Every few years, my symptoms of low blood sugars morph a bit. When I was first diagnosed, numb lips and quick tears were my reflex symptom. The emotional uptick would hit first, and I knew things were going south quickly once my mouth and tongue would go numb. This caused a lot of slurred speech during hypoglycemic events, an immediate…
Earlier in the week, I wrote up my thoughts on the Freestyle Libre 14 Day system and also promised perspectives from a colleague who is using the system who has type 2 diabetes. Today is that day! Thanks to Barry Campbell for visiting SixUntilMe today, and I’m grateful for his generosity with his words and in sharing his graphs! *…
Nothing structured about today’s post. Totally winging it. I had an endo appointment a week or two ago, and things are holding steady there. My weight continues to go in the right direction (baby weight is finally gone, working on just getting fitter), my blood pressure was great, my nerve appear to still be nervy, and my A1C is stalled…
I love free showers. They are rare bird moments, but pulling off due-to-be changed pump infusion sets and ratty CGM sensors, then stepping into a hot shower and being able to scrub skin with reckless abandon is AMAZING. Free showers. See also: yaaaaaas. You might also like: Free Shower. Free Shower. Opening a Can of Gluten-Free Pumpkin Whoop Ass….
Disclosure: I received my Dexcom G6 as part of the initial PR roll out, once it was approved and available. I am also part of the Dexcom Warriors program. But my supplies all go through insurance and my deductible is gross. For more on my disclosures, click here. I wasn’t home when my Dexcom G6 kit arrived at the…
A few months ago, I stumbled upon StayPut Medical and tried one of these overlay tapes out over a Dexcom G5 sensor. And even with a history of wonky adhesive issues and easily irritated skin, this tape helped my sensor hold tight, without issue. Thankful for the free trial sample and eager to share this “simple solution” with you…
This post is from 8 years ago, originally published in 2010 on dLife as part of my column at Generation D. (Man, this post is old. This is before Birdy.) Abby was the best cat ever (sorry, Siah), and her ability to sniff out a low blood sugar is only bested by my Dexcom. Because I totally had a CGM…
Thirty-one years ago, I was checking my blood sugar with this giant lancing device, using a heavy brick of a glucose meter, and chasing my blood sugars with Regular and NPH insulin. If you told me that the future of diabetes would include streaming video of where my blood sugars have been and where they might be headed, I’d have…
“Can I please have an iced coffee? No sweetener, please,” I said to the girl behind the counter at the coffee shop. The snow was falling fast outside, but she expertly kept her eyebrows steady at my request for an almost frozen beverage. “Sure thing.” Her hands deftly hit the right buttons on the ordering pad. Without looking up, she…
[DISCLOSURE – PLEASE READ: The team at Abbott reached out to me and asked if I’d like to trial the Freestyle Libre system. I said yes. After my doctor approved a prescription for the device, Abbott sent out the scanning device and two sensors at no cost to me. This whole review needs that bias lens in place. Good? Good….
Dexcom rings Are you listening? On the graph Lows are blistering. A beautiful sight Is an overnight Walking in no-hitter* wonderland Gone away Are my betas Here to stay Is the data. My Dexcom alarms Protect me from harm. Searching for no-hitter wonderland In the meadow we can build an organ And pretend that he’s a pancreas. He’ll say I’m…
(to the tune of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Free Fallin’) He’s a good pump, does his job well Loves priming and bolusing too. He’s a good pump, crazy ‘bout islets Gives insulin when those islets don’t come through. It’s a long week being my Dex sensor There’s adhesive workin’ while I play And I’m a happy girl cause I…
Frigging rash. The issue first presented itself back in August 2012, leaving me scratching my head and itching my sensor sites for the next four years. At first, I tackled the problem by trying a pile of different barrier tapes, but the only one that brought about any semblance of relief was the Toughpad. For about a year, I used a…
As this pregnancy continues on, so does the rapid rounding-out of my abdomen (today’s issue = not being able to zip my jacket without over-taxing the zipper). Feeling quite like Violet Beauregard from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Pluses to this expansion are that a. the pregnancy is progressing on schedule and b. the real estate options for my pump…
Disclosure Up Front (where it should be): I have a relationship with Dexcom that includes receiving my continuous glucose supplies at no cost. More details are outlined here on my disclosures page, but please know that the bias I’m bringing to this is pretty significant, not simply because of the working relationship with Dexcom but also the fact that this…
“Rotating sites? Hell yeah, I rotate.” … sort of. I’m good about rotating my pump and CGM (continuous glucose monitor) sites, but I’m decent, at best, about exploring new real estate. Most of the time, I use my outer thigh or lower back/hips for my CGM, going back and forth between those four areas. This sounds like proper rotating, in…