Re: CGM, curse or blessing?

[Guest guest]

Talk about TMI! No thanks!

Dave

" ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world. " [ 16:33]

CGM, curse or blessing?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

Garlinghouse

Jul 1, 2011

" Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

paraphernalia.

A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure alarms

me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for the

day already exhausted.

Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again, this

time alerting me to a low

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

/> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number, 82,

alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly. I

sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me, daring

me to attempt to work out.

CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

(sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes I

just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be in

the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I might

not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be happy

again. Try to be normal.

Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a pump,

a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not a

cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather than

easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

different---forever and always.

I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

insistent beeps of my CGM.

_____

Categories:A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who has one and it has saved her life several times. She

has complete diabetic unawareness and doesn't know when her sugar is

dropping until she wakes up in an ER somewhere usually with a head injury or

something. The CMG is now set to go off when her sugar is at 80 and she

checks it and can eat something. As she lives alone, this has saved her

several times during the night It would be a pain if it went off when your

sugar was high , but then you cold set It to not go off until your sugar is

really, really high! .

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of dave Bond

Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 11:26 AM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: CGM, curse or blessing?

Talk about TMI! No thanks!

Dave

" ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world. " [ 16:33]

CGM, curse or blessing?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

Garlinghouse

Jul 1, 2011

" Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

paraphernalia.

A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure alarms

me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for the

day already exhausted.

Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again, this

time alerting me to a low

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

/> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number, 82,

alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly. I

sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me, daring

me to attempt to work out.

CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

(sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes I

just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be in

the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I might

not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be happy

again. Try to be normal.

Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a pump,

a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not a

cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather than

easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

different---forever and always.

I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

insistent beeps of my CGM.

_____

Categories:A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who has one and it has saved her life several times. She

has complete diabetic unawareness and doesn't know when her sugar is

dropping until she wakes up in an ER somewhere usually with a head injury or

something. The CMG is now set to go off when her sugar is at 80 and she

checks it and can eat something. As she lives alone, this has saved her

several times during the night It would be a pain if it went off when your

sugar was high , but then you cold set It to not go off until your sugar is

really, really high! .

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of dave Bond

Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 11:26 AM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: CGM, curse or blessing?

Talk about TMI! No thanks!

Dave

" ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world. " [ 16:33]

CGM, curse or blessing?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

Garlinghouse

Jul 1, 2011

" Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

paraphernalia.

A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure alarms

me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for the

day already exhausted.

Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again, this

time alerting me to a low

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

/> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number, 82,

alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly. I

sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me, daring

me to attempt to work out.

CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

(sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes I

just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be in

the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I might

not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be happy

again. Try to be normal.

Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a pump,

a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not a

cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather than

easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

different---forever and always.

I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

insistent beeps of my CGM.

_____

Categories:A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who has one and it has saved her life several times. She

has complete diabetic unawareness and doesn't know when her sugar is

dropping until she wakes up in an ER somewhere usually with a head injury or

something. The CMG is now set to go off when her sugar is at 80 and she

checks it and can eat something. As she lives alone, this has saved her

several times during the night It would be a pain if it went off when your

sugar was high , but then you cold set It to not go off until your sugar is

really, really high! .

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of dave Bond

Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 11:26 AM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: CGM, curse or blessing?

Talk about TMI! No thanks!

Dave

" ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world. " [ 16:33]

CGM, curse or blessing?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

Garlinghouse

Jul 1, 2011

" Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

paraphernalia.

A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure alarms

me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for the

day already exhausted.

Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again, this

time alerting me to a low

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

/> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number, 82,

alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly. I

sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me, daring

me to attempt to work out.

CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

(sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes I

just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be in

the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I might

not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be happy

again. Try to be normal.

Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a pump,

a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not a

cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather than

easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

different---forever and always.

I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

insistent beeps of my CGM.

_____

Categories:A1C

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

[Guest guest]

something like this might have saved a friend's life a couple of years ago.

She went to bed one night and didn't wake up. When they did an autopsy her

sugar was over 600. She knew she was a diabetic and thought she was taking

of herself by watching what she ate etc. but something wasn't right.

Chuck

CGM, curse or blessing?

>

> Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

>

> Garlinghouse

> Jul 1, 2011

>

> " Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

> says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

> supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

> else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

> exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

> nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

> paraphernalia.

>

> A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure

> alarms

> me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

> Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

> bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

> half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for

> the

> day already exhausted.

>

> Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again,

> this

> time alerting me to a low

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

> /> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number,

> 82,

> alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly.

> I

> sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

> then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me,

> daring

> me to attempt to work out.

>

> CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

> (sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

> during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

> A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

> usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes

> I

> just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

>

> The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

> may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

> Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be

> in

> the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

> BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I

> might

> not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be

> happy

> again. Try to be normal.

>

> Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a

> pump,

> a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not

> a

> cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather

> than

> easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

> good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

> better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

> moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

> cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

> not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

> different---forever and always.

>

> I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

> doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

> try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

> eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

> insistent beeps of my CGM.

>

> _____

>

> Categories:A1C

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

> Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

>

>

[Guest guest]

something like this might have saved a friend's life a couple of years ago.

She went to bed one night and didn't wake up. When they did an autopsy her

sugar was over 600. She knew she was a diabetic and thought she was taking

of herself by watching what she ate etc. but something wasn't right.

Chuck

CGM, curse or blessing?

>

> Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

>

> Garlinghouse

> Jul 1, 2011

>

> " Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

> says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

> supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

> else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

> exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

> nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

> paraphernalia.

>

> A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure

> alarms

> me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

> Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

> bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

> half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for

> the

> day already exhausted.

>

> Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again,

> this

> time alerting me to a low

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

> /> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number,

> 82,

> alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly.

> I

> sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

> then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me,

> daring

> me to attempt to work out.

>

> CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

> (sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

> during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

> A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

> usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes

> I

> just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

>

> The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

> may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

> Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be

> in

> the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

> BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I

> might

> not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be

> happy

> again. Try to be normal.

>

> Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a

> pump,

> a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not

> a

> cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather

> than

> easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

> good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

> better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

> moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

> cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

> not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

> different---forever and always.

>

> I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

> doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

> try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

> eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

> insistent beeps of my CGM.

>

> _____

>

> Categories:A1C

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

> Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

>

>

[Guest guest]

something like this might have saved a friend's life a couple of years ago.

She went to bed one night and didn't wake up. When they did an autopsy her

sugar was over 600. She knew she was a diabetic and thought she was taking

of herself by watching what she ate etc. but something wasn't right.

Chuck

CGM, curse or blessing?

>

> Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

>

> Garlinghouse

> Jul 1, 2011

>

> " Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

> says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

> supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

> else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

> exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

> nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

> paraphernalia.

>

> A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure

> alarms

> me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

> Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

> bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

> half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for

> the

> day already exhausted.

>

> Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again,

> this

> time alerting me to a low

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

> /> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number,

> 82,

> alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly.

> I

> sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

> then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me,

> daring

> me to attempt to work out.

>

> CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

> (sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

> during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

> A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

> usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes

> I

> just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

>

> The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

> may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

> Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be

> in

> the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

> BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I

> might

> not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be

> happy

> again. Try to be normal.

>

> Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a

> pump,

> a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not

> a

> cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather

> than

> easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

> good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

> better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

> moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

> cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

> not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

> different---forever and always.

>

> I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

> doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

> try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

> eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

> insistent beeps of my CGM.

>

> _____

>

> Categories:A1C

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

> Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I hit 600 one time, or close to it, but apart from feeling a little off the

mark, I was fine and recovered within hours. I suspect this person, who an

autopsy revealed had been 600 was also a diabetic way out of control on a daily

basis. One reading of 600 won't kill you IMO. And my point is, using a CGM isn't

really going to help for most people if they are way out of control.

Dave

" ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world. " [ 16:33]

CGM, curse or blessing?

>

> Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

>

> Garlinghouse

> Jul 1, 2011

>

> " Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

> says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

> supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

> else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

> exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

> nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

> paraphernalia.

>

> A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure

> alarms

> me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

> Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

> bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

> half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for

> the

> day already exhausted.

>

> Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again,

> this

> time alerting me to a low

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

> /> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number,

> 82,

> alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly.

> I

> sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

> then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me,

> daring

> me to attempt to work out.

>

> CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

> (sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

> during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

> A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

> usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes

> I

> just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

>

> The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

> may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

> Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be

> in

> the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

> BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I

> might

> not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be

> happy

> again. Try to be normal.

>

> Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a

> pump,

> a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not

> a

> cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather

> than

> easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

> good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

> better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

> moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

> cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

> not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

> different---forever and always.

>

> I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

> doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

> try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

> eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

> insistent beeps of my CGM.

>

> _____

>

> Categories:A1C

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

> Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I hit 600 one time, or close to it, but apart from feeling a little off the

mark, I was fine and recovered within hours. I suspect this person, who an

autopsy revealed had been 600 was also a diabetic way out of control on a daily

basis. One reading of 600 won't kill you IMO. And my point is, using a CGM isn't

really going to help for most people if they are way out of control.

Dave

" ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world. " [ 16:33]

CGM, curse or blessing?

>

> Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Joys and Pains

>

> Garlinghouse

> Jul 1, 2011

>

> " Good news, " my diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> nurse educator

> says to me. " Your new insurance covers continuous glucose monitoring

> supplies! " I give her a half-smile as my brain screams at me, " CGM

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/cgms/> ? Really? Something

> else to deal with on top of this damn disease, an insulin

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/insulin-pumps/> pump,

> exercise <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/fitness/exercise/> , and

> nutrition? " But I comply, and a CGM is added to the rest of my

> paraphernalia.

>

> A few nights later, I hear, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP! The sound of failure

> alarms

> me at 2:00 a.m. My blood sugar

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> is high.

> Again. I get up, test, inject, guzzle a glass of water, and flop back into

> bed. Thirty minutes later, my CGM alarms me again. And it continues every

> half-hour until my blood sugar returns to a normal range. I wake up for

> the

> day already exhausted.

>

> Right after breakfast and before I head to the gym, my CGM beeps again,

> this

> time alerting me to a low

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar

> /> blood sugar. I look at my pump and it displays a threatening number,

> 82,

> alongside two double arrows indicating that my sugar is dropping quickly.

> I

> sigh, test, roll my eyes, and gulp down half a glass of grape juice. And

> then, every ten minutes for thirty more minutes, my CGM yells at me,

> daring

> me to attempt to work out.

>

> CGM technology can be wonderful. I have avoided nights of extreme highs

> (sleeping in a comatose state of sugar-induced bliss) and driving my car

> during dangerous lows. I have been able to better control my diabetes. My

> A1Cs <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/> are

> usually better when I've been using my CGM. But, in all honesty, sometimes

> I

> just don't want to know. I want to live in oblivion.

>

> The CGM also has what I consider to be a high rate of error. While my pump

> may report my blood sugar is 130, it could very well be 80 and dropping.

> Sometimes my blood sugar is normal when the CGM says I'm low. I might be

> in

> the middle of an enjoyable moment, such as dinner

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/food/dinner/> with friends, when the

> BEEP, BEEP, BEEP interrupts the conversation to alert me that again, I

> might

> not have great control. Stop. Test. Sigh. Correct (or not). Try to be

> happy

> again. Try to be normal.

>

> Syringes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/products/syringes/> , a

> pump,

> a CGM---while these are all important to diabetes management, they are not

> a

> cure. Not even close. I dare say that sometimes, life is harder rather

> than

> easier with greater technology. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Of course,

> good diabetes management is important, and technology helps one obtain

> better management, but there is always a cost: a " BEEP " during a special

> moment, a bad pump set that prevents you from enjoying your own birthday

> cake, or the occasional sting of a syringe that reminds you that you are

> not, in fact, anywhere close to normal. You have diabetes. Your life is

> different---forever and always.

>

> I will only have peace when there is a cure---a cure that works and that

> doesn't compromise my ethics. I hope and pray for a cure, but meanwhile, I

> try to live my best life possible by doing what I know I'm supposed to:

> eating well, exercising, pumping, and listening and responding to the

> insistent beeps of my CGM.

>

> _____

>

> Categories:A1C

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , Blood

> <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose/>

> Glucose, <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with you, one reading of 600 is not going to be fatal unless

maybe a person is running that high constantly. That's a bit different

for lows, though, which can be fatal with just one reading if it goes

low enough.

I think a CGM is a useful tool if it's used correctly. Because there's a

15-20 minute delay between the CGM and your actual blood sugar, it's not

always best to use it as an " alarm " for highs and lows, although I've

heard from people who use them that they can help greatly reduce the

number of highs and lows someone has by making them aware that they're

having them. From what I've read, they are best used throughout the day

to check the " trend " in blood sugar, for scenarios such as, " Hmmm, I

just took five units of insulin for food two hours ago, now my blood

sugar is 86 and I still have 2.5 units active but want to head to bed

.... should I eat or not? " If your blood sugar is holding steady or

heading up the answer would be no, but if it's heading down the answer

would be yes. This happened to me last night and I chose not to eat, but

only because I knew I'd eaten food that might take a while to digest

earlier.

The next generation of my pump will have a built-in CGM and I can't wait

to get it. I love this type of development and think it's a great tool.

Though part of me is frustrated that it's another " step " (after insulin

pumps) that isn't really accessible to people who are blind.

Jen

>

> I hit 600 one time, or close to it, but apart from feeling a little

> off the mark, I was fine and recovered within hours. I suspect this

> person, who an autopsy revealed had been 600 was also a diabetic way

> out of control on a daily basis. One reading of 600 won't kill you

> IMO. And my point is, using a CGM isn't really going to help for most

> people if they are way out of control.

>

> Dave

>

> " ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have

> overcome the world. " [ 16:33]

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with you, one reading of 600 is not going to be fatal unless

maybe a person is running that high constantly. That's a bit different

for lows, though, which can be fatal with just one reading if it goes

low enough.

I think a CGM is a useful tool if it's used correctly. Because there's a

15-20 minute delay between the CGM and your actual blood sugar, it's not

always best to use it as an " alarm " for highs and lows, although I've

heard from people who use them that they can help greatly reduce the

number of highs and lows someone has by making them aware that they're

having them. From what I've read, they are best used throughout the day

to check the " trend " in blood sugar, for scenarios such as, " Hmmm, I

just took five units of insulin for food two hours ago, now my blood

sugar is 86 and I still have 2.5 units active but want to head to bed

.... should I eat or not? " If your blood sugar is holding steady or

heading up the answer would be no, but if it's heading down the answer

would be yes. This happened to me last night and I chose not to eat, but

only because I knew I'd eaten food that might take a while to digest

earlier.

The next generation of my pump will have a built-in CGM and I can't wait

to get it. I love this type of development and think it's a great tool.

Though part of me is frustrated that it's another " step " (after insulin

pumps) that isn't really accessible to people who are blind.

Jen

>

> I hit 600 one time, or close to it, but apart from feeling a little

> off the mark, I was fine and recovered within hours. I suspect this

> person, who an autopsy revealed had been 600 was also a diabetic way

> out of control on a daily basis. One reading of 600 won't kill you

> IMO. And my point is, using a CGM isn't really going to help for most

> people if they are way out of control.

>

> Dave

>

> " ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have

> overcome the world. " [ 16:33]

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with you, one reading of 600 is not going to be fatal unless

maybe a person is running that high constantly. That's a bit different

for lows, though, which can be fatal with just one reading if it goes

low enough.

I think a CGM is a useful tool if it's used correctly. Because there's a

15-20 minute delay between the CGM and your actual blood sugar, it's not

always best to use it as an " alarm " for highs and lows, although I've

heard from people who use them that they can help greatly reduce the

number of highs and lows someone has by making them aware that they're

having them. From what I've read, they are best used throughout the day

to check the " trend " in blood sugar, for scenarios such as, " Hmmm, I

just took five units of insulin for food two hours ago, now my blood

sugar is 86 and I still have 2.5 units active but want to head to bed

.... should I eat or not? " If your blood sugar is holding steady or

heading up the answer would be no, but if it's heading down the answer

would be yes. This happened to me last night and I chose not to eat, but

only because I knew I'd eaten food that might take a while to digest

earlier.

The next generation of my pump will have a built-in CGM and I can't wait

to get it. I love this type of development and think it's a great tool.

Though part of me is frustrated that it's another " step " (after insulin

pumps) that isn't really accessible to people who are blind.

Jen

>

> I hit 600 one time, or close to it, but apart from feeling a little

> off the mark, I was fine and recovered within hours. I suspect this

> person, who an autopsy revealed had been 600 was also a diabetic way

> out of control on a daily basis. One reading of 600 won't kill you

> IMO. And my point is, using a CGM isn't really going to help for most

> people if they are way out of control.

>

> Dave

>

> " ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have

> overcome the world. " [ 16:33]

>