Im getting a CGM and i'd like to know if it will reduce the amount of times i check my blood sugars per day. I'm currently taking about 10 readings per day.
I was testing 8 times per day before the CGM but now it’s more like 4. CGM is no substitute for a prick though;). It’s off a lot of the time. Glad to hear you ate getting one!
It depends. I didn't get the CGM to test less - just to warm me more and see trends I was missing inbetween the BG checks. It does not replace finger sticks - meaning - do not bolus or treat off of the CGM. I still stick for each meal and before driving, and before ANY correction bolus to make sure the CGM is correct. Even with a CGM there are days I am still checking 10 times per day.
good to know, do you mind telling me what CGM you have?
thats a big step down, what CGM are you using?
Im pretty excited im gettting one :)
7 times a day, unless I feel a low coming on or am afraid of a high. My poor finger tips are getting worn out and it hasn't been 5 months yet. Oh my!
I have a MM CGM and still test 12-15 times/ day. I’m on vacation but have a “chart” that, to me, shows that to be reasonable although BCBS sends a menacing letter every year. I’d love to hire an attorney to staple my chart to their foreheads for me. A couple of tests are b/c I work out, sometimes as hard as I can, about 6x/ week and usually test before and after. Sometimes the “after” could be the “pre-dinner” but it doesn’t always work out that way and I always test before I eat.
When I was on the MM CGMS I tested the same if not more, at least 10 times, unless I was flatlining then I tested more because I did not believe the CGMS. :) I also has to test more for calibrations.
I had a 2week trial with a Dexicom 7+. I loved it. It helped me so much with trends. I did have to check my BG just as much while the sensor was getting calibrated. My first sensor took about 24 hours to get to where I trusted it’s accuracy. The next sensor took longer but I was didn’t put it where I had enough fat and it was bumping into my ribs a little bit a times. I checked about 4-6x a day with the Dex and I was checking 8-10x/day without. I always checked my BG before injecting insulin or if I was low. I should get my Dex this week. Can’t wait!
I test on average, 8 times each day some days could be little as 6 or as high as 15 if I'm having a bad day.
I am using a medtronic minilink. Heads up though - the battery in the transmitter only last 6-12 months, 18 if you are lucky. Not sure of the other devices.
Using DexCom. I test on average about 6 to 8 times a day, as few as 2 or 3 and as many as 12 to 15. I find it depends on becoming comfortable with how your sensor works with you - for me, the first 2 days I do not trust the Dex as much, days 3 to 7 are usually pretty good, then the second week each day usually becomes a bit more erratic and I may tend to test more.
Mine lasted over 2 years and still charges up for a backup.
I test at least 8 times per day--more if my BG is higher. Amount I test has not really changed. It is the warning I love and hate, especially overnight. When I hit a rough patch, I feel like I get alerted a lot at night and do not sleep well. Been a roll, lately though. Good nights sleep!
With my new MM Revel CGM I still test before & after meals and before bedtime. With the CGM I find the rate of change and low BG warnings to be most useful. With hypoglycemia unawareness I'd often be <50 mg/dl before I ever had symptoms which made recovery and severity more challenging. Now I get a heads-up which makes getting my BG where I want it more easy. Another thing I like is that with all the data it collects I can more easily spot high/low trends and adjust my basals and bolus rates more intelligently. Many will complain about the varied accuracy of the data, however I pay attention to the trends and not the individual specifics of each measurement. It isn't perfect by any means, but it is a useful tool that has helped me to lower my A1C and to avoid catastrophic hypoglycemia.