[Diabetes-talk] Accessible CGM

[TALey at ups.com]

Hi, 

Two items. 
First, I completely agree with Veronica regarding the fantastic help a CGM would be when pregnant and managing diabetes. That being said, it is a great help for most type ones. I just returned from a national conference named Friends for Life" which is hosted by the Children With Diabetes (CWD) organization - it is for parents of children with type one. Almost every single one of the children at the conference, over 500 by my estimate, had a CGM on. And, the new Dexcom G5 Mobile systems make it a snap to share the data with another person, like a parent. All the parents had their phones out watching how their children's blood sugars were doing, even when their children were off at Disney or another part of the hotel. Pretty cool. 

Second, hang in there Veronica, you will eventually master getting the sensors on without the tape sticking together. I don't have a second thought any more when I have to put on a new sensor, but it took a few months to get there. 

I wear my sensor anywhere from ten to 14 days, based on how long I can keep the tape stuck on. 

Tom


I've been using the Dexcom sensors for a couple of years, and now almost never have any issues with applying the sensors without

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2016 2:11 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessible CGM

Hi Bridgit and all.
First, boy, I would think that these days a CGM would be a must have during
pregnancy. Anytime you're really trying for tight control without trouble,
there's nothing like really finding out what happens when. 
As for testing, in general, I test about the same number of times I usually
do, five or six times a day. You have to do two tests after your new sensor
warms up and anytime you get a concerning number, right now the advice is to
test and make your insulin or food decisions still based on your meter. But
for me, being able to look at the number and notice, oops, it's starting up,
I can catch it before it gets away from me. And who knows what I'll end up
doing once I settle in with this thing as well. The sensor is supposed to
last 7 days although I've heard some people say they use them much longer
than that. I just don't see how they keep them on. <grin> But I've already
made changes based on what I've learned. By asking my hubby to look at the
graph in the morning, I did figure out where my basals were getting off
during the night. I figured out that I was going high about an hour and a
half after meals, then coming down, sometimes not in the nicest way before
my next meal. My endo had me take my meal bolus about 10 minutes before my
meal, instead of right with it and wow! Down came those post meal numbers
and I actually got to cut back on the amount of insulin. So there's no
question that I can see the benefits to this. For me, I just had to start
getting used to carrying my iPhone everywhere and I've not completely solved
that one. My phone doesn't stay in many of my pants pockets if I'm crawling
around on the floor and I'm forever leaving it somewhere, then having to
call it to see where it is. <grin> The first week wearing the sensor with
the transmitter, honestly I felt like I had two-ton Lizzie hanging off of my
belly. <grin> I'm assuming that over time I'll get over being nervous for
three days before I change the sensor, worrying about the tape. At least
they're good about replacing bad sensors. Right now I just think they should
automatically send out extras. I'm a little curious about how people travel
with this. The sensors come in a giant package and all I could think when I
first got mine was man, there goes any room in my suitcases. <grin> So while
in my book there are things to refine, buttons to label and changes I'd like
to see, I really want to make this work because I can sure see how one would
get used to having easy access to that information pretty much round the
clock. Hope this helps.
Veronica