At the end of this month, I'll see my endocrinologist for the first time since leaving the hospital with that adorable little bundle of joy. Prior to getting pregnant, I started taking insulin and I'm still on it. When I see the doctor again, I'll have the opportunity to change things up. Now that I'm done breastfeeding, I can go back on oral medications and put the insulin behind me.

Today, I started questioning if I really want to do that. What are the pros and cons of oral meds versus insulin? The obvious is a pill versus a shot, but after 15 months on insulin, I really don't have a problem with needles. Insulin is natural and the only real side effect is low blood sugar. Most oral meds have much worse side effects, like upset stomachs, headaches and rashes, in addition to hypoglycemia.

Weight gain is a big concern for me. I'm struggling hard to lose weight, so I wonder how the addition of oral meds could compound the problem. Of course, most days I worry that insulin is hindering my weight loss efforts too. But does insulin really cause weight gain or is it that it allows me to eat whatever I want while still maintaining healthy blood sugar. I know I have a propensity toward putting on weight (it's in my genes), but if insulin itself caused weight gain, why are there so many slim Type 1s? Do these people just have a natural tendency to be thin or do they have to work hard at it too?

Then there's byetta. It can help with weight loss, though the side effects can be pretty bad, I hear, and the level of control you'll achieve with it is questionable. And I'm not sure if my iffy insurance will cover it.

Life insurance is another reason I'm thinking about changing from insulin to oral medicine. When I called last fall to increase my coverage they asked about my health and questioned my diabetes. When they found out I was taking insulin, she clucked her tongue and said that it would affect my premiums. It hardly seems fair.

I think my doctor also just assumes I want off insulin, since it seems like that's what most people want. And if you don't need to take insulin to live, why would you want to, I guess.

I have a lot of thinking to do in the next few weeks, but I'm totally open to suggestions and advice. Please let me know what you think.