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Alert: Product and Recall NoticesWhy I Switched To A Continuous Glucose Monitor For My Diabetes Management
Editor’s Note: Over the years we’ve had a lot of great articles from guest bloggers about the role that MiniMed® pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors play in their lives and this is one of our favorites! Read on as Karen shares about the moment that she made the important decision to begin using CGM and why she’s never looked back. And if you’re interested in learning about her newest diabetes technology, read her most recent blog with a product review on MiniMed Connect.
When I made the leap from multiple daily injections to using a pump more than five years ago, it was a tough decision for me. Last year I wrote a post about the fears that held me back for so long and why I’m so glad I finally overcame them. But after I had been pumping for six months I decided to add a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to the mix, and that decision was quite an easy one for me. The contributing factor was simple, and it’s still the main reason I take very few breaks from my CGM – I stopped feeling low blood sugars.
I clearly remember the exact moment I decided it was time to try a CGM. I was in Louisiana for my uncle’s funeral. Travel always makes my blood sugar more volatile, and this trip had a lot of stress and emotion that messed things up even more. The day of the services was a long one that ended at my cousin’s house with a large buffet of Southern food prepared by members of their church group. That evening my husband and I were resting back at our hotel and I felt a little bit queasy. I figured it was due to the long somber day and the wonderful Louisiana cuisine that my New England stomach wasn’t accustomed to. I decided to just do my pre-bed blood sugar check and try to get some sleep. I was very surprised when my meter flashed back a blood sugar of 29! It scared me so much to realize that my blood sugar was under 30 and my only symptom was a slight bit of nausea, and I knew it was time to take action to prevent this from ever happening again. As soon as we returned home I called my endocrinologist and we put the wheels in motion to add a CGM to my regime.
Hypoglycemic unawareness is still the main reason you’ll find that I rarely take a break from wearing my CGM, but I’ve found it helps me in other ways too.
- For example, about one week each month, hormones randomly make my overnight blood sugar skyrocket. My CGM alerts me to this by waking me up so I can check my blood sugar and correct instead of just waking up to find my fasting sugar is in the high 200s.
- I find that the information on my CGM screen makes me feel more secure because I can tell which way my blood sugar is heading in instances such as before bed, before exercise and before driving. After all, the number on my meter might be good for before bed if I know my blood sugar is stable or trending upward, but that same number might mean I need a snack if I see that I’m trending down.
- I also believe that my CGM plays a big part in keeping me at my A1C goal for the last five years, because the CareLink reports give my endocrinologist all sorts of information that helps him tweak my pump settings when needed.
Sure, I’ll admit, there are times when I’m happy to take a day or two off from the alarms and information overload a CGM can bring. But soon I’m longing to pop in a fresh sensor and have my safety net and blood sugar crystal ball back in place.
If you wear a CGM too, what are the benefits you’ve found it gives you? Do you wear it all the time, or do you like to take breaks here and there?
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
– Medtronic Diabetes insulin infusion pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems and associated components are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks associated with the use of these systems.
– Successful operation of the insulin infusion pumps and/or continuous glucose monitoring systems requires adequate vision and hearing to recognize alerts and alarms.
Medtronic Diabetes Insulin Infusion Pumps
– Insulin pump therapy is not recommended for individuals who are unable or unwilling to perform a minimum of four blood glucose tests per day.
– Insulin pumps use rapid-acting insulin. If your insulin delivery is interrupted for any reason, you must be prepared to replace the missed insulin immediately.
Medtronic Diabetes Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems
– The information provided by CGM systems is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using a home glucose meter. A confirmatory fingerstick is required prior to treatment.
– Insertion of a glucose sensor may cause bleeding or irritation at the insertion site. Consult a physician immediately if you experience significant pain or if you suspect that the site is infected.
For more information, please visit: MedtronicDiabetes.com/isi.
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Editorial Team
LOOP Blog Editorial TeamAt Medtronic Diabetes our vision is to transform diabetes care together for greater freedom and better health. Each word in that statement is important – including the one “together”. We’re a group of passionate people working hard to make a big positive impact on the lives of those with diabetes. But we can’t do it alone. Collaboration is key. With healthcare providers, academic institutions, non-profits and other companies. And, most importantly, with you – the people who live with diabetes every day.
Hi Pat,
For exercise I was told to use a temp target of 150 instead of the usual 130, I always test before exercising and eat something if low and take a bolus if on the high side. I love the new pump and sensor, it’s helped me a lot. I’m still learning on a daily basis, but it is getting easier.
I’ve been on the pump for 21 years. Hard to believe, but true. Just last Dec I started with the Enlite sensor, and I’m not sure about our relationship yet. Yes it will wake me up for a high or low, and I guess that’s a good thing. However, my A1C’s have not really improved. I’m still in the 6’s like I have been for years. So is it worth the trouble and expense? Especially since now Medicare may or may not pay for the sensor. And then there’s the convenience of excercise without contimually stopping to check blood sugars. Unless there is an alarm, I just go with the serum sugar. What does everyone else do? And how do you handle excercise? Do you carb up or not bolus?
I love CGM and my pump! What a difference it has made in my life! I don’t know what I would do if my insurance didn’t cover it. Ithanks helps keep my glucose levels on track!
What insurance do you have?
My cat is an excellent diabetes guardian. She consistently wakes me up if my glucose goes low (and at no other time). However, my cat is not FDA certified and rather inaccurate for most purposes.
Yes my CGM beeps more than R2-D2 having a fit sometimes, but that is actually a good thing. It’s kept my A1C under the “non-diabetic” threshold. Besides the obvious “save my butt” in the middle of the night feature, it has also given me a lot of insight into what certain foods and life events do to my glucose levels.
Like anything, you have to take ownership of the system in order to succeed. Denial does not exist in this dojo. I’ve read several books on the subject of diabetes (don’t know if I can recommend them here, but Google around for the top 2 diabetes books dealing with the pancreas and pumping and you’ll figure it out). Once you understand the disease, the pieces fall into place rather quickly.
I have, on my own, adjusted my pump settings according to trends I observed from my CGM CareLink reports. My endocrinologist—a noted expert who has appeared on CNN and NPR several times—agreed with my choices and said my progress has been “remarkable.”
Years ago, my prior endo “installed” a CGM onto my body in order to evaluate me for a few days. It involved a huge needle and a large device that I had to keep in a baggie in order to shower. Inserting the thing involved a nurse, and the needle experience made me almost pass out. Naturally, the needle pulled out during the second night so we didn’t get much insight other than my diabetes was swinging all over the place.
How far we’ve come…
I absolutely love having a cgm! I have now tighter control because of it and hated the shots with the uncertainty. Sure there are some days its frustrating like when the two numbers won’t sync but there is no way I want to go back to the way the four+ shots made me feel miserable and the wondering where my sugar is heading or where it is now. I have now used the cgm for 5 years and the pump for 14.
After one incident where my kids couldn’t wake me due to low blood sugar,The CGM has woken me when my augar drops. Being diabetic for almost 10 years,I lost my “low” feelings after my stroke.
Karen, like u, I also have hypoglycemic unawareness and find my CGM to be exceptionally helpful!!! Very rarely does a low sneak up on me because I have my CGM, like they used to before. I can honestly say, I DO NOT take breaks from using my CGM for precisely this reason. I find the data to be a big help in my day to day management. I’m glad it has worked out for you too!!!!
I have been diabetic since age 8. I’m now 36. I’ve been on a pump the latest 8 years and just two weeks ago got the sensor. I love it. It doesn’t hurt to put it in. It’s good for 6 days. And I now count my carbs better than before. I just look at my pump and see my blood sugar. It’s awesome. My blood sugars have been awesome since I’ve had mine.
Cool
i tried it, HATED it, and stopped it. it woke me up out of sound sleeps, the trainer had to come back twice because her explanations made little or no sense (i have THREE college degrees, so my misunderstandings were likely not my fault) and the scar tissue all over my body may drive me away from the pump as well.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience, Meredith. If there is anything we can do to help in the future please let me know.
I’ve been on a pump,for 3 months and a sensor for 2 months. I hated the sensor because there’s such a big learning curve. The constant beeps and alarms are, well, alarming. I feel like I have finally gotten a good handle on it. It really does make dealing with the disease quite a bit easier. Granted, the sensor isn’t perfect. I thought I’d just plug it in and I would have an accurate reading whenever I wanted. Unfortunately that isn’t the case. It’s more of a guide that has to be calibrated throughout the day. I can now see trends that I wasn’t aware of before. If I calibrate as directed, I usually stay within the 20% accuracy goal.
My advice is to hang in there and suffer through the learning curve. It’s frustrating and confusing at times, but my diabetes management truly has gotten easier with the sensor and pump.
I tired it and hated it too, I also stopped it the training was not clear to me and I also have a permanent scar.