[Eleonora]

I work with a type 1 diabetic who competes in ifbb pro qualifiers. As he gets leaner and his carbs are reduced his sensitivity improves so we require less insulin. I don’t believe there is a benefit to diabetics using insulin as the manipulation doesnt work the same like it would in someone without it. There’s definitely some disadvantages, when lean he can have hypos randomly that require carbs whether in his plan or not. He will usually remove what he has taken from other meals that day to compensate. Hypos can bring stress on the body and excessive sweating usually followed by water retention for the next day or 2. We have had episodes back stage where he has sweated his whole tan off. He was dry as fuck but it wasn’t ideal. We found a solution to carb up early and use moderate to low carbs leading up to show day to avoid increasing the risk of hypos.

Yes, we do the same. He experiences hypo slighlty more often when becoming really lean and he takes carbs from other meals. He has the subcutaneous sensor connected to an app on his phone so usually we don’t get to the point where he starts sweating because the sensor warns with an alarm whe blood sugar starts to drop. But we never reached peak condition yet so who knows.

Anyway thanks everybody for your answers and kindness 🙂

[Eleonora]

having worked with a fair few clients that are diabetic I do feel that for those that manage it well and live the bodybuilding lifestyle there may well be a benefit, yes they dont have the ability to produce there own insulin which is a negative but the fact they can alter there dose as they push food up to keep BG inline and continue to improve nutrient shuttling does seem to bring about an advantage in terms of muscle growth – it also makes sense to me in terms of the science/physiology.

However the is then countered by a disadvantage that dieting will become more difficult as you are constantly having to manage glucose levels in a deficit that can be dangerous when you become very very lean.

it just means you need to be extra cautious with his insulin use as he diets down and continue to asses and adapt his dosing based on what he is seeing during the day – day to day. It simply means more work and monitoring on his behalf and yours.

Yes I agree. I also think, but that’s just my guess, that maybe it has some influence on ghrelin production, as he has never experienced a strong sense of hunger, even when he was really lean (I think about 1/2kg above potential stage weight). But maybe it’s just because he is a naturally very lean individual.

[Eleonora]

I’m definitely no expert so this is just my opinion from what I’ve seen / read etc. if he needs insulin to control his blood sugar day to day, then nothing needs to change if it’s going to diet for a show. He simple needs to continue or even
More strictly continue monitoring his blood glucose levels at each meal. When carbohydrates get cut / increase etc he needs to do it gradually and monitor his BG to make sure it’s hit negatively impacting him/

As for does insulin make a bodybuilder more or less successful, I don’t think it
Does. It’s just blood sugar management and yes it can have anabolic effects but that’s down to nutrient partitioning which many can do without insulin.

Infact some of the best bodybuilders I know don’t use insulin at all.

Hope this helps

I think the same. I’m pretty sure that most of his success is dued to his work ethic, athletic past and genetics like for anyone else.

The only benefit I detect is that we can “mathematically” control insulin sensitivity, and even if in some periods he develops a slight resistance we can continue to push a little bit by slightly increasing insulin intake. But I don’t think this really makes a huge difference.

[Eleonora]

Hello!!

First of all your English is pretty good no issues at all. I would go to your GP if your t4& t3 are low there’s a number of things it could be I would explain all symptoms and they will run a blood test and should put you on thyroid support if it’s needed.

Yes you could take this into your own hands but personally if you can get a prescription and get it through the dr this is the route I would go down.

I personally have a hashimotos which is an auto immune disease that attacks the thyroid. You don’t present the symptoms of that but I have done lots of research into thyroid and supplements that can help regulate this. Selenium is the main one that’s helped me.

But I would highly advise going to your dr first to get a diagnosis & treatment

I totally agree. I would like to get a prescription also because I would like to compete in natural federations. But for now I haven’t found any doctor who was able to help me yet. One of them have told me yes thyroid hormones supplementation would help you a lot but I can’t prescribe them because they can only be prescribed when you have high TSH. I’ve been going crazy for the past 3 years seeing many doctors. Someone also told me things like “you’re not made for bodybuilding” or “you just have to relax” like wtf.

I don’t have antibodies, just the nodule and the thyroid visually doesn’t look good. A doctor told me that maybe I’ve had thyroiditis when I was young, it makes sense because for some years I had constant problems of throat inflammations. My mom has several micronodules too.

[Eleonora]

Hi and i hope you are well.

So low T3 and t4 will for sure make it more difficult to loose weight in general and also if were were trying to get very lean or bodybuilding stage lean then even more difficult as you will find these numbers drop off even more as you get leaner.

it may also well mean you get a little softer as you grow which you have seen in the passed.

This doesnt make it impossible to improve your physique at all it just means that certain phases may be a little more difficult.

have you tried any natural supplements to look at boosting your thyroid levels.

Selenium ?
Kelp ?

Have you checked them during a phase of growing were your food is higher and a phase of cutting? Or just in one certain phase?

Luckily it’s not impossible at all to improve. I’ve improved a lot in the past 5 years. But I would really like to compete, I am very passionate about bodybuilding. My physique is already no longer suitable for bikini or wellness, I train hard and I want to grow and get strong and conditioned. I like muscular cathegories. I just feel that there is “something wrong” with how I feel and how my body responds and I’m trying to figure out what it is and how to feel and look better.

I’ve tried selenium+zinc for a period of time last year as they were prescribed to me by a sport nutritionist. Never tried kelp, I’ve never heard of this before! Thanks.

As for bloodworks I have only checked them at the end of growing phases or in maintenance, now I’m going to check them again in the middle of a cutting phase because I’m sure it’s important.

[Eleonora]

If your thyroid output is low and is showing on blood work, what have you been advised by your Doctor? Have you been prescribed any thyroid treatment?

I wouldn’t advise starting birth control as a ‘Just incase’. If hormone imbalances are suspected, again these need to be tested and treated accordingly if necessary.

Here in Italy, it seems that thyroid replacement is prescribed only if you have high TSH. I think they prescribe only T4, my mom and grandma have always taken Eutirox alone, never combined therapy. I’m going to try to talk to another endocrinologist in September hoping she will help.

As for birth control I totally agree it doesn’t really make sense to me. Blood tests in the past have always shown that I have perfect female sex hormones, in fact I have perfect menstrual cycle since the first time I had it. Zero acne, zero pain, just a mild PMS that is getting better growing old. So I’d rather not take it.

[Eleonora]

Hey eleonora!
English is absolutely fine! Have you recently had any blood tests done? If so pop your results in here so we can advice accordingly, if you haven’t had any done recently I would highly reccomend.
Adding in exogenous T3 and T4 would definitely help. I personally wouldn’t add in birth control, I would just implement the correct dosages of T3 and T4.
Once we know your results we can help you with the dosages.

Thanks Phoebe!

My last lab results, at the end of bulk in July were

fT3 2.7 pg/mL

fT4 0.9 ng/dL

TSH 2.43 mU/L

Maybe now that I am 8 weeks into cut they are lower. I’m going to repeat blood tests soon

[Eleonora]

It depends from a lot of factors but around 2-2,5g/kg I think is ok on average. But there are also people who take more or less, you have to see what’s right for you!

Regarding digestion, you have to find the sources that you tolerate well. Even within the protein powders there are many types and brands you have to try and chose the ones you digest best. For example I don’t digest beaf well so I don’t eat that often even though I would like to

I think nutrition in general is something very subjective and only with time we come to understand what’s best for our body to grow/shred. Don’t just follow random advices…experiment and get to know yourself, there’s no rush just take your time

[Eleonora]

I’m a girl and same situation as your gfs. From 2300 to 1850 + cardio and no kgs dropped in 20 days. But looking better on checks and performance still improving. Now I’m at 1600…starving haha and starting to see more water retention so maybe something’s serious happening. It’s more difficult with women especially if we are not overweight. I’ve also found some studies about this situation. Waiting to read the responses. Sorry for my bad english but i’m italian so haha. Good luck