How Balkis Reversed Insulin Resistance With Type 1 Diabetes And Lost 30 Pounds While Eating Carbs
If you live with type 1 diabetes and feel stuck with insulin resistance and weight gain, especially after trying a pro metabolic style of eating, you are not alone.
This is exactly where our client Balkis started.
She had type 1 diabetes, a lot of insulin resistance, and steady weight gain that actually got worse after she went pro metabolic. Her blood sugars ran high and stubborn, and it felt like no matter what she tried, the scale would not move in the right direction.
In this case study I will walk you through how Balkis reversed insulin resistance, balanced her blood sugar with type 1 diabetes, and lost 30 pounds in four months without cutting carbs, meat, or dairy and without going plant based. You will also see how we used a root cause approach to support her metabolism instead of fighting against it.
Who We Are And How We Help People With Type 1 Diabetes And Insulin Resistance
I’m Isaac Pohlman, a registered dietitian, fellow person with type one diabetes, and the CEO of The Pohlman Institute. Our team has helped hundreds of clients around the world
Balance blood sugar
Lower A1C
Reverse insulin resistance
Lose weight in a sustainable way
Restore their health
All while still eating carbs and without relying only on medication.
If you are ready to calm stubborn highs, improve insulin resistance, and work toward weight loss and better health with type one diabetes, and you want support, guidance, and accountability from a team that looks far beyond “just eat regular, balanced, healthy meals,” you can apply to work with me and my team here!
Balkis’ Starting Point With Type 1 Diabetes, Pro-Metabolic Eating, And Weight Gain
When Balkis came to us, she already knew a lot about health. She had:
Type 1 diabetes
Followed pro metabolic eating and lifestyle accounts
Taken courses and tried to DIY her plan
Increased carbs and fats to support metabolism
On paper, pro metabolic eating can be a very nourishing approach. I personally found it helpful early in my own health journey. But for many women with type 1 diabetes, low metabolism, and a history of depletion, adding a large amount of calorie dense carbs and fats without personalization can backfire.
That is what happened to Balkis.
Because her metabolism had been under stress for so long, when she suddenly added in more food, especially more carbs and fats, her body could not process it well. Instead of feeling energized, she saw:
Rising blood sugar levels
More insulin resistance
Ongoing weight gain
She was doing her best to follow what she saw online, but it did not feel like anyone was looking at her specific situation as a woman with type 1 diabetes and insulin resistance. She wanted a team that understood both metabolism and the realities of type 1.
That is when she started working with us inside The Pohlman Method.
Step One: Creating A More Consistent Insulin Strategy For Type 1 Diabetes
The first thing we addressed for Balkis was her insulin strategy.
Because she was not getting consistent results with her blood sugar, she was mostly guessing her doses from meal to meal. That meant she never felt grounded in a pattern and her CGM trends were all over the place.
We looked at:
Her blood sugar trends on CGM
The timing of her meals
How her current insulin doses were affecting her numbers
From there, we helped her outline more consistent insulin strategies that she could review with her prescribing provider. The goal was not to tell her exactly what to take, but to give her data driven ranges based on her real patterns so she was not guessing.
This helped her:
Reduce stubborn highs
Improve insulin sensitivity
Get quicker blood sugar stability with type 1 diabetes
When blood sugar is not spiking as high or for as long, it becomes much easier to address insulin resistance and weight loss.
Step Two: Prioritizing Protein Dominant Meals To Support Metabolism And Weight Loss
The second change we made was shifting her meals to be more protein dominant.
For many people who jump into pro metabolic eating, the focus ends up on adding:
More carbs
More fats
More calorie dense foods in general
If your metabolic rate is low and your activity level is moderate, that combination can easily turn into weight gain and higher blood sugars, especially with type 1 diabetes and insulin resistance.
By prioritizing protein, we helped Balkis:
Feel full and satisfied for longer
Reduce overeating from constant hunger
Balance out her macro distribution so carbs and fats were not overwhelming her system
Protein dominant meals gave her body nutrients it could actually hold onto and use well. This supported:
Better insulin sensitivity
More stable blood sugar
A metabolism that could start burning instead of just storing
As we dialed in her protein intake and adjusted her carb and fat levels to match her real needs, she started to see meaningful changes in her weight without cutting carbs completely or restricting entire food groups.
Step Three: Using Outdoor Movement To Improve Insulin Sensitivity And Stress Resilience
The third pillar of her plan was simple but powerful: regular outdoor movement. Walking and being outside are some of the most underrated tools for:
Improving insulin sensitivity in type 1 diabetes
Increasing carb tolerance
Reducing stress load on the nervous system
Supporting gentle, sustainable weight loss
For Balkis we used walking and other outdoor movement to:
Help her body use blood sugar more effectively after meals
Decrease the stress that was driving insulin resistance
Support her mood and mental health
Over time this helped break the cycle where stress and inactivity were feeding into higher blood sugars and more weight gain. Instead, movement became a way for her to feel better and support her body, not punish it.
Results: Reversing Insulin Resistance, Balancing Blood Sugar, And Losing 30 Pounds
After implementing these three key strategies over four months:
A more consistent insulin strategy
Protein dominant meals that supported metabolism
Outdoor movement for insulin sensitivity and stress resilience
Balkis experienced major changes. She:
Reversed her insulin resistance
Stopped seeing those big, stubborn blood sugar highs
Had blood sugar readings that were more balanced than ever before
Lost 30 pounds
Did all of this without cutting out carbs
Kept eating meat and dairy and did not need a plant based diet
She also reported feeling like the healthiest she has ever felt. Most importantly, she learned how to manage her blood sugar and metabolism even after finishing the program.
That last part is what matters most to us. It is not just about what happens inside the coaching container. It is about whether you have the tools, understanding, and habits to sustain those results on your own.
What Balkis’ Story Means For You If You Have Type 1 Diabetes And Insulin Resistance
If you have type 1 diabetes and you:
Have gained weight after trying pro metabolic eating
Feel more insulin resistant than before
Are tired of stubborn highs and blood sugar swings
Do not want to cut out carbs or entire food groups
Then Balkis’ story is proof that you can support your metabolism and still get results. A root cause approach for insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes focuses on:
Data driven insulin strategies in partnership with your provider
Protein rich, balanced meals that work for your body
Movement and stress resilience that help your metabolism instead of draining it
You do not have to starve yourself, go plant based if you do not want to, or give up carbs forever to balance blood sugar and lose weight.
Ready To Work On Your Blood Sugar And Metabolism With Type 1 Diabetes
If you see yourself in Balkis’ story and you want support to:
Balance blood sugar with type 1 diabetes
Reduce insulin resistance
Lose weight while still eating carbs
Support your metabolism in a sustainable way
You do not have to figure it out alone. Inside The Pohlman Method, our team of practitioners who understand both metabolism and type 1 diabetes can help you personalize a plan that actually fits your life.
If you are ready to calm stubborn highs, improve insulin resistance, and work toward weight loss and better health with type one diabetes, and you want support, guidance, and accountability from a team that looks far beyond “just eat regular, balanced, healthy meals,” you can apply to work with me and my team here!
