Hello

[Matt Cycle]

Hello all

Hope this turns out to be a friendly forum 🙂 . A bit about me - I've been T1 (or IDDM as it was then) since 1986 from the age of 18. Started on Humulin I, after a year moved onto MDI with the then new Novopen (1.5ml cartridges) with Actrapid and Ultratard via syringe. I've now been on NovoRapid and Levemir for about 5 years.

Not got any issues with my diabetes other than some background retinopathy picked up at the eye screening about 5 years ago - no further action was needed. My vital statistics from June 😉 HbA1c was 49 or 6.6% in old money, BP was 112/61, cholesterol was 4.1 and BMI was 19.3.

I am very interested in CGM's (either a true CGM like the Dexcom or the swipe and read Freestyle Libre) and would love to get one. I also really enjoy road cycling and often do 40-60 mile rides (completed a metric century last Sunday - 100km or 62.4 miles). Work and family commitments mean my cycling is usually limited to weekends and any days off I take. Still struggle a bit with getting my bg levels right when on the bike which is where a CGM would come in very useful.

Apologies for the essay.

Cheers

Matt

 

[Northerner]

Hi Matt, welcome to the forum 🙂 Great to hear that you are managing things so well, I think that regular exercise really plays a huge part in keeping good control and it's clearly been helping you 🙂 My niece (non-diabetic) is a huge cycling fan - are you following the fortunes of Team Novo Nordisk in the Tour of Britain?

Lots of friendly people here, I look forward to hearing more from you 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum Matt Cycle 🙂

 

[KookyCat]

Hi Matt
Welcome aboard 🙂

 

[Matt Cycle]

Thanks for the welcome. Although I had a few ups and downs in the early days I've always tried to take care of myself through not smoking, don't drink, reasonable diet and exercise. Seems to have worked okay so far.

Yes, I've been following the race. I often wear my TNN replica jersey (the changing diabetes one) when cycling and hope it gives a positive impression about diabetics to anyone who sees it. The team are really inspirational and I'm on some of the same Strava groups as some of the team members. I know they're professionals and cycling is their full time job but the weekly distances and elevation gain they cover are amazing and all this with Type 1 diabetes.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for the welcome. Although I had a few ups and downs in the early days I've always tried to take care of myself through not smoking, don't drink, reasonable diet and exercise. Seems to have worked okay so far.

Yes, I've been following the race. I often wear my TNN replica jersey (the changing diabetes one) when cycling and hope it gives a positive impression about diabetics to anyone who sees it. The team are really inspirational and I'm on some of the same Strava groups as some of the team members. I know they're professionals and cycling is their full time job but the weekly distances and elevation gain they cover are amazing and all this with Type 1 diabetes.

You're right, it's truly astonishing and a huge inspiration 🙂

 

[Redkite]

Welcome to the forum Matt 🙂. Are you happy with your control on MDI? Have you ever considered a pump? If you're interested in standalone CGM (no pump), I'd say dexcom would be much better for your circumstances than the libre, as dexcom alarms when it reaches high/low levels that you choose, and you can have the receiver on your handlebars when cycling and keep an eye on your levels. The libre has to be scanned by the handheld reader before you can see the info, and will not sound an alarm if your BG goes out of range.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Hello Redkite and thanks for the welcome.

Yes, I'm reasonably happy with my control on MDI. I'd never really given consideration to a pump until fairly recently when I heard of the good results people were having using them. It's something I'll bear in mind.

A standalone CGM just strikes me as something to make my diabetic life a whole lot easier. To see patterns but crucially to see what direction my BG is heading in. This is next to impossible with normal testing unless you just spend all day doing it. 🙂 I enquired with Advanced Therapeutics regarding the Dexcom and have looked into the Libre as well. Sadly for me at the moment cost is the limiting factor.

As you say it would be ideal on the bike as I currently have to stop, extract a strip, prick my finger etc. Certainly less than ideal at the side of the road - particularly if it's cold and raining. I used to use an Accu-Chek Mobile which was better as it has the enclosed strip cassette and lancet drum attached. My surgery though a couple of years ago changed everyone onto a standard meter.

 

[Northerner]

Matt, if you have a good reason for needing a particular meter it's worth arguing your case - if the meter you have been given is affecting your quality of life, the financial saving is very small for the CCG. I'd suggest discussing it with your consultant - part of the reason for your good control is your commitment to exercise, and this does seem to be getting in the way of that.

CGMs are very popular in the US where I have read many blogs from US triathletes, cyclists and distance runners, but they are expensive I know what you mean about trying to test when it is cold and rainy and having to stop, very frustrating when I am out on long runs

 

[Redkite]

Matt, the new NICE guideline NG17 states :

"1.6.17 When choosing blood glucose meters:
take the needs of the adult with type 1 diabetes into account

ensure that meters meet current ISO standards. [new 2015]"

So you may be able to argue your case with your GP for a more suitable BG meter that meets your needs. Certainly the Accuchek is more convenient for cyclists!

 

[Flower]

Hi Matt and welcome 🙂

The Tour of Britain came past my front door last year and I gave Team Novo Nordisk a loud cheer - well I think I did - they went past so fast it was a blur!

 

[Bloden]

Hi Matt and welcome.🙂

I used to have an Accu Chek Compact Plus which had the same set-up as the Mobile - pricker attached and strips drum inside. It was so practical, I could test walking down the street!

Good luck with getting CGM...it would change all our lives, not only the serious exercisers like you.😛

 

[HOBIE]

Welcome Matt, Keep Cycling 🙂

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Hello Matt, from another newbie 🙂

I would love CGM too as I hypo so often, and would really like to know when my BGL's on its way down.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Thanks again all for the warm welcome.

I haven't been to a hospital clinic for about 20 years and have been seen at my GPs surgery but my DN at the surgery is very good - I'm sure she would look favourably at prescribing for the Mobile. I'll find out at my next check-up. Roche kept sending me updated meters when I had a Glucotrend then a Nano and finally a Mobile. I'd never had an issue with prescriptions from the surgery until a couple of years ago out of the blue I received a standard letter and was told to collect my new meter. I'm not sure if it was down to the surgery or CCG policy? My DN has since issued me with a different brand of meter as she admitted the others were not very good! Hopefully, I can get back to using the Mobile.

 

[pippaandben]

When I changed to the Mobile meter I told the surgery and presented them with the cost differential between drum and strips. This was minimal 2 years ago but the saving over the non use of strips which you drop makes up for this many times over. The meter itself I got free from a diabetes meeting where there was talk by the manufacturer. Worth contacting them to get latest version.