With a combination of the test meter, Insulin Pump and the CGMS, Diabetes can be as well
controlled as well as one wishes. Just like driving a car or operating a computer, a diabetic must learn how to work it. After you learn how, you will be able to enjoy life again. Also, many type 2’s are using the CGMS with good results.
dickrichard, yes I agree it’s controllable, but control means different things to different people. It’s not always possible to control it as well as one wishes, even knowing how to work the tools. Some of us can get excellent control, some just don’t get great control no matter what they do. It’s not a matter of commitment or ‘learning to work it’, it’s that our bodies and our diabetes is so individual.
I believe this is one of the biggest issues that contributes to depression in PWD. ‘I did everything, I have the tools, I learned everything, I tried everything, and I still can’t get my D to behave the way I want it to. I give up!!!’ Been there, done that. It’s not irresponsibility, ignorance, inconsistency or anything but D itself. We can’t blame ourselves or others for less than excellent control. It’s one of those things that just happens. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of blaming ourselves and go down a negative path.
One of the best things (to me) about TuD is how different we, and our bodies, are; how differently we all need to deal with our D. I’m constantly learning!
I assume you’ve got it figured out for your body - congratulations! It’s not easy to get there and reflects a lot of work 
There are people who can’t afford a pump or CGMS. A meter, of course, is critical. Good control, however that’s defined, is also obtainable without a pump or CGM. Saddens me that people believe devices are the magical answer to their situation. Those who can’t afford the latest techno gizmo believe they’re being left out in the cold &, if only they could obtain these, all their problems would be solved. Seen many PWD with the latest & greatest fail to get the results they need. Some improve, some don’t.
The true meaning of good control has yet to be defined. Even major organizations such as the ADA and AACE can’t agree on that. There is so much yet unknown about all types of diabetes, so much individual variation, and so much going on biologically that we CAN’T control, that I think your statement is meaningless. The real goal is for everyone to do their best, accept their own individuality and live as best as they can, but no one should trivialize the struggles of people who are NOT achieving so-called good control. They may be doing their all-out best, and who am I to scorn them when I am not walking in their shoes?
I DO hope that YOU are achieving your own definition of good control – nothing wrong in being happy about that, but you can’t generalize to everyone.
Uh, I have type 1 and even with all the latest technologies (which I have), I still find things completely uncontrollable at times. And I know how to work these devices quite well. But there are unfortunately just SO MANY things that impact BGs. Hormones for me are a big one. I spend about half the month chasing highs and lows because of hormonal fluctuations…ugh.
I wish it were that easy. I tried a pump and it made things worse - it is not some magic tool that people can use to get perfect blood sugar. I have been without CGMS sensors for several months and trying to get more. Like Gerri said, just because stuff is there doesn’t mean they will get it nor does it mean perfect control if they do manage to get them. I am currently fighting my insurance just to get the insulin I like so I don’t have the energy to fight over sensors.
I agree. I understand enough about the mechanics of diabetes to keep my BG in the normal range. Do I really do it? Hell No! I enjoy eating pizza. Pizza should not be one of my choices. I sat in my doctor’s waiting room. People were revealing details about their nasty diseases. I felt very lucky. I only have to keep my BG in range to stay out of trouble. At least this is my illusion. Keeping my BG in the normal range only means that I can be one of them. It is an illusion that perfect A1C will make me invincible. If I cross a street a truck might run me over no matter what my A1C is. Thanks to advances in diabetes care T1 is no longer an early death sentence. Being one of the others is no that comforting. All of a sudden I have to watch out for a thousand diseases and one of them will get to me. Now I am the Average Joe. The grass is always greener on the other side. Enjoy your life. If you don’t die of diabetes complications you will have worried for no good reason.
I guess “learning how to work” diabetes is harder for some of us than for others. I certainly haven’t achieved the “control I wish” despite having a pump, testing 8-10x per day, and putting in a tremendous amount of effort. The pump has helped a lot, but it definitely has not solved everything, and I think a CGM would be much the same.
I value my Dexcom 7+ much higher than my OmniPod. Being able to see how my BG reacts to certain foods is invaluable. Timing is the free lunch of diabetes control. A pump is nice. A CGM that works gives back eyesight to a blind person. Seeing is believing.
Frankly I think this is a very naive statement. Meters, pumps, and CGMS certainly make life a bit easier, but they don’t give me a guaranteed flatline. In fact, sometimes they just make it easier for me to watch the huge peaks and valleys.
One thing that I am missing in my arsenal of diabetes tools is really fast acting insulin. Because injected (or pumped) insulin is not injected directly into the bloodstream, there is a definite lag-time for it to start working. And it works no where as fast as insulin in a non-diabetic person. If I eat any carbs, I find it incredibly difficult to take an insulin dose that will prevent post-meal highs without sending me low later. I have all the tools: pump, CGMS, etc. It’s still very hard. The insulin that stops the highs causes the lows. I go months with great pump sites, but now am in the middle of a few weeks with lots of painful and bloody sites that cause highs.
Attitude does help in having a good life with diabetes. So keep up the positive attitude.
Since we are all so different with our tasks to make the best of living with diabetes , it maybe very true for dickrichard …and he is able to enjoy LIFE much better than prior to the use of the gadgets …so Good for him !
Same thing for me – if I eat carbs, I get a peak that plunges into a low. I mostly avoid that by eating few carbs, and especially limiting them at breakfast. But I really WOULD like to eat a stack of pancakes from time to time!
Faster acting insulin - yeah!! Whether or not I pre-bolus, I still spike within an hour after meals then come back down to where I want to. Most of my control, I think, is because I eat an average of about 20 carbs per day.
I have all the tools, my last A1C was 5.7. The last 2 days I’ve wakened up in the 160s-170s (very high for me!) with no explanation except diabetes gremlins. What works all the time doesn’t always.
+1
dickr are you willing to share why the gadgets work so well for you? We are advocating in our Province for our Government to supply pumps for over the age of 18 ( to those who would medically benifit , for those , who do not have Extended Health benifits etc. ) …anything you can offer will be helpful .
The Insulin Pump is a very well designed motorized pump that is programmable to meet the individual needs of each diabetic. It is used together with test meters. To best explain the advantages I would suggest that you get literature from the manufacturers. It beats shots and minimizes irregular Highs and Lows.
Personally the Insulin pump combined with the CGMS have improved my life significantly because the two work hand in hand together for achieving near normal blood sugar control. Again, may I direct you to the manufacturers, Minimed and Dexcom. Because it gives you test results constantly at covers the periods of time between typical test meter readings.
For maintaining good health for youngsters, the sooner you put them on both the pump and the CGMS they will be able to avoid many if not all the many side effects of Diabetes.
I hope this will help you,
Richard Price
Good control is stable near normal blood sugar levels with minimal highs and lows, being able to sleep well at night, and in general feeling good. There is no magic button you push to achieve this however with determination it can be done. The meter, the pump and the CGMS are the best tools available at the present time for getting there. They will not automatically give you the control you wish. To get the desired results requires training and work, however once one gets accustomed to their use and start realizing the benefits,
their use becomes much simpler than taking shots, multiple tests, never knowing what’s going on, and seldom feeling good.
Richard Price
I want to say that I love my omnipod and dexcom! I do find that they have helped me get closer to my bg goals.
However, that was not always true. 13 years ago, my mother decided that I needed to get the pump before I went off to college. I did not want it. I never embraced it. I fought it every day for 4 years until I put my foot down and decided to be the one to take the driver’s seat of my own health. I went back on MDI for many years until I was ready to choose a pump and cgm for myself.
I think that much of the “lack of hope” that I have felt with regards to diabetes is due to feeling that I have no choice or no control of my management of diabetes. I think a good thing about having diabetes today is that there are many options available. Goodness knows that no current technology is a replacement or cure for our original pancreases (sp?). But we are blessed with more options than ever before. I hope that all PWD are able to identify and gain access to the tools and information they need to live the best life they can.
Diabetes can be as well controlled as well as one wishes.
I agree with several of the other comments that your statement is much too simplistic and needs a lot of qualification. The first and most obvious qualification is to note which type of diabetes you are referring to.
I am controlling my own type 2 diabetes pretty well, but my ageing body and slowly degrading pancreas forces me to continually review that situation.
I certainly would not say it is ever "as well controlled as well as one wishes". Nor would I imply that it is some sort of failure by others if theirs is not in that category too.
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
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Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com (Kitchen Essentials: Steamer Saucepan)
An add-on to my previous comment – my diabetes IS under reasonably good control, but I work darn hard at it. So by definition, it’s not EASY to control. It may be as well controlled as I WISH, but wishes can set a very low standard. Or a very high standard, depending on the person. So I don’t think wishing should enter the conversation at all.