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CGM - pros and cons?
- Thread starter Cleo
- Start date
- Status
Julia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Cleo,
Yes I've self-funded 10 enlite sensors in the last 4 months. Have a look at this thread http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=31926
They are expensive - ?55 for an enlite sensor. Meant to last 6 days, but I've had 18 days out of one. Overall I think useful and worth the money, but not THE magic answer I was looking for.
Great to see trends rather than absolute number. And they lag 15 mins or so behind. So if I'm 5.5 and flat, that's great and means I'm happy to carry on doing whatever, but for example tonight it said 5.5 and double arrow down and I was actually already hypo (3.4mmol/l).
The main reason I really really like them is for overnight. Having said that the alarm, which is really loud and vibrates if you ignore it, fails to wake me up! I was under 2.2 for over an hour a couple of weeks ago and when I woke up I tested at 2.4. Terrible hypo hangover the next day. But saves a lot of night time testing as I've been having a hard time sorting out overnight. And useful for basal testing other times too.
Do you have a pump as I'm not sure how it works without one? I don't find wearing a sensor any different or faffy to put in etc than pump set. I thought I would do a lot less finger pricks too, but hasn't really worked out that way.
Does that help at all? If you have more specific questions, ask away. I'm sure other people have different experiences and opinions too.
Julia
Yes I've self-funded 10 enlite sensors in the last 4 months. Have a look at this thread http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=31926
They are expensive - ?55 for an enlite sensor. Meant to last 6 days, but I've had 18 days out of one. Overall I think useful and worth the money, but not THE magic answer I was looking for.
Great to see trends rather than absolute number. And they lag 15 mins or so behind. So if I'm 5.5 and flat, that's great and means I'm happy to carry on doing whatever, but for example tonight it said 5.5 and double arrow down and I was actually already hypo (3.4mmol/l).
The main reason I really really like them is for overnight. Having said that the alarm, which is really loud and vibrates if you ignore it, fails to wake me up! I was under 2.2 for over an hour a couple of weeks ago and when I woke up I tested at 2.4. Terrible hypo hangover the next day. But saves a lot of night time testing as I've been having a hard time sorting out overnight. And useful for basal testing other times too.
Do you have a pump as I'm not sure how it works without one? I don't find wearing a sensor any different or faffy to put in etc than pump set. I thought I would do a lot less finger pricks too, but hasn't really worked out that way.
Does that help at all? If you have more specific questions, ask away. I'm sure other people have different experiences and opinions too.
Julia
Hi Cleo, I've been using one for 6 years and have used it to make a real difference to my control, but like Julia says, they're not the magic answer, they're just another tool in the diabetes arsenal.
Here are my views on the pros and cons of CGM from when I first started using it http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2009/04/to-cgms-or-not-to-cgms/
And also some more here http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2011/07/the-psychology-of-cgm/
Here are my views on the pros and cons of CGM from when I first started using it http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2009/04/to-cgms-or-not-to-cgms/
And also some more here http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2011/07/the-psychology-of-cgm/
Hi Alison and Julia
Thanks so much for your responses - really helpful!
I appreciate that its not a magic bullet, but it seems to be a useful tool in the T1 diabetes armamentarium, which I guess is all that we can ask for right now 🙂. I am not on a pump, my latest HbA1c was 7.3 and in Jan 2013 and Nov 2012 it was 6.8, and I'm trying to get the green light in order to start trying for a baby...so thats why I'm trying to explore the different options available. I do like the idea of seeing trends / patterns as opposed to absolute figures. I have my next clinic appointment in May, so will discuss this option with the consultant then.
thanks again !
Cx
Thanks so much for your responses - really helpful!
I appreciate that its not a magic bullet, but it seems to be a useful tool in the T1 diabetes armamentarium, which I guess is all that we can ask for right now 🙂. I am not on a pump, my latest HbA1c was 7.3 and in Jan 2013 and Nov 2012 it was 6.8, and I'm trying to get the green light in order to start trying for a baby...so thats why I'm trying to explore the different options available. I do like the idea of seeing trends / patterns as opposed to absolute figures. I have my next clinic appointment in May, so will discuss this option with the consultant then.
thanks again !
Cx
- Status