My endo and parents want me to get a cgm. Problem is…I don’t wanna. Everyone seems to thinks its a good I dead but I just don see it. Any advice? Should I?
I don't think anyone can answer that question for you, Kelsey. Many people love their CGM's and say they help them enormously, others, like me, don't want one. Perhaps it would help if you talked with your parents and the endo about why they think you should get one and then shared your reservations with them and why you don't really want one. Maybe out of that dialogue will come an answer.
For me I like to know what way my BS is trending. I don't like sitting in meetings having no clue what my BS is doing. It provides me a level of comfort at work that I never had and removes a lot of anxiety I was having. That anxiety would caused me to run higher to avoid the potential low. I don't feel lows until I am around 60, so I would rather have a head start treating before I am at 60.
I was always opposed to pump until I got one and was like "woah". Once I learned what I CGM was, I wanted one of those too, maybe after getting string of like 5 of the same A1C in row w/ the pump, I wanted to see if more data would help me do better and it did.
I suspect that both your parents and endo would like a CGM to "fill in the blanks" in your logs/ data, however imperfectly, so that you would do better or run things more smoothly? That was my experience but, unfortunately, isn't guaranteed...
I did read recently that the Omnipod company (Insulet) is developing with the Dexcom company a fully integrated pump/cgm when that happens I would definitely think about it. I agree with Zoe though a chat with the parental units and endo would make sense.
I got the CGM when I got my pump, and yes its nice seeing trends, I found the darn thing annoyed me more than anything, I don't know it's handy, but for me if I had to have a CGM or my pump, I'd take my pump.
The first CGM studies determined that CGMs were ineffective. How can this be? Later studies found the reason: patient selection is critical. CGMs work wonders for diabetics with good A1C. CGMs don't seem to work for people with bad A1C. The reason is that diabetics with good A1C put a lot of effort into their diabetes care. These diabetics are motivated to put up with the demands that CGMs place on them. You will love your CGM if you deal well with frustrations and suffer from OCD. I don't see a need for every young diabetic to have a CGM. I lived without one for 36 years. That being said, I love my Dexcom. Now I can live my life without being afraid of lows.
I think it’s a tough time to buy new devices because so much is on the horizon, but most of it isn’t available yet.
Medtronic has the only pump/CGMS system currently available in the USA. I personally hate the current Medtronic CGMS which I used for 2-1/2 years, but love my Medtronic Revel pump. I like my Dexcom CGMS, but when my pump warranty expires in October, I probably need to purchase an Animas pump or an Omnipod based on the future integration with Dexcom. I don’t think I’ll like an Animas pump as much as the Revel and I have no interest in an Omnipod. I actually like tubes! But Medtronic has an updated CGMS system in Europe, so maybe I should stay with Medtronic.
My understanding is that Animas will have the first integrated system with Dexcom and that the Omnipod Dex integration will be after that. I assume the T-Slim integration will be even later.
To the original poster, I think the Dexcom CGMS is much more accurate and less painful than the Medtronic system. So if you do decide to get a system, be sure to check your options. But IMO if you don’t want one, don’t let anyone make you get one. Even at their best, CGMS are a lot of work. So if you don’t want one, you probably won’t do the work to make it successful.
+1
As someone who has used the Minimed CGM I can definitely say there are some benefits. The trouble with the current system, though, is that many times I have found them to not be reliable of late, my CGM transmitter is over 2 years old though. I have found that, with the Minimed system at least, that the inserter seems almost midevil in it’s insertion with the plunger style injector and can be painful at times. I have heard much better things, though, regarding the future (at least future in the US, the FDA seems to be dragging their feet) product from both Dexcom and Minimed.
Best thing I can tell you is to give it a try, I found the data, when mine was working well, to be extremely beneficial, as it showed me things that finger sticks often missed and help me to gain much better control. I am jumping to Omnipod soon, once they integrate with the new Dexcom sensors I will likely go with their CGM too.
Well... there's no harm in trying it. It's not like you're signing a contract to use it every day for the rest of your life. Especially if you have insurance-- if you don't like it, just stop using it. Thats what I did. I got the dexcom about two months ago. It was beneficial to help with the learning proccess-- And I'm pretty sure I'll use it intermittently in the future-- and maybe continuously at some point if my situation gets trickier, but in the meantime I decided that the inconvenience wasn't worth the benfit most of the time. Definitely wouldn't have been able to make an informed decision on that point without trying it. It definitely did add to the learning curve though, and with just about 4 weeks of use I dialed in a number of things that have helped me control things better ever since-- like how far in advance to inject before different types of meals-- not things I could really explain in useful terms, but I did notice a lot of trends I was unaware of with dex, almost immediately. Definitely will use it in future to reevaluate. Still debating if it would be worth it to wear it at work just to make sure nothing goes wrong there where I have a lot of responsibility...
Agree with all that's been said. I love the data my Dexcom gives me, and I love sleeping through the night without worrying about going low. What's their reason for wanting you to get a CGM?
I was on the CGM for 4 months in late 2011. I followede the directions safely and my Endo doctor kept adjusting my Basal/Bolus,Carb rates and blood sugers were dropping more often then befor finally atopped the CGM and Bg are getting back to normal. I will try again becouse I believe there was a pump problem not the CGM
Kelsey,
I can understand why you wouldn't want any more attached to you that you already have. Because your endo is recommending it, and your parents are supporting it, I would guess that you may need some assistance with control. I hope that isn't the case, but if it is, I hope you will consider it.
Like the pump, it takes a learning curve to become accustomed to attaching the CGM to your body, where it should go, how often it needs to be changed and where it can be hidden so that it is comfortable for you to wear and is out of the way when you cheer.
I guess it is up to you. I certainly hope you will try it. From the posts and questions you have posed before, you seem like a rather responsible young lady,who wants to do the best for yourself and for those are dear to you. Diabetes makes you unique. Caring for your diabetes makes you strong and responsible. Caring about your diabetes makes you in tune with your needs and makes you mature and well-reasoned. You have a long life ahead of you. You owe it to yourself to at least try this, and when it works out well for you, then great! If it doesn't work out so well, you have the option to try it later and keep it available to you.
Be well.
Brian Wittman
Im with you! I have it every few months for a week and I hate it. I hate having to insert it aswell as my pump and I hate it beeping when it believes I am going low or high when really I am not. Only if you are desperate for one and you really hate finger prick tests should you really go for this. Just to clarify, I adore my pump and wouldn't swap it for the world but a CGM is horrible for me.
Hi Kelsey, as a parent of a teen with type one i get you! i have never asked jacob to consider a CGM because although it gives lots of information and a sort of safety net, it is also a constant reminder of D and where things are going with it, as a teen you want to be as normal as can be and do not want another gadget, so i hear you kelsey and hope things are going alright for you, it is burden being different and dealing with all of the up and downs so i am right with you, it is your body, your decision. my only other thought is if your numbers are really out of range you could wear one short term. best of luck, i hope things are going alright for you! amy
Kelsey, it sounds like you have your priorities straight and you are making good decisions, i'm glad that diabetes has not slowed down your activities and you are still living your life the way you want to. best of luck with nursing school you are so fortunate to be able to do that! keep staying positive and seeking treatment for your depression is a responsible thing to do. you are going places girl! keep that chin up! amy
Do you really want to remove your pump? It will give you better control if left on. Try contacting www.spibelt.com and see if they will custom build a case for you that matches your uniform color. Ask them they are great people and sponsor our JDRF Ride To Cure bicycle team.
I dunno, I did quite a bit of stuff w/ it plugged in in Tae Kwon Do and it was really handy to have it in. I am easily excited or something as before tests, races, sparring, etc. my BG sails up so I've liked the pump to be handy. There's a girl at my daughter's school who's a cheerleader (this is junior high, so maybe not as gonzo on the acrobatic stuff...) who has a pump and is really blase about it, just clipping it to a band around her thigh.
Are you confident that you can keep your BG where it needs to be while you're unplugged, have time to plug it back in to fix it, etc.? I would presume that whichever "side" of cheerleading you are on (flyer, base, etc.?) your teammates would want you to know that your bg is solid and stable? I've found it *much* easier and, incidentally, less work/ stress to keep my BG pretty flat with both the pump and the CGM. I did really well with the pump by itself too but the extra data from the CGM has made it easier. I'm not sure your parents and/or endo can explain this credibly without diabetes but I would expect that might be their thought.