A week into insulin pumping, I have to report that I absolutely love it. Love it, love it, love it. All of my worries and fears about it have completely been erased.
My blood sugar has never been better. I feel so much more stable and in control. And because I'm not dealing with the constant fluctuations, I'm not starving-hungry all the time.
I worried I'd have lots of lows, and knock wood, I haven't gone under 70 yet. I was also concerned about having a pump on me at all time. I thought the tubing would be annoying or the constant reminder of the pump would make it hard for me to sleep. I haven't experienced either.
The biggest change I've noticed is that I no longer feel restricted. I can eat fruit between meals with just a few clicks. I can go back for seconds of a delicious dinner. And while that may sound like a dangerous proposition for a girl who is still trying to shed the baby weight, I've used this new power judiciously.
In the past, I would look at my plate and estimate the carbs, then take enough insulin to cover it. Knowing that I'd already taken the insulin, I had to clean my plate. It didn't matter how good or bad the meal was, or how hungry or full I was, I was eating it all. I couldn't follow my hunger-satiety cues. I was bound by the clock and the insulin I'd already taken. No wonder I wasn't losing weight.
With the pump, I can say to myself, I'm going to have a small portion and if I want more, I can have it. I find I am able to be satisfied with less food, knowing that I can have more if I want it. I haven't felt this free in years.
I also find that instead of grabbing cheese or nuts when the afternoon hunger strikes, I'm choosing lower-fat fare, like crackers and hummus, knowing I can just take more insulin and still keep my blood sugar stable.
As a result, the scale has actually moved in a downward direction. And to be honest, while I had previously been trying really hard to follow a diet and manage my blood sugar at the same time, in the past week, I haven't really tried much at all.
Have I mentioned that I love, love, love pumping?
