[Diabetes-Talk] beginner questions on constant glucose monitoring systems.

Sat May 11 17:37:08 UTC 2019

Hello,
I am a type one and I use the freestyle libre and have no issues with it. If a sensor is bad they will replace it at no charge. I also like the fact that I can get my sensors at the pharmacy rather than having to order them from the manufacturer like you do with the deacon. The sensors on the libre are also one piece rather than having a transmitter and a sensor. 

Greg Wocher

> On May 11, 2019, at 1:26 PM, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Taylor.
> I am a Type 1 and use the Dexcom G6 as well. My endocrinologist will not put a Type 1 on the Libre because she says there is a tremendous accuracy difference. The little sensor that is in your body has to sort of get comfortable and warm up in your body. If for some reason it gets out of whack, with the G6 you can easily just recalibrate it. They will also replace a sensor at no cost if something goes wrong. 
> Once the sensor is in, I Am completely unaware of it. Of course, compared to the size of the pods for my Omnipod insulin pump, this thing is nothing. The insertion process is very easy. You do have to find a sensor code and enter it, which is how it calibrates. I use the Seeing AI app to read the code. Each sensor lasts ten days. You insert the sensor and then snap a little transmitter on top of the sensor, which last three months. It uses blue tooth to talk to your phone. The hardest part for me was getting used to always having my phone with me. Now after almost three years, I don't give it a thought. If you insert the sensor, you peel of the paper backing and just slap the sticky part against your abdomen. Then you press a button and in it goes. And no, that does not hurt at all. Then the inserting device just goes away and you're left with the little sensor. You slap the transmitter on and follow the prompts on the app and away you go. There is a two-hour warm up period before you start getting readings. To help make the tape last the entire ten days, you can ask tech support for what they call an overpatch. It's a little piece of tape, essentially but boy does it make a big difference. The G6 app is really accessible, no unlabeled buttons. We only miss one big thing that sighted people have. They can look at a graph of the last 24 hours and really see the overall trend, or look at what happened during the night and so on. Many of us have been trying to get Dexcom to give us an option to see the raw data. It would be a bit slow but we could then look at our own trends. But for now, we can read the current number and its trend, rising, falling, rising rapidly or slowly, or constant. You have a lot of control over the behavior of the alarms, when they go off, whether or not they are silenced when your phone is muted, and what sound among a list of rather dumb sounds they make. <grin.> 
> You do have to remove the Dexcom if you have something like an MRI and you cannot go through airport scanners so you need to be wanded by hand. 
> But I have gotten so used to having the information and I'm surprised how lost I feel if I'm not wearing it. Hard to believe I ran around all those years without one. I really like the "urgent low soon" alarm because it has allowed me to prevent lows before they happen. As someone with rheumatoid arthritis, if I ever have to take prednisone, it's so nice to use the Dexcom so that I know when the stuff lands in my system. It has prevented me from increasing my insulin too soon and made it so much easier to monitor the results of the changes I made. Not to mention, boy are my fingers enjoying the break. I have never been an easy bleeder and I sure don't miss those six sticks per test, not at all. After not testing much now, if I do a finger stick, it's actually pretty easy. I usually test about four hours after putting in a new sensor and if that number is pretty close to the Dexcom, I just go with it the rest of the time. <grin> And I did actually bring my A1C down a bit. Yay! 
> The other thing that's cool is you can get an app called Dexcom Clarity. This allows you to give your doctor's office a code and they can just look at your readings online. There is a summary tab which will tell you your estimated averages and A1C. You can see your per centage of time in range and other trends as well. 
> But I would definitely recommend that you check it out and give it a try. It's really considered part of standard care these days. And of course, if you decide to get it, you have a bunch of us here who will be happy to help with the details and tips that you may not get from the trainers. Hope this helps.
> Veronica
> 
> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
> To learn more, visit:
> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
> Laurel Creek Music Designs
> Santa Cruz, California
> Phone: 831-429-6407
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Taylor Scott via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2019 9:07 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Cc: Taylor Scott
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] beginner questions on constant glucose monitoring systems.
> 
> Thank you Jamie and Michael for the replies!
> 
> I do like the sound of the ability of having alerts for low and high readings.
> 
> I can usually tell when I reach certain low or high levels, but we all
> know it's only a matter of time before you just don't catch it.
> That low fog always sucks in the morning when you come out of it. lol
> 
> I think it sounds like I'd like the Dexcom system, especially the G6.
> How do you guys feel about the sensor?
> 
> I have to say that having something stuck to me is one of the main
> reasons I haven't looked into a monitor system.
> 
> How easy do you guys find the installation, and how tuff is it?
> 
> I do some swimming in the summer, how do people work around water and
> their sensors?
> 
> 
> 
> On 5/11/19, Michael Barber via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Another important and crucial advantage of the DexCom G6 unit is that you
>> get to hear what your blood sugar reading is and whether it is steady,
>> ascending or descending.  The only thing I don’t like is that I have a
>> difficult time finding the sensor 4-digit number that has to be entered.  My
>> hands are not steady enough to get a picture of it or to find and read the
>> number.
>> 
>> 
>> Cordially,
>> Michael D. Barber
>> 
>>> On May 11, 2019, at 6:51 AM, Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
>>> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Good morning!  I am totally blind and use the Dexcom with no issues.  Both
>>> the Dexcom and Libre are accessible to us using a mobile phone app.  Many
>>> of
>>> us on this list use these systems, so I am sure others will respond some
>>> time today.
>>> 
>>> The main difference between the two is in how often it reads your glucose
>>> level and sending you alerts.
>>> 
>>> I don't feel my low blood sugars any more, so I love the Dexcom.  It
>>> checks
>>> your readings every five minutes and alerts you when your levels are too
>>> high or too low.  It also shows you the direction your blood sugars are
>>> going.  For example, I just ate breakfast, so it is telling me that my
>>> blood
>>> sugar is high and slowly rising.  I have my high alert set pretty low, so
>>> my
>>> blood sugar is just at 180 right now.  I have trouble getting my level
>>> back
>>> down if my blood sugar is above 200, so I have my high alert set at 160.
>>> The default high alert is 240, which is way too high for me.    Before I
>>> exercise, I check my reading.  If it says I am 80 and falling, then I know
>>> to eat a piece of candy before I begin exercising.
>>> 
>>> I know a few people using the Libre, but those on this list can tell you
>>> more about it.  I know it has a sensor that is inserted on the arm.  For a
>>> blind person to use it, you need to have the app on your phone.  If I
>>> understand correctly, it is only available on the iPhone, but I may be
>>> wrong
>>> on that fact.  In order to know what your reading is, you have to hold the
>>> phone over the sensor to hear the reading.  It has no alerts nor trend
>>> arrows like the Dexcom.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Although the Libre is a great system, it would not work for me.  Since I
>>> don't feel my low blood sugars, I need the alerts to wake me or warn me
>>> when
>>> I am below 55.  About six years ago, I passed out from a low blood sugar
>>> and
>>> suffered a severe concussion along with a shoulder, neck and leg injury
>>> from
>>> falling so hard in the bathroom.  My doctor insisted that I start using
>>> the
>>> Dexcom, and I love what it has done for my diabetes control.  So, why you
>>> are considering or need a CGM might help you with your decision.
>>> 
>>>               Jamie
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Taylor
>>> Scott via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2019 2:09 AM
>>> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Taylor Scott <taylor9209 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] beginner questions on constant glucose monitoring
>>> systems.
>>> 
>>> Hi guys,
>>> Long time type 1 who is wondering if a constant glucose monitoring system
>>> will work for me.
>>> 
>>> I know nothing about the options out, or there accessibility.
>>> 
>>> So, just wondering what the communities experiences are with these
>>> devices?
>>> 
>>> While spending a little time with google, it looks like the most popular
>>> devices in the US are the Dexcom systems, and the Libre?
>>> 
>>> Are either one of these all that great if your totally blind, if so, pros
>>> and cons of each?
>>> 
>>> Thanks for the feedback guys!
>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
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