On the one hand, fine - who am I to judge how people waste their time, money, and energy?
On the other hand, I do get angry, not at the person, but at fate - I didn’t know there were people who actually wanted a blood sugar problem so that they could manage it with a CGM, etc. They want a problem they don’t have, and I most definitely do not want a problem I do have. So why did it have to be my islet cells that bit the dust, not theirs? When I hear of non-diabetic CGM users, I want to tell them, not completely unseriously, “Let’s trade pancreases.” That would be a win-win. I’d be happier, and they’d be more assured they were doing something meaningful.
On the other other hand, could be a net benefit - in particular, more competition to create better tech (especially more accurate CGMs).
When I led a group for people with diabetes decades ago, one young woman who attended, would inject herself with insulin so that she would be rushed to the hospital etc. Doctors would try to convince her that she wasn’t a diabetic, but she didn’t believe them. People are strange. She was the only diabetic wannabe that I have ever met.
She might have a personality disorder. Some people need the rush of attention and drama. Esp when they are in the middle of it.
I led a hiking group for diabetics. I cant tell you how much complaining and “I cant” asking me if I know the limitations of diabetics.
I would usually tell them yes there aren’t any limitations. You just need to manage your sugars, and it’s difficult but not limiting.
Some people are just weird. There is no really explaining it
This is true, in their defense most are not aspiring to be diabetic but rather are wrongly convinced that some symptom(s) they exhibit indicates they are becoming diabetic.
You have to give them all the understanding because they are not always wrong, I remember at least one case where the wanna be did develop diabetes.
As someone who has not received a dx of DM, I would like to use a CGM and have posted in this forum previously that I was not able to find out how to buy one and use it on my own, without a doctor’s prescription. I’ve seen people say it can be done, but I’ve never figured out how to do it.
@The_Senator_From_Glu
I am wondering if you get along with your doctor, that you can ask him for a prescription and just tell him you know it won’t be covered. Tell him you are interested in what your sugars are doing in the middle of the night, with exercise or just to see what a “normal” persons Bg levels do etc and you would like to try it out once or twice.
You could tell him you are in touch with some diabetics and you would like to know what your levels do?
It just a meter reading device, no insurance involved, just writing a prescription, so some doctors might be okay with doing it.
You work with and/or volunteer to help people with diabetes, I believe. Seems like a doctor could support you with writing a Rx to enable you to get a CGM to help with your understanding how your glucose metabolism works. It would help you learn about the effects of food, exercise, and stress on your glucose levels. Make sure s/he understands that you are paying out of pocket for this “education.” I think it’s a great idea.
You’re right. My doctor has done things like take courses in functional medicine, so she would likely be supportive, at least I would hope so. It’s probably worth a call - but a call turns into a visit of course! But yes, you’re right.
Yes, I do work with PWD. Most are Medicaid patients and few, very very few, use a CGM. Most haven’t even heard of it, even the savvier people. It would be worth it to mention to my PCP, as mentioned below, but in the general field I work in, I have been asked for help securing a CGM only once - by a pediatrician, for a teen with T1D (uncontrolled).
Gary, I recalled one in particular when I wrote that. Yes she had reported symptoms of T1D. However, no docotr could determine she had it, or anything else as I recall. The drama, oh the drama.
I have heard about this disorder as it relates to a parent seeking attention by making their child sick, but I did not know that a person could do it to themselves.
This young woman was clearly in need of psychiatric help. I can’t remember if I had the nerve to suggest that she see a psychiatrist since I was young myself, but I, along with my co-leader, told her that we didn’t think that she had diabetes. It was such an odd situation. She spent a lot of time complaining about diabetes and doctors.
From my recollection of long ago episodes of the TV series “House” or the movie “The Sixth Sense”, what you describe is “Munchausen by proxy”. The child is the proxy.
With time, they will be. Remember when test strips were ridiculously priced? Some still are but there are a couple of companies that have really affordable auto-ship options: MySugr and One Drop. I have the One Drop system.
I had to turn off my auto-ship for test stirps. That’s how rarely I use them now that I’m wearing the Dexcom G6. I have two boxes, and they’re going to be sitting for some time. I fact, I should probably donate one of them.
@Regina My One Touch strips lasted for a few years after their expiration. I have a G6 now too and I use test strips to calibrate my G6, to test while it’s warming up and sometimes I take a day break from wearing one. I also will check it about every 3-5 days for accuracy. I like to keep mine within 5 points of accuracy so a new sensor requires a few calibrations, That’s one reason I like restarts as they need less attention.
OMG!
You people who don’t want “non-diabetics” to find out if/when they are becoming diabetic are frustrating me! I only wish I had had a CGM when my blood glucose was trending up and I was considered a “non-diabetic”. Instead I waited until my doctor did an HbA1c and found out it was 9.2. A very unpleasant surprise. Information is power and more awareness will only help people and can help us keep insurance and medical costs down for the whole population. Let’s embrace this trend and not keep people oblivious to the dangers of the standard American diet!
I am just curious, but why didn’t you buy a monitor and strips to see what your glucose levels were? Much less expensive and very accurate. I used a monitor for years and still had excellent A1c’s. My first A1c was 10.
