I’m going crazy! I weighed 130 pounds when I was dx’d 18 years ago. About four years later, which I think may have coincided with the demise of those last few beta cells, I started gaining weight. I have been gaining since (now up to 215 and I’m 5’0"), and I have never been able to lose any weight at all, other than those few water-weight pounds you lose at the beginning of a diet. So, I have been secretly hoping that symlin will help me, but for the last 8 years I have been trying to get pregnant, pregnant, or nursing, so I haven’t been able to try it. I know, though, that it isn’t a magic bullet for all (any?) overweight diabetics, but I’m really starting to feel desperate.
Also, I’m wondering if anyone has had this experience… I have eaten relatively consistently for many years now, but I will stay at the same weight for sometimes 3 or 4 years and then all of the sudden realize I’ve gained 15 pounds from out of nowhere. It just recently happened again, but I actually noticed it as it was happening. It started out as 5 pounds and I thought, hmmmm, what if this is the beginning of that 15 pound jump?! And I started eating very carefully, around 1600-1800 a day, lowish carb, and I gained the rest of that magic 15 pounds anyway. It’s making me feel pretty powerless. And I can’t stand the idea of this happening every few years for the rest of my life. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get around in another 45 or 60 pounds. I will be completely freaking round. 
This doesn’t seem to have anything to do with my pregnancies, btw. I was at my pre-preg weight at six weeks post-partum both times, oddly enough.
Anyway, I’m starting to feel so freaked that I’m thinking about weening my little one so I can try symlin, but my sense is that it very well may not do anything for me. So, that’s why I’m asking.
well, it’s working for me. what you think about, you bring about. so maybe change the negative attitude.
I am already quite well-versed in self-blame, as I’m sure many of us diabetics are. I didn’t do this with my negative attitude. I’m happy to hear it’s working for you, though.
It is certainly worth a try, and I believe it could very well help . . . But perhaps waiting until your child is ready to wean would be best for “baby’s health.”
In the mean time, you might find some useful tips through the practice of Mindful Eating . . . that could help you work with the Symlin a little more effectively once you are ready to start . . . I know it has me!
Check out TCME “The Center for Mindful Eating” at http://tcme.org/
Thanks for your reply! I will check out mindful eating. I’ve never heard of it before. I’ve had some success with Dr. Bernstein’s, but it is so freaking hard to stick to! But when I was doing it and sticking to it, my blood sugar was so predictable and nearly perfect, so I was thinking it would be great if I could get back there before I start symlin, since it sounds like figuring out the dosing w symlin is pretty rough, would at least be good to know what my insulin is likely to do.
Augie is just over 2. If I didn’t have any reason to wean, I wouldn’t for a while, probably at least another year. But I think at this point, while I think nursing is a very healthy thing for him, it’s fair to weigh my health concerns in, too. I do really value our nursing relationship and I know that he’s not ready to stop. It’s so frustrating that I won’t even know whether symlin can do anything for me until I start on it. Obviously, if it turned out to be a dud, I’d be pretty bummed.
You have done well to nurse until he is two . . . And I’d have to say that should be more than adequate for his health. From what I have heard, the first year is most important.
A lady by the name of Ronna Kabatznick worked as leading Psychologist for Weight Watchers International for 10 years and quit because she found Mindful Eating to be a more powerful tool. She wrote a book called “The Zen of Eating” . . . And Weight Watchers is actually a pretty balanced plan that has been helpful to many people with diabetes!
I feel your frustration… and I was just diagnosed last Sept. with T1… My endo was worried about my weight gain too so he is putting me on Symlin to see if this will help… I’m 36 and have never had a problem losing weight or maintaining my weight until my bg’s were under control… Now it’s impossible with diet and exercise alone for me to lose that 15-20 lbs… Hell, I can’t even lose 5 lbs of it… I’m hoping that it will be worth the initial side effects.
The only thing you can do is give it a try and hope it works. 
This doesn’t seem to have anything to do with my pregnancies, btw. I was at my pre-preg weight at six weeks post-partum both times, oddly enough.