Hello from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

[John McDermon]

I'm a 74 year old semi-retired IT analyst who has been dealing with Type II diabetes for about 8 years.

Have managed to maintain my A1C levels in the range of 5.9 - 6.4 over the past 2-3 years. I once had insurance that provided me with a Libre Freestyle CGM for most of year 2020. During that year I learned a LOT about the effects of foods, excercise and rest on glucose levels. The education on glucose impact was extraordinaily helpful.

Then in 2021 my company's insurance plan was 'upgraded' and suddenly they would no longer provide any help for a CGM unless I become dependent on insulin shots (3 shots a day minimum.) Bummer... At least I had the CGM for a year and used that time to familiarize myself with the impacts of various foods, exercise and rest. Information that I wish I could easily access today. At least I am thankful to have had the CGM experience for a while. My doctor will still prescibe me a CGM - but w/o insurance I sadly cannot afford one.

Nice to be here. I am keeping watchful eyes open for a wearable, non-invasive CGM option - like the one that Apple Watch has teased about for the past 2 years. I wish I could get lucky enough to participate in one of the trial periods for such a device.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Great to hear that you had CGM for a year and learned such a lot from it. I appreciate they are not cheap as I used to self fund myself, but It can be useful to use one intermittently as a Type 2 just to review your diabetes management/diet every once in a while as an investment in your future health and wellbeing rather than committing to funding a regular supply and if you are not using insulin, then that intermittent use should give as much information as you need. Here in the UK we can buy them over the counter or direct from the manufacturer on a single sensor basis without a prescription, so it might be worth checking if that situation also exists in the USA.
Do you use any medication to manage your diabetes or are you solely controlled via diet and exercise?

Look forward to hearing more from you and hope you find the wealth of experience on the forum as beneficial as I have since diagnosis.

 

[rebrascora]

Just want to say it is hard not to be a little jealous of your location, especially when we are experiencing torrential rain and dingy darkness here in the UK today. I doubt it is ever like this in California..... but on the positive side, at least it means we are very rarely short of water!

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi John McDermon, welcome to the forum.

So glad you were able to make use of a CGM as it really does open your eyes to the variety of things that can impact glucose levels.

You mentioned wanting non invasive methods, do you have challenges with pricking your fingers or is it just a preference?

I too am looking forward to technology catching us as it would make life so much easier! Garmin have got a body battery and heart rate monitor in their latest models so fingers crossed.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Golfer?

My memories of a weekend in Myrtle Beach a zillion years ago: 400 golf courses, 1000 t-shirt stores, 5000 ... umm, other places 🙂

Seriously, a beautiful part of the world!