CGM Loan - Should I Or Shouldn't I?

[TheClockworkDodo]

I've been on the waiting list to borrow an NHS CGM for about 2 years, and have finally got dates for getting it set up this week and then removed the week after. But our neighbours are having building work done and it's very noisy on and off, and I have hyperacusis (noise sensitivity) and hear sounds as 20x louder than they are so my stress levels are through the roof. I'm too tired to do anything other than sleep when there's no noise so I'm getting zero exercise, yesterday I was so stressed and ill I couldn't eat at all, and my blood sugar, which is normally going from hypo to hypo to hypo, has been between about 9-14 most of the last couple of days.

I have told the diabetes nurse about the issue and she says "I think it is still worth considering as you can see trends, i.e. how long it takes for food to influence blood glucose levels and how long different foods take to spike blood glucose levels."

However, she's never met me, so doesn't know I'm on a very restricted diet and tiny changes to what I eat have very little effect on my blood sugar (eg if I want pasta or rice rather than potato all I need is an extra half unit of insulin), and I test often enough to see what the food's doing. OK, it may throw up a few unexpected things food-wise, but I want the CGM mainly so I can find out what happens to my levels overnight (eg do I hypo in my sleep) as I'm very rarely awake to test in the night. I want them to see how bad my DP is (whether or not I have carbs for breakfast), and how the only thing which overcomes it is going straight back to bed after breakfast. I want to see if we can work out any pattern to the never-ending and often random hypos. Stress, changing weather, hot baths, coming into contact with chemicals, and getting out of bed in the morning seem to have a much bigger effect on my bgls than what I eat!

So should I get the CGM this week or should I postpone until I can have it during a normal week? The DSN says I could have appointments in four weeks' time instead, but our neighbours' building work may be going on for 3 months. What would you do? I have until the end of tomorrow (Wed) to decide and let the DSN know.

 

[Northerner]

That is a tricky one Julia. I think what I might do is take the postponement, and then test regularly over the next 4 weeks so that you have a more accurate assessment of how the noise and disruption might affect you generally. You'll then be in a stronger position to estimate whether you'll get the benefits of the CGMs. Also, I don't know what work the neighbours have planned, but is it possible that the main noise of construction work will take place initially, and then things become much calmer (relatively!) over the ensuing weeks?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

If it’s a blinded CGM so that they can offer advice, then a more regular week might be better. If it is possible to delay it by a week or two that is.

Having said that, you might find it really useful to try to manage the tricky period if you can see the results yourself - my intermittent CGM use includes deliberately choosing more challenging periods eg Christmas or holiday, because the extra info really helps me to firefight what is going on rather than having to guess ‘in between the dots’.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Thank you both for your thoughts. I'm veering towards postponing at the moment because I'm still feeling so ill, not been able to eat much so DSN won't get any idea of how food normally effects me, and stress levels have set off my arrhythmia - my heart has been both pounding and skipping beats and it's prevented me from sleeping (I had about 4 hours sleep last night instead of my usual 8-10 hours). I might be better by Friday, when the appointment is, but if not I won't be well enough to get to the hospital anyway.

Alan, they initially only told us they were replacing their patio, which they're doing themselves at weekends and they've done half of, but on Monday they had a fence put up and when R asked them for more info. they said they're doing several things over the next 3 months, so we don't know how noisy any of these will be or which days they'll be (unfortunately when R asked they got quite defensive about it - he was only asking for information so I could plan what to do, eg go and stay with my Mum for a few days over the worst bit - but they seem to have got the impression he was complaining and refused to give him the info. I need to be able to cope, just said they were having several things done over the next 3 months).

Mike, if I had a Libre I'd do what you suggest re managing the tricky period, but this is a one-off loan of CGM for one week only, so I think a more regular week is likely to be better.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear everything you are facing Juliet.

Sounds like you have thought it through well and that postponing is the best thing for you.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Thanks Mike. I have emailed the DSN and postponed. I started this thread last night thinking I'd be feeling a bit better today but I feel worse so think I won't be well enough to get to hospital Friday.

 

[bamba]

I won't be well enough to get to hospital Friday.

That's probably an improvement on the usual arrangement.

Generally you have to be UNWELL enough to get to go to hospital.