It’s hard to believe how dependent those of us who use pumps and CGMs are on technology! I periodically get fed up with my pump and try to go a time without it, and I invariably end up going back after a few days because I can’t take the swings I get with Lantus.
I didn’t think I was that dependent on my Dexcom, since I’ve only had it for a year and a half. I have observed, though, that if I don’t pay attention for my Dexcom for several hours it doesn’t take much for my blood sugar to go way out of range. I ripped my sensor out the other day and, sadly, have no more (but have some coming), so have had nothing for the past few days. The differences it’s made in my ability to stay in range (or, rather, not stay in range) is dramatic! Last night I went to bed at 5.2 mmol/L, woke up this morning at 8.8 mmol/L, ate a low-carb breakfast and two hours after breakfast I’m 18.6 mmol/L. I think I depend on the Dexcom to make early decisions that head off highs more than I realized I did. Probably the main reason it’s the device that finally allowed me to break into the <7.0% A1c range for the first time in over two decades of diabetes.
Do any of you try to take a periodic break from technology? If nothing else, each time I do it, it makes me greateful for the advances we’ve seen over the past several decades.
A couple weeks ago, I sweated off both my sensor and pump site after a long walk… I was away from home and couldn’t replace either one for around 90 minutes – Those 90 minutes seemed like an eternity! I felt totally “blind” and out of control until I could get a new site and sensor going! (I believe, I was “fine” in reality - the walking kept my BG from rising too rapidly in the relatively short time, and I wasn’t eating anything…) Dependent? You bet!
Ironically, I’ve just experienced the downside of technology! Somehow my non-new metal set has stopped working. Amazing how my body can take out even “safe” infusion sets. I corrected the 18.6 mmol/L, an hour later was 17.0 mmol/L, an hour later back up to 18.4 mmol/L and corrected again, and an hour later 20.3 mmol/L. At this point ducked off to the washroom to check ketones and they’re 2.1 mmol/L. So I corrected by injection and will do a site change when I get home (and hopefully start to come down sooner).
That’s a smart move. I think your site change will likely settle things down. Your 2.1 mmol/L ketone doesn’t seem threatening according to this source:
0.6–1.5 mmol/liter is a moderate level of ketones and probably indicates fat metabolism and weight loss, but not a deficiency of insulin.
I do feel dependent on my D-tech and feel a little more anxious if I can’t access the data stream.
According to that site: “1.6–3.0 mmol/liter is a high level of ketones and means you are at risk
for diabetic ketoacidosis. Your doctor or diabetes educator should be contacted immediately.” Of course, with a low-carb diet it’s really hard to tell what’s what in regards to ketones. I do not seem to be one of those people who has perfectly flat blood sugars on a low-carb diet and who feel testing for ketones is useless because there’s never a high blood sugar. So, there are times I’ll have high blood sugar plus ketones and not really know the cause. Regardless, I do think having 20.3 mmol/L for blood sugar and 2.1 mmol/L for ketones (which is significantly higher than when I’ve tested during times when my blood sugar is normal and usually find I’m between 0.5 and 1.0 mmol/L eating low carb) is something to be cautious of.
I did a correction with a shot about an hour and a half ago and blood sugar is down to 15.5 mmol/L and ketones are down to 1.4 mmol/L, and I’ve just done a site change. Hopefully things will resolve soon. I’ve been finding infusion sets are much more irritated than usual lately (some itch for days after removal), but this particular one isn’t itching at all, so I’m a bit miffed as to why it’s the one that’s gone bad!
Sorry, I was a bit dyslexic thinking your 2.1 mmol/L was really a 1.2 mmol/L when I compared to the chart. Please excuse the confusion! You absolutely were well-justified for concern.
This is actually the good side of the technology. I didn’t see myself getting an apple watch - the most unnecessary thing ever, UNTIL I got the G5… then it all made sense. And this is only one of the things. Compare the CGM/Libre vs fingerpricking. Pump vs 10 injections per day, etc. And then, if you are an early adopter it makes even more sense.
I agree, most technology is good. I would not go back. It all offers me WAY better control than I’ve ever had before, with very few downsides (pump issues and expense being the only two I can think of).
We had to go technology free (somewhat) when our son was at D-camp and being cared for by counselors. BG control was awful, but the freedom from technology was very freeing and relaxing.
But no, I can’t stand being without my son’s numbers for more than the minimum amount necessary. CGM in particular, second is openAPS/pump. Without openAPS I feel pretty sure I could handle the MDI+ CGM combo and deal, but it would not be ideal.
I started with Loop Sep 3rd, and two weeks ago I forgot the RileyLink at work. I felt like being stranded on a desert island. To quote my father “It’s easy to get used to the good things”.
