Diabetes Nerd

Restricting Insulin Nearly Killed Her but This Saved Her Life

Diabetes Nerd Season 1

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SENSITIVE TOPIC WARNING: This episode discusses disordered eating, insulin restriction, and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). If you or someone you love is struggling with disordered eating or insulin restriction, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.

Insulin restriction is not a safe or effective method for weight loss. It can lead to severe hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), DKA, hospitalization, and life-threatening complications and should never be encouraged as a weight-loss strategy.


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In this episode of The Diabetes Nerd Podcast, I sit down with Carly Lynette, a 21-year-old diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 3, to talk candidly about her experience with disordered eating, insulin restriction, and recovery.

Carly shares how concerns about food, body image, and weight eventually led her to restrict insulin for several years, resulting in severe chronic high blood sugar, repeated episodes of DKA, hospitalizations, isolation, and significant impacts on her health and education. She also discusses the decision that helped her begin moving forward and the challenges of maintaining recovery.

We also talk about Carly’s experience using a GLP-1 medication to manage the intense food-related thoughts and appetite challenges that contributed to her disordered eating. Carly explains why this treatment has been helpful for her, while we discuss the complexities of using GLP-1 medications in people with T1D and why individual medical guidance matters.

Throughout the conversation, we also discuss the relationship between T1D, appetite regulation, food noise, body image, and disordered eating, as well as the gaps Carly encountered when trying to get support.

Carly is open about where she is today, including her return to school, her interest in a career helping others, and her desire to advocate for people living with T1D and disordered eating.

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DISCLAIMER: This video is not medical advice. Ginger Vieira is not a doctor. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your healthcare regimen.

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