So does this mean you have to use a receiver now as your new phone does not support the Dexcom software?
Good tip! I didn’t know that. Thanks!
When you do finger stick, keep in mind that dexcom sensor is measuring interstitial tissue, which usually lags fingerstick readings.
Do you recall trend arrow on dexcom? It was likely trending down and would have been closer within 10-20 minutes.
If dexcom line is flat, the meter bg reading is usually closer to sensor reading, except during initial hours.
Good idea. I didn’t realize I could just use the receiver only at nighttime. When I first got the thing I had both the phone and receiver going and the readings didn’t match between the two, which drove me nuts. I mean sometimes there was a huge difference. The receiver was “off” by more than the phone was, so I just decided to go with my phone. But I have had a few occasions where a low alert didn’t go off when it should, and two times we hadn’t gone to bed yet so I know it wasn’t that we just slept through it. I guess I’ll have to pull my receiver back out and see about using it at night time. Thanks for the idea!
I have not had any issues when an upgrade occurs with Apple; it still allows Dexcom to work just fine. When Dexcom 7 comes out, generally Apple catches up quickly, so you will only get notified on your phone. They are pretty good in keeping service running, so I am not worried about it at this time.
The brains of the G6 system are in the transmitter not the receiving devices. Your phone and receiver may not update the current number at exactly the same time but they will be within 5 minutes of each other if they are both in range. If the numbers are far apart, it means that one device hasn’t updated for a long time because it was out of range.
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When I was on pork insulin I had super keen hypo awareness. Much less on Humulin and Humalog. However since I tightened up my sugars in the past year and a half, I can feel lows pretty significantly. It’s hard to compare to when I was on animal insulin because I’m a lot older now, that was 30 years ago.
I don’t use a pump.
May 22, 2022
I wear my receiver and my iPhone 11XR in a runners belt.
Both have my sensor and transmitter serial numbers in them.
I’m a Newbie. My next step from the Diabetes Clinic is an InPen Smartpen,
so I can more easily calculate IOB and mealtime shots. Can’t get an Omnipod 5
yet as I am diagnosed a type 2, even though I am totally insulin-dependent.
My C-Peptide is 0.21. I became insulin-dependent immediately after
Pancreatic Cancer surgery on October 6, 2021 (Distal Pancreatectomy, Spleen
removal, partial Omentum removal). It’s all still a huge and overwhelming learning
experience for me. I am grateful for this website and your responses as the Diabetes
Clinic isn’t all that helpful in helping me get a grasp on all this.
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They’re also not helpful at getting you a proper diagnosis, either. You are NOT Type 2, not even if maybe you were before your pancreatectomy. There’s an entirely different diagnosis code for medically-induced diabetes. Technically, you’re a “pancreatic cancer-induced insulin dependent diabetic”. Quite the mouthful, right? Medically-induced diabetes is categorized by the condition which caused it, followed by the treatment method. If you’re just seeing a general practitioner, they may not even know this… because it’s definitely NOT general medicine. It’s quite rare. I would suggest you ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, if you haven’t already got one. They should be better suited to getting you set up with the proper diagnosis code.
Getting your diagnosis code sorted would remove the Type 2 barrier, if you want the Omnipod or other insulin pump , that is. Medically induced diabetes is a bit of a black-hole in the insurance world, as each case is different. You’re more likely to be clumped in with the Type 1s, since you’re insulin dependent, when your claims are reviewed.
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I was a type 2 on Metformin before. Endocrinologist at Diabetes Clinic says I’m still considered type 2 even though I’m now medically-induced insulin-dependent. I asked him to change it, but he said he can’t because I didn’t become
diabetic from an autoimmune disorder. I became diabetic from insulin resistance. Nurse Practitioner said my C-Protein level is 0.21, and you need to be 0.1 or less to be considered type 1. I was told that they are following current medical protocols for diabetic diagnosis, as well as for Medicare Advantage Plan, and that they could lose their licenses if they did not follow the medical protocols. So I guess I’m going to be in Limbo for awhile. In the meantime, I’m just trying to figure it all out on my own, so I can live some more. God-willing, I’ll keep on going, with help from diabetes books and websites. I thank God for each one of you who are so willing to help to enlighten us Newbies.
Okay, at least they seem aware. I would be asking for a second opinion from a different group, though. Medicare doesn’t dictate how diagnoses are done, and the Type 1 diagnosis criteria is irrelevant. It’s like they’re stuck on choosing between Type 1 or Type 2, when the sugary removing part of your pancreas changed the status quo altogether.
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Did you mean C-peptide? This indicates if your pancreas is still making insulin. Medicare uses this as pump criteria.
Yes C-Peptide. Sorry. Rookie error for terminology.
I suggest you contact medicare specialist for your plan, not the practitioner, to confirm criteria/ eligibility for you.
Thank you for reply. So sorry it’s been forever! Too much else going on here (other medical for me and family members) taking priority.
Yes. I’m well aware CGMs measure intersistal fluid rather than blood glucose, and that it lags behind BG. This issue has occurred many times and no it is not always trending down. And there are also times it the Dexcom tells me I’m higher or lower than I am (out of range by the way) with an up or down trend but I’ve been doing multiple finger sticks and my BG has been in fact quite stable during that time. When it does it often enough over a 24 hr period I call in and they send me a replacement sensor. So those things do not always get it right. They do malfunction, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. By and large it has still been a game changer for management and a life saver for hypoglycemia, though sleep interruptions for false alarms may be harmful to my health.
So sorry for the VERY late response!
Thanks for you input. Interesting. But to use both at the same time still makes it too stressful and unlivable for me, especially at nighttime as it just increases the number of alarms and wakenings with getting up to finger stick; thus decreases yet again the quantity and quality of my sleep, especially since I also have interrupted sleep from MS issues, and an elderly cat with cognitive dysfunction.
I pray you are doing well with all the pancreatic recovery.
I completely understand your frustration about the diagnosis, pigeon whole, black hole, etc. regarding Type 2 vs. medically induced!
I never had any issues with blood sugar, always good A1c, fasting, and random glucose tests until 5 yrs ago I had to be on daily high doses of prednisone for lung issues and then boom in the hospital with DKA being told by hospital and then endocrinologists afterwards that my pancreas has been too damaged and doesn’t make and process insulin so I’ll be insulin dependent. Also had the same experience as you with lack of guidance and support from healthcare providers, even endocrinologists in our area (just one group). I got better care from my primary doctor at that time. Unfortunately she is gone now, new one not supportive or well informed.
Anyway, almost all of the time healthcare providers just list me as Type 2, they completely ignore the original diagnosis of “medically induced- drug induced diabetes: corticosteroids” which is in fact an actual medical diagnosis and the correct one to use. In fact, apparently about 30% of new cases seen by endocrinologists are drug-induced diabetes. But no, seems as far as 99% of healthcare providers are concerned if you’re not Type 1 then you’re automatically Type 2, period. Friggin’ annoying!
My husband is typical onset Type 2 and I can tell you our experiences with diabetes have been night and day. At least that’s been our experience.
Hang in there! I sure hope you get better support. Wishing you all the very best!
I developed steroid induced diabetes due to treatment for severe lung disease. Steroid induced/drug induced is also a medically induced diabetes sub-category as you described. As such I have been insulin dependent (Humalog and Tresiba) since day of diagnosis when at the hospital in DKA. However most healthcare providers just use Type 2 when they see me for something. Even my own PCP flips back and forth, sometimes she write Steroid Induced Diabetes and sometimes she writes Type 2 Diabetes. My insurance doesn’t seem to care one way or the other it seems as it all gets processed just fine. But it baffles me and annoys me. I would like to have the correct diagnosis on my medical records. And I get tired of the assumptions from healthcare providers about Type 2 diabetes. It’s infuriating! Also, my husband has typical adult onset type 2 diabetes, for which he takes two oral medications. I know our experiences with diabetes have been extremely different. I know medical articles and journals I have read about steroid induced diabetes typically point out the differences and similarities to standard type 2. And I know some online sources simply say if and when steroid induced diabetes becomes permanent it is then called Type 2 diabetes, which doesn’t seem correct to me. So it seems there is plenty of confusion around this issue.
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The reason the lump it together is because you have drug induced insulin resistance. Treating it is exactly the same as type 2 insulin resistance.
Different causes but the same reality.
I get why it bothers you to have the wrong diagnosis. People and medical professionals still sort of treat type 2s as if they brought this on them selves.
It’s really not true, not completely. Obesity and overeating can bring it on faster, but if you are genetically determined to have type2, you will get it if you live long enough.
I wish we didn’t even call all the types diabetes, because it makes it too easy to make mistakes.
I think they should call it type1 insulin insufficiency
And call type 2 insulin resistance.
Or both insulinsufficiency and insulin resistance for the lucky few.
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