Serial body composition by bioimpedance analysis in a diabetic subject with rapid insulin-induced weight gain--a case
I-Tee Lee1, Shih-Yi Lin, Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Section 3, Chung Kang Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Insulin treatment is well known to induce progressive body weight gain. However, rapid weight increase due to transient fluid accumulation is rare. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a convenient method for determining body composition and water content. We report an 18-year-old diabetic female with rapid insulin-induced weight gain due to excessive body water retention, found by serial BIA measurement. The patient was admitted to our hospital due to uncontrolled diabetes. She had an initial body weight of 55 kg and height of 165 cm. However, a weight gain of 6.5 kg was noted one week after starting insulin injections and further increased to 8 kg after the second week. Finally a net weight increase of 4 kg from fat and lean mass was attained after two months. The weekly BIA data showed that most of the initial weight gain came from water retention, peaking on day 14 and recovering afterwards. Rapid weight gain shortly after insulin therapy may be due to excessive but reversible water retention, detected by repeated BIA measurements.
Related Concept Videos
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Obesity
