Continuous glucose monitoring help

[grovesy]

How was Hep C cured?

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Sofosbuvir , ribavirin. Only given because of cirrhosis. Previous interferon did not work.

 

[grovesy]

Thanks. I was not aware it could be cured.

 

[Redkite]

What's the self funding cost on the dexcom?

I don't know for certain because we have always used the Medtronic sensors, but I believe they are reasonably comparable in cost. We paid in the region of a one-off £1000 for the transmitter, and the sensors are £55 each if you buy boxes of 5, or £52.50 if you buy 10 (shelf life is around 3 months) - each sensor lasts 6 days, but can (unofficially) be extended, though not everybody can tolerate them in place for longer. Some dexcom users get 2 or even 3 weeks out of a single sensor.

 

[Jake2701]

I was wondering if these devices are worth the money.

Well, about 6 mth's ago I went with my wife (T1) to Melbourne, to see "big" specialist regarding suitability of insulin pump for her. He, then, told us that to get better results in her sugar control, we should invest in just released in Australia, FreeStyle Libre CGM. CGM costed us A$95, but every 2 weeks you have to change sensor, A$104 with freight. But, I tell you that, when one of sensors failed, and we didn't have spare one, there was absolute panic in my wife's eyes. They sent replacement next day, but from then on we always have spare one.

 

[Jake2701]

It depends on how you want to tackle hypo prevention. I find my Libre useful for that during the day, because it will tell me I'm on the downward slide before I start to feel symptoms, and I can judge whether it's worth using up a test strip to double check ( unless it's a very rapid slide, but in that case I normally feel symptoms quicker anyway). It also shows me what sort of pattern I've had overnight, I've learnt to interpret the results, and ignore dips into the red that I'm sure have been caused by the Libre reading lower than my meter at the lower end. ( in the mid range, mine is often spot on with my meter, upper range Libre tends to read a bit higher). It's helped me work out an overnight strategy without having to set the alarm and wake up to test.

My wife started to use Libre about 6 mth's ago. Together with carbo counting (I wrote for simple, database program to make it easy, and she's been using it for almost 3 years) her sugar got slowly under control. Now, after seeing this,

, we'll try low carbo diet. By the way, I wrote smartphone version of her carbo-counting program, you can check it on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mine.mydiabeticcalculator&hl=en

 

[trophywench]

Well all T1s in the UK get enrolled onto a carb counting course (they take place over a week, or one day a week for several weeks) - but only T1s. Not available for T2s even when using insulin alone and I'm not sure about pancreas-less folk. Ridiculous really; but there is an easily accessible online version we can point anyone at if they need one.

 

[SarahJRobinson]

I was wondering if these devices are worth the money.

I've had the freestyle libre for 2 months now. I've found mine fairly accurate. A lot of people get them to help prevent lows but for me it's to understand what's going on and when I'm going high. The graph is great as it tells me continuously what's going on in the night and I can see very clear patterns that I wouldn't have known before. The arrow of direction I also find really useful.

 

[DeusXM]

I'm not going to get into the debate about the Libre's accuracy, but I would point out that using one regularly was the decisive factor in me getting an A1C of 6.1/43.

 

[Owen]

I'm not going to get into the debate about the Libre's accuracy, but I would point out that using one regularly was the decisive factor in me getting an A1C of 6.1/43.

My argument exactly, they are a tool for achieving longer term targets and monitoring trends, one that I fully support and have just made use of the free postage deal. But, I would never trust one for treating a hype, as they are not designed or meant for that purpose. In the same way I would not use a four figure grid reference to direct a missile.

 

[Greyhound Gal]

Well all T1s in the UK get enrolled onto a carb counting course (they take place over a week, or one day a week for several weeks) - but only T1s. Not available for T2s even when using insulin alone and I'm not sure about pancreas-less folk. Ridiculous really; but there is an easily accessible online version we can point anyone at if they need one.

I wasn't. I was offered nothing until I asked and then I get 30 mins with the diabetic dietician reading a pamphet out to me which she them promptly gave me, containing info which I already knew anyway. Postcode lottery as normal.

 

[trophywench]

Well come on - I'd had D over 30 years by the time they got round to it where I live! You are new!

 

[Jake2701]

Well all T1s in the UK get enrolled onto a carb counting course (they take place over a week, or one day a week for several weeks) - but only T1s. Not available for T2s even when using insulin alone and I'm not sure about pancreas-less folk. Ridiculous really; but there is an easily accessible online version we can point anyone at if they need one.

My wife at the pub, we decided to have dinner at RSL club tonight . Too lazy to cook. Her smartphone, her Libre and dinner....

 

[grovesy]

Won't her food be getting cold.

 

[Jake2701]

Won't her food be getting cold.

It takes her less than 1min 🙂

 

[heasandford]

I find it's too late by the time the plate is there - dramatic difference, I get massive spikes regardless of what I'm eating. Libre demonstrated the effect

 

[trophywench]

Yes your dinner can get cold but since we don't have any alternative but to wait until it's in front of us when we're out - you can't eyeball carbs if the plate isn't in front of you! - it's just the way it is and we have to accept it if there happens to be a glitch and it takes a bit longer.

No idea how you bolus before hand without seeing the actual amount on the plate unless you are eating at home Heasanford - is it a matter of injecting 'some' up front and more up to the correct amount when you actually get it? I spose it depends how much you eat whether that's worth it or not - I mean with 30g ish carbs ie 3u for me - average sort of meat and veg meal - I've never found it necessary since I came off animal insulin, especially as it starts working so fast - inside 10 mins for me.

 

[heasandford]

Aren't we all so different?

I do have to sort of guess when eating out! I usually need a lot of insulin to cope with 'bigger than usual' meals, regardless of the carbohydrate content. I find I need about a third more insulin, so I use the extended programme, 2/3 upfront and the other third over the next 5 hours! So if what comes looks significantly less than I expected I can stop the longterm delivery if I need to.This has never happened!

Insulin just doesn't work that fast for me either, carbs get there quicker, bread (ALL bread!) especially. I may eventually realise I shouldn't eat it, but I'm not there yet!

 

[Jake2701]

Unfortunately it is hard to change my wife's habits. She loves her bread, her pasta and rice. We do get less of rolla-coaster when she limits carbs in her food. That is proven. With high carbs intake, even with religious use of diabetic calculator, her sugars go sky high, then drop to hypo level.

 

[heasandford]

Yes, I agree!
Hard to give up bread, but I seem to be able to handle pasta and rice within reasonable limits. I don't recall any of the education courses I have been on telling us about this. I suppose some of it is about not frightening us too much?