Comment by Lila on February 18, 2013 at 10:39am

Please don't be depressed.

The weight gain is not a result of you doing anything wrong, but of your body recovering - and that is a good thing! I know that the 'free' weight loss before a T1 diagnosis feels like such a great thing but it is not. It is your body being dysfunctional, and if you hadn't been diagnosed in time, the dysfunction would have turned you into a thin corpse.

Please don't be depressed or discouraged. This is a great place to come for support.

Comment by Holger Schmeken on February 18, 2013 at 10:46am

Most of the weight gain is water. The insulin is important for the kidneys to retain water. Without insulin the water balance is not working as it should. Your weight gain just shows that this is normalizing again. Please expect that this will take up to 1/2 years to recover. It is totally normal. In contrast to the previous weight loss that was a result of water loss and starvation.

Comment by jrtpup on February 18, 2013 at 12:42pm

I echo what Lila and Holger said.

Yes, a pump can help keep your numbers in a better range, but it won't help with weight loss. It's a wonderful tool - I love my pump! The ability to set multiple basal rates and to know how much insulin you have on board, as well as being able to bolus small amounts of insulin for small corrections, is incredibly useful.

Talk with your CDE (if you have one?) and look at some pumps, handle them, and see if you and s/he agree it's a good tool for you to explore.

So glad you found our TuD 'family' ;)

Comment by acidrock23 on February 18, 2013 at 6:39pm

I got the pump when I was heavier. My A1C went up as I started guessing at adjusting stuff unscientifically but the pump really helped me keep track of what I was doing a lot better than I did on my own, while still not writing anything down. As I did that, I'd look for opportunities to cut stuff out of my diet and that helped me lose the rest of the weight I wanted to lose!

Comment by Karen on February 18, 2013 at 7:46pm

Carbs are still carbs no matter what technique you use to deliver insulin. I think the mind set of using pump to have more control is over-rated, bottom line with diabetes you cannot eat high glycemic foods. With diabetes everyday is different and it is not an exact science. Pump just makes it easier to receive your insulin, IMHO. I sound soooo pissed off, but just being honest :)

Comment by Brian Wittman on February 18, 2013 at 8:16pm

To a large point, I agree with Karen. I have had my pump for about 16 months and my endo couldn't be more happy with my control, although I wish I had a tighter handle on things.

Life is full of choices. Diabetic life makes one make a choice for everything that is put into the mouth. We have to account, and bolus for everything that you choose to eat, whether our insulin is administered by injection or a pump. When we decide to control diabetes and eat, exercise and work accordingly, the pump will be a wonderful tool for control.

As for me, I would be hard pressed to go back to seven shots per day.

Comment by Ren on February 21, 2013 at 3:40pm

I found that I skipped shots because it was inconvenient or I just didn't want another poke that day. My A1C is much better with a pump, to be sure.

I've also gained weight - about 20 pounds - since I started insulin therapy. Every so often, I mourn my smaller body but I am also well aware that I was very unhealthy and by golly, I want to someday (please, many years from now) hold grandchildren. This whole thing has been a process for me but it gets better and easier all the time.

Comment by Ali on March 19, 2013 at 11:46am

Hi everyone! This is the first time seeing all of your comments - and I feel really encouraged! :) I haven't logged in for awhile - and its always wonderful to hear other people and be reminded that I am not the only person on this planet with the D-monster! :)

I have my first endo appointment this Friday - and am kinda nervous. I am going to ask about the pump, and stuff. Since this post I have been testing more, and correcting more, and am feeling much better now that I am getting it back under better control. I even went kinda low once a couple days ago - which hadn't happened for long time - not that that is a good thing - but I was thankful to not be seeing an unhappy 200 flash across my meter's screen.

Thank you all so much for your words, and encouragments, and tips! :)

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