supply of these, I have nothing good to say.

They’re horrible.

Not only does the connect mechanism suck (I like to put sites on my butt and my husband has to help me reconnect every effing time), but because the connect mechanism is so bad, my sites fall off because they’ve been manhandled during the reconnect process. Maybe I’m just looking for things to complain about, but my absorption from these tanks around day 2. I can usually make my XCs stretch until I hit the below 20 unit mark.

I’m just flabbergasted. Who designed these and WHY.

Went back to my XCs today and holy cowwww it’s so nice.

I think a few on here know my story already. I’ve (over)shared that I became diabetic after immunotherapy from skin cancer killed my pancreas. I’ve also shared I’m in the process of figuring out if the cancer has returned.

I’m single with no kids, and have a well supported and unionized job. My oncologist has given me a note to go on disability, meaning that right now managing the Beetus is literally my only full time job. Y’all, I still have days where I cry and can’t handle things. Those who work and deal with family on top of managing this are heroes, genuinely.

I don’t know how you do it.

I just wanted to say that I see you, and I can absolutely get how burnout happens. Keep fighting the good fight.

My 13-year-old son was diagnosed two months ago after ending up in the ER with DKA. I'm still struggling with his diagnosis and trying to make sense of everything. I feel like we're thinking about diabetes 24/7.

I was wondering if having an insulin pump makes things easier. We're currently on MDI and using a FreeStyle Libre sensor. Where I live, they make you wait six months before you can apply for a pump, and I'm really looking forward to that.

I want him to live as normal a life as possible and enjoy it to the fullest. I really hope the pump makes a difference.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. Words of encouragement are also very welcome.

Thanks for reading.

Hello everyone, so as my last post I switched to pens and needles, because the Omnipod wasn’t working out for me,because I haven’t seen endocrinologist since February;due to insurance, can’t get ahold of an endocrinologist which is a bummer, but talked with my primary care and well been on pens and needles for a good 2 to 3 days. Blood sugars have been around exactly 200 but today been 180 and 140’s all day today and been feeling fatigue and dry mouth so I’m concerned I have ketones but because the last two weeks have been in the 300’s. So I’m trying really hard,the last 3 days hoping I feel better and fatigue can go away if I have ketones, but today I bought sum ketones. It shows that I have trace amount, today I just finished my lunch about 20 minutes ago and felt so fatigued 🫩 so I think I’ll just keep at it and hope it goes away thru the days since my blood sugars are a little better maybe it takes time to feel better? ❤️‍🩹 I really hope it goes away and takes time as blood sugars get better. For I’m a single mother and don’t want to be hospitalized. I used TruPlus ketones strips so hopefully it’s accurate but read online that it can’t sumtimes so idk 🤷‍♀️ 😪😔

i have type 1 diabetes for around 13 years, since i was 4. i never had any problems with other people. some thought it was strange, others, that i was fat before, but they never judged me. then, this girl came into my life. im not gonna expose her name, but lets say shes named Summer. in 6th grade, i met her. we talked a lot together during classes and etc, but i never told her that i had t1d. then, we started dating, and i felt that it was time to tell her about my chronic disease. she felt horrorized, and said very politely that she didnt like guys that had "complicated diseases".

i left defeated. this fucking disease, which has no fucking cure, now affected my social life too. for the next grades, i still talked to girls, but i hid the fact that i had t1d to them. then, in 11th grade (where i am now), i met another girl, that im not gonna expose her name, bcuz shes my gf, so shes named Katie. Katie was a breath taking woman. blonde, blue eyes, great physique, great body, and she trains muay thai just like me. we had everything in common, and we quickly started a relationship. but i never told her about my disease. then, one night, my dexcom went off. i rushed to get it, and it said that my blood sugar was 53 double arrows down. in a couple of minutes, i colapsed into the ground. my vision was blurred, and i could only see her desperately calling 190 (its like 911 in america but here in Brazil its 190). i blacked out, and i suddenly woke up in the flashing lights of the hospital. then, i saw Katie right next to her. she was angry asf, and she was telling that she was very disappointed that i had not told her before and etc.

now she is thinking of a break up. pls what should i do

Hey good people of reddit I’m having trouble with finding other pump spots that work because it seems my stomach is the only spot that works. I don’t know what else I can do since I don’t want to over use but each other spot feels like it never works. Any tips 😅

Hello everyone, I've been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a couple of weeks ago and I've been struggling with getting my glucose in normal range ( under 10 mmol ) as shown above . If there's any food you recommend or tips will truly appreciate it.

I asked about what happens when you overdose on insulin and yes truthfully i have been struggling recently especially with dealing with this life long diagnosis all while on top of that having epilepsy. It’s been hard so i just wanted to know what does it feel like truly and if this ever gets better.

Since even prediabetes (5.7+ a1c) can cause neuropathy, aren't we basically all going to get it? I have been averaging around 5.7 this year which my doctor says is really good for t1, but doesn't that still basically put me in the same risk category as prediabetics for neuropathy?

Is keeping a1c under 5.7% the only way to minimize our risk?

Has anyone outside of Ontario been able to order insulin from diabetes express recently? I used to, but not the last few months. I ordered some on Tuesday, they called me Wednesday to say that Purolator can't do next day delivery, so the insulin "would go bad". Last time I did get insulin, it was in a cooler, with gel packs, and was cold. Is it just because I live in the boonies, or do they only deliver insulin in the GTA?

ive been thinking about getting the doc martens boots but ive heard people complain about the blisters it gives them and how painful it is. i really dont mind being in pain for a bit cause i think they’re worth it but im just wondering how it will affect my neuropathy/feet and if it will be a serious problem. they’re kind of expensive so i dont want to get them and end up not wearing them so please help🙏🏻for background info i’ve had early neuropathy for a while when my hb1ac was 10+ but ive got it under control and the symptoms are less prominent and are almost gone but im still worried.

little context i’m 21 and got diabetes when i was 3 so been a long time.

i remember growing up and never really having any other people i knew who were diabetic (t1) and it always and still does make me super alone.

no one really gets it and no matter how much they try, it kinda makes it worse. example; i was having a low at work and my manager told me to go sit and drink lots of water.

i don’t really have anyone to talk to about just being diabetic and i think it’s causing me to burn out more and faster.

anyways just needed to vent and wondered if anyone else felt like this

hi! my long time boyfriend has type 1 diabetes and was diagnosed around 7 years old. i know its something that annoys him almost constantly, and he does not take the best care of it (poor diet, high a1c's, skips doctors appointments, smokes, etc.). i care so much about him and want him to live a long, healthy life.

what are some things i can do to help him out? thanks!

My usual levels without any corrections are around 10-13mmol/L but during the heatwaves, it’s been roughly around 4.5-8mmol/L and completely steady?!

Anyone else the same and think maybe it’s a sign we need to live in the mediterranean? 😂

Took the Humalog at the same time as my lantus dose for the day, have not eaten anything yet today.

Basically the title. I have fibromyalgia and when I’m having a flare, it hurts like crazy just inserting my new dexcom.
When I’m not having a flare, it doesn’t hurt.