Feeling Guilty about pumping cause I'm a type 2

[Lynne1]

Hi Everyone,

Don't know if any other type II's feel guilty about pumping.

Not sure if a low carb diet or losing weight would completely cut out my need for insulin, but I feel guilty for not being able to stick with it long enough to see if it would work. :****mate: I'm trying to eat more healthfully to see if that cuts down on my need for meds. However, I take over 100 units a day so I suspect I will still need some no matter how much weight I lose. My mothers parents were thin type IIs and still needed insulin.

Anyhow, I'm struggling with whether to try to lose weight and see what happens before getting the pump or getting the pump and trying to improve my diabetes management right away. Suspect I'll probably get the pump and try to improve my eating habits also.

Also, getting sort of weirded out by the thought of having something attached to me 24/7!:afraid:

[Cinnabon]

I take over 100 units a day so I suspect I will still need some no matter how much weight I lose.:afraid:
Lynn.. I may be wrong, but I think you need insulin. Help me understand why is it you feel so weirded out about a pump?

Or are you just hoping you really dont need insulin?

[Lynne1]

I feel guilty because I'm not sure if weight gain and lack of exercise are the reason I need insulin...I haven't been able to stick to a weight loss program to see if I could manage my diabetes through diet and exercise.

When I was first diagnosed I was able to manage my diabetes using diet and exercise. Then I wanted to get pregnant so I had to go on shots to get tighter control. After my pregnancy, my insulin requirements didn't drop to my pre-prego levels. Also, I got prego again 6 months after the first so there was the extra 20 lbs I didn't drop. After the second my insulin requirements didn't go down much at all. So, I suspect that even if I took off the extra weight I'd still need it. But not knowing for sure and getting a pump that costs $$$ makes me feel very guilty!

[spike]

If you received a prescription from your doc for a pump and you want to pump, why not? You don't need to explain your choices to anyone regarding your DM therapy. I know there are a number of T2's who utilitize the pump to help them cope with DM. I doubt your doc would have prescribed it if he thought it was not appropriate for you.

I say if your doc feels you should pump, then go for it if finances or insurance permit.

[Lynne1]

Thanks!!! You made me feel better. I really appreciate that!:bird:

[valc3]

Lynne, would having a pump help you with your control? If the answer is yes, then I would go on the pump and continue to work on the weight loss and diet. You need to do what is best for you and your control.

You don't owe anyone an explanation.

[duck]

A couple of things...This disease is trying to KILL you and anyone else who has it. Make no bones about it, it wants you to die, and it will do it in a mostly ugly, terrible way.

If the pump helps you stay healthy and kick this disease's arse, do it.

Second thing, if you can control this disease by losing weight/"eating right" and by doing that not needing meds or the pump, do that! It doesn't work for everyone who has Type 2, but obviously if it could work for you, you owe it to yourself to at least try and find out.

Don't feel guilty about how you treat this disease unless you are cheating yourself <--That's how I look at it.

[spike]

Thanks!!! You made me feel better. I really appreciate that!:bird:

You are entirely welcome! Use all the tools at your disposal. Let me reiterate something I mentioned yesterday. Pumping CAN cause weight gain (in fact just using insulin can) due to the freedom it permits in making eating choices. For example my wife (who alternates between pumping and shots) and I will be eating pizza tonight. I couldn't cope well with 4 pieces of a large pizza if I was on MDI, but with the "square wave" bolus feature of the pump (and extended bolus, spread out over x hours) I can manage the long bg raising nature of pizza. Same thing with Mexican food.

So, the pump can help you manage things like dawn phenon., exercising almost at the drop of hat, sleeping late, skipping meals, dealing with illness that raise bg's for several days, etc. BUT you should be cognizant of what it can't do, such as reduce your hunger. I wish it could! :) It also won't make you walk the dog. <g> At least I walked my mini poodle a few minutes ago... Now if I could resolve to do that EVERY day.

[Lynne1]

Thanks for the encouraging words and the motivation. I needed a kick in the pants to watch my diet. I'm still deciding on a pump and will see what a healthier diet can do for me in the meantime.

[Penny]

If losing weight was easy, everyone would be skinny! I know I have self control, I have lost a lot of weight many times. Every time it was harder, until I decided to quit dieting. I eat sensibly, count carbs, because it helps me feel better and helps keep my BS under control, but I don't diet. There are things I know I need to do, like exercise more and cut out binge eating (don't do it often, but I do it), if I could do these things, I would probably lose some weight. I am not saying everyone should stop dieting, but it is what is working for me at this time in my life. I wish my insurance would pay for a pump, I would use one right away, and I wouldn't feel the least bit of guilt about it.

[liz32]

Be glad that you have that option. I'm here in nova scotia and I so far am not even allowed to do MDI. When I go high (like for today) I have no recourse but to be sick and have a wicked head ache. I wish my doc would allow me even that much. If having a pump is going to help then go for it! As others say, you don't owe anyone anything and it's your body. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Liz

[rzrbks]

Did you feel guilty aboout getting preggers?

I didn't think so.

That was a normal thing, Right?

Well, for you, having Diabetes is normal........and since....

You're fighting something, as previously pointed out, that is between you and your body. And, whatever you need to win the fight is whatever you need to win the fight.

Period!!

[someone]

I would loose the weight and forget the pump! There are people, including myself, who would do anything to not have to deal with diabetes on a daily basis.. you just have to discipline yourself to follow a strict diet and excercise program. It is like a cure.. why not take it!?

[sydneya]

I hate choices. I want to know what will work out before I do it and RIGHT NOW!! In real life you have a decision to make that can go different ways. Your genetics lead toward DM. It's possible insulin is in the picture for ever. So if pumping is the better way for you, do it. When you reach that ideal weight, maybe you won't need the pump anymore. Life is full of experiences and you will have had one--the pump. If you need to continue with the pump and it has worked well, Great!! Do I sound wishy washy? It's my nature.

[valc3]

Lynne, if you loose the weight and modify your diet, are you guaranteed no insulin? If there isn't a guarantee, I'd go for the pump and continue to work on the weight and diet.

[Lynne1]

Lynne, if you loose the weight and modify your diet, are you guaranteed no insulin? If there isn't a guarantee, I'd go for the pump and continue to work on the weight and diet.

I think I would need insulin even if I lost weight and exercised. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was able to control it with diet and exercise...I walked 4 miles a day and went to the gym...also went on the diabetic diet prescribed by my dr. Went on a low carb diet at that time and was able to get my fasting blood sugar under 100! The low carb diet didn't last but I was able to keep my fasting levels in the low 100's.

Then I wanted to have kids and the dr said I'd have to go on shots for tighter control. Before becoming pregnant, I would take 19 N at bedtime. Before delivery I was up to 50 or so at bedtime. After delivery down to 31ish. Had 20 lbs to loose though.

Decided not to go off shots since I wanted to become pregnant right away. Before delivery I was up to 79 N at bedtime. Now, I'm taking 52 at bedtime and am the same weight I was before I got prego the second time. I also need so much more insulin to cover my carbs than before I got prego. I didn't know that the insulin resistance I experienced during pregnancy would stick to some extent.

Anyhow, doesn't seem to me, with the increase in my insulin needs after pregnancy, that any amount of dieting and exercise would completely erase my needs for insulin. If, for some reason, I forget to take my dinner dose of insulin I can have a bs of 300-400+....and don't ask about my fasting after a bedtime of 300-400. When I take my insulin I'm in good control.

Thanks everyone for the input and congratulations if you've read this far with out falling asleep!:laugh:

[jenet]

If insurance or finanaces permit, you might consider going on the pump now and working on better eating and weight loss as a long term strategy. Every day with high blood sugars just adds to a greater risk of unwanted complications down the road.

If you go on the pump, there's nothing to stop you from working on healthy eating and exercise, and you can decrease the insulin as you go, and possibly down the road, put the pump aside. If not, you've had the benefits of better numbers sooner. Especially, if like me, the temptation is to "start tomorrow", and somehow tomorrow is always ... tomorrow! :laugh:

cheers,
j

[Linda57]

If insurance or finanaces permit, you might consider going on the pump now and working on better eating and weight loss as a long term strategy. Every day with high blood sugars just adds to a greater risk of unwanted complications down the road.

If you go on the pump, there's nothing to stop you from working on healthy eating and exercise, and you can decrease the insulin as you go, and possibly down the road, put the pump aside. If not, you've had the benefits of better numbers sooner. Especially, if like me, the temptation is to "start tomorrow", and somehow tomorrow is always ... tomorrow!

cheers,
j

My thoughts exactly - pressure? you dont need it......

[jeggeman31]

I feel guilty because I'm not sure if weight gain and lack of exercise are the reason I need insulin


Like I have always said, YOU control diabetes, don't let diabetes control you. If the pump is the best way to do it, then go for it. If shots work better for you then do MDI. Like duck said the D is out to kill you. And only you can stop it from doing that. Don't feel guilty to do something to better your life, because you only live once. And once your D gets to you it is hard to get it turned back around.

[Lynne1]

Lynn.. I may be wrong, but I think you need insulin. Help me understand why is it you feel so weirded out about a pump?

Or are you just hoping you really dont need insulin?

Oops! Sorry...I thought you said "why do you feel guilty." Ha Ha..I've been answering that questions. LOL!

I woke up one day and thought...Holy ****...I'm going to have a machine attached to me 24/7. That's going to be very weird. How am I going to sleep with that thing poking me in the stomach or whereever all night long? What if the line gets tangled? What if it drops in the toilet when I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night? What if I have to get my 2 year old daughter in the middle of the night and she kicks the line out?

...Just general freaking out I guess! I'm better now though. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Funnygrl]

Diabetes is progressive- most type 2s end up on insulin eventually. Many type 2s pump sucessfully. Don't feel guilty about needing insulin- it's a natural progression and makes perfect sense.