Caleb has returned from Italy safely! We received a lot of great suggestions and I spent every spare moment of my time planning and preparing for this trip and I’m happy to say diabetes cooperated far more than I expected it to. Loop was instrumental in that success. I will write more about that when I have a chance. Thanks to everyone for your support and useful suggestions - they were instrumental as well!
In the meantime, Caleb and I are headed to Barcelona next week. He’s partaking in Tap on Barcelona and will be performing with the American Tap Company. I’m wondering if anyone has been or lives there and if there are any special considerations to keep in mind for someone living with diabetes (or just in general).
I look forward to your Loop report on Caleb’s Italy trip. I just installed a copy of NightScout last weekend. It’s an amazing way to visualize all the variables that affect blood glucose for a PWD.
Nightscout was INSTRUMENTAL in this trip. Sooooooo much information I could see without having to ask Caleb: IOB, when and how many carbs he ate, COB, phone charge, pump volume and battery and it’s also where I track his site, reservoir and sensor changes.
It’s funny to me to think you’ve been working Loop this whole time without Nightscout bc it’s the only thing I use, but of course, Caleb doesn’t use it, so not funny at all!
That being said, what are you using it for? The reporting?
My main tactic with Loop is using the “workout” button to temporarily change BG targets. If I think I’m trending higher than I should be with regard to BGs, I set a workout mode to target 62-65 mg/dL. If I’m actually working out I’ll use the same function but set a higher target, 90-100 mg/dL.
My interest in Nightscout is to get program recommendations regarding basal rates, insulin sensitivity, and insulin to carb ratios. I think that our body’s real needs vary within a range and making regular changes is just part of diabetes management.
I also like the care portal management and display of the cannula and sensor ages. I had been using Google calendar, but this seems cleaner. Another thing that persuaded me to use Nightscout is that, like you, most Loop users use it. Many are caregivers like yourself. I want to become conversant in the Nightscout terms so that I can understand their posts. I finally understand the Nightscout meaning of “pill!”
I really like seeing everything in one place. Check out the reporting too. Although I don’t keep the Nightscout basal program up to date so Caleb’s data isn’t precise.
Please keep in mind that my NS experience is measured in days. How do I configure/request a report?
There it is!
I will investigate. I may need an alternative reporting system if I ever go on the G5 with Medicare. My main report I used previously was the 14-day Ambulatory Glucose Profile recently integrated in Clarity.
Lorraine - Please forgive my off-topic lunge but I’m happy to discover this NS chart. It’s not as pretty as the Clarity 14-day AGP but it’s a reasonable facsimilie.
We’ve used Autotune, but because it only allows for one carb ratio and one correction factor it hasn’t been very helpful. It’s confirmed Caleb’s basals are reasonable. It was too agreeable though which makes me think we’re doing something wrong.
