[jenet]

I've read that the first week or two on a pump can be rough, but I feel like I've fallen off the edge of the known world and "here there be monsters". I need a better map.

In the month before pumping, I bought and read "Smart Pumping" and "Pumping Insulin". In fact, I probably read Pumping Insulin 6 or 8 times trying to get ready for this, and have all sorts of sticky notes tabbing various pages. Yesterday, I ordered "Thinking Like a Pancreas" and pre-ordered the revised edition of "Pumping Insulin". Today I bought "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution", "The South Beach Diet", "1001 Tips for Living Well With Diabetes" (by Judith McQuown) and "Full Catastrophe Living" (by Jon Kabat-Zinn).

I guess I'm in overdrive with my problem-solving, research mode (aka "I will figure this out if it kills me"), and my first response is to read every possibly related book to figure out what the problem is and any possible solutions.

Have I missed a key book you found helpful in managing your diabetes? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
j

[Belinda]

NO BOOK involved just my doctor telling me it will take time to adjust but not to worry........as in time I mean months....not hours....good luck and try not to stress about it.

[spike]

Originally Posted by jenet

I've read that the first week or two on a pump can be rough, but I feel like I've fallen off the edge of the known world and "here there be monsters". I need a better map.

In the month before pumping, I bought and read "Smart Pumping" and "Pumping Insulin". In fact, I probably read Pumping Insulin 6 or 8 times trying to get ready for this, and have all sorts of sticky notes tabbing various pages. Yesterday, I ordered "Thinking Like a Pancreas" and pre-ordered the revised edition of "Pumping Insulin". Today I bought "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution", "The South Beach Diet", "1001 Tips for Living Well With Diabetes" (by Judith McQuown) and "Full Catastrophe Living" (by Jon Kabat-Zinn).

I guess I'm in overdrive with my problem-solving, research mode (aka "I will figure this out if it kills me"), and my first response is to read every possibly related book to figure out what the problem is and any possible solutions.

Have I missed a key book you found helpful in managing your diabetes? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
j

Sounds to me like you are reading the "right" books. I also read Walsh's book at least 5 times BEFORE my pump arrived. Between that, the MM book, the videos, I was good to go for my first pump. I made sure I understood all the basics and then I turned my attention to the actual button pushing of the pump, so that I knew what each button did. The newer pumps are menu driven and therefore easier for the first time user to get up to speed. I started on a 506 in '96.

[koblenz]

I read all those books as well and I think you will be the better for doing so.

As I see it, managing your diabetes is part science and part an art form (don't ask me to estimate the relative percentages). Even though we try our best and do exactly what the books say, some days it just doesn't seem to work. The goal, I think, is to do the best you can and try to have MANY more good days than bad. When you have a bad day, chalk it up to a learning experience and try not to beat yourself up too badly.

It took me about 3 months on the pump before I stopped having constant feelings of anxiety about doing all the right things. Now I only get them once in a while, HA! If you don't believe me, ask Dew how many times I PM'd her in half -panic mode thinking I did something wrong and I was sure I would be in the hospital within the hour.

Keep up the good work and if you are unsure, keep asking questions. Somebody here has probably seen it or been through it before.

[jenet]

Originally Posted by koblenz

I read all those books as well and I think you will be the better for doing so.

As I see it, managing your diabetes is part science and part an art form (don't ask me to estimate the relative percentages). Even though we try our best and do exactly what the books say, some days it just doesn't seem to work. The goal, I think, is to do the best you can and try to have MANY more good days than bad. When you have a bad day, chalk it up to a learning experience and try not to beat yourself up too badly.

It took me about 3 months on the pump before I stopped having constant feelings of anxiety about doing all the right things. Now I only get them once in a while, HA! If you don't believe me, ask Dew how many times I PM'd her in half -panic mode thinking I did something wrong and I was sure I would be in the hospital within the hour.

Keep up the good work and if you are unsure, keep asking questions. Somebody here has probably seen it or been through it before.

It's nice to know I'm not alone in being anxious when things aren't "perfect". I will tackle my stack of books, and continue checking the forums here regularly for new topics and discussions - that should distract me nicely for a couple of days.

Thanks much!
j

[kgm0612]

I bought and have read Diabetes Solution and Pumping Insulin, which I found to be very helpful.

I also subscribe to the following magazines. Diabetes Health, Diabetes Focus, and Diabetes Forcast. They all have interesting articles and some great tips.

Karen

[gtlovelace]

Originally Posted by kgm0612

I bought and have read Diabetes Solution and Pumping Insulin, which I found to be very helpful.

I also subscribe to the following magazines. Diabetes Health, Diabetes Focus, and Diabetes Forcast. They all have interesting articles and some great tips.

Karen

The BEST subscription you can get is to the Lists at:

http://www.insulin-pumpers.org

(but be careful, with over 5,000 members the mail can get heavy, get the Digest instead)

George