Fantastic Week!😀👍: DEXCOM

[Activity2004]

Hi everyone. This is the update for how things went with the sensor and the DEXCOM, in general.

To start with, Thursday morning, I was woken up by the alarm saying I was under 80 mg/dl. This was very accurate and I had a snack at 5:10 am before going back to sleep for a while longer before getting back up at 6:30 am that day. At the time I got up the first time, my number was 92 mg/dl when it was 78-> on the DEXCOM.

The sensor itself was not bad. The system itself was having an outage from last Friday through Monday on and off. I had to call Tech Support to make sure it wasn’t on my end! This being said, there are still a few issues with the system, but not on my side/sensor!😀👍 Here’s an interesting example of what is going on: If you aren’t logged out, then you still have to log back in and hope it doesn’t say everything you do is wrong! This happened repeatedly. Still does sometimes, but not as much.

The new sensor has been really good so far today. I hope this one is another good one!😀👍

[ThyroidThora]

Hiya,

There was a major problem with the DEXCOM system last weekend 29-30/11/19. I hadn't read my emails for quite a few days because I had been away at Wembley for a concert and there was an email from Diabetes.co.uk. This is the link to the article.

diabetes.co.uk/news/2019/De...

I hope it explains what happened.

TT x.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

Some of what the article says is right. The 'outage' was at night, but at 1:30 am USA time.

[ThyroidThora in reply to Activity2004]

I've been looking at getting a DEXCOM system. I've been waiting to try and buy an Abbott Freestyle Libre but the company has now opened access to buy them now and it is too expensive. My GP won't prescribe it on the NHS because it is so expensive now. The monthly sensors will cost £100.00 per month after buying the initial system at £150.00 and, this contains 2 weeks of sensors. I was considering buying a DEXCOM system because it is cheaper and the sensors are guaranteed for 11 days but, it's still a bit pricey. I've been unable to work since I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and so, it's just too expensive! Have you any thoughts on both systems?

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

Do you feel the lows-- even when you're sleeping? If you don't know you're running low, you can call your doctor and say that you want the DEXCOM because it has a 55 Fixed Low alarm and a regular low alarm that you decide when it has to start alarming for you to wake up in the middle of the night/early morning. My alarm for dropping is 80 mg/dl so I can get up and get a test done without needing any emergency backup/medication. I do have snacks in the morning if it alarms and I'm not going to get up at the time (before 6:30 am).

[ThyroidThora in reply to Activity2004]

Hi,

I tend to have morning hypos. I find that if I don't get off to sleep I'm awake for hours, I then feel hungry and try to avoid eating fall asleep and then I cannot wake up or I wake up having a hypo. It's very scary because it affects my eyes and coordination very badly. I cannot see and I'm shaking so, I find it hard to test using the pin prick lancet and test strips. When I'm in a deep sleep and having a hypo my husband says I'm very aggressive and so, he leaves me and goes to work. This is not good! I just think that if I could afford CGM my family can have the app on their smart phones so they can check on me and help treat an hypo. I tend to have between 2 and 3 hypos a week and my diabetes nurse won't do anything about it. The NHS/GP won't prescribe it due to the costs involved, and I can understand this because it is very expensive!

TT x.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

Yes, the app is great and a person can have up to 5 followers. I have my parents and brother as my followers.

For the lows, can you have a snack with a Greek yogurt before bedtime each night?

[ThyroidThora in reply to Activity2004]

I take Humilin I at bedtime and I have a cherry muller corner yoghurt and a couple of squares of dark chocolate. I just cannot understand why some mornings I have lows and some morning I don't. I tend to stick to the same diet and exercise plan every week. Perhaps, when I can afford a DEXCOM I'll be able to keep a tighter control of my blood sugars during the day so, it's more stable at night.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

What dose are you taking before bedtime with your snack? I do 12 units of Basaglar and have a 30 gram protein bar with a Greek yogurt if I have a lower number before bedtime. Higher number— just a bar and 12 units.

[ThyroidThora in reply to Activity2004]

I stick to 28 units all the time. When I saw my diabetes nurse a little while ago I explained that some evenings my blood sugar is about 8 or 9 and could I miss my insulin and not have a snack. She told me not to do this because the insulin is always working in the background. I take 1000mg of Metformin SR with breakfast and 500mcg of Metformin SR with my evening meal but I try to follow a low carb diet most of the time. However, I sometime feel a bit shaky on an afternoon so, I buy a cappuccino when I'm out and about just to be on the safe side. It's so complicated!

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

I understand how it is. Sometimes, I will drop by 2 or 4 am because my pancreas is‘awake’ and puts out insulin when it’s not usually necessary ( sleeping hours). I get up and have a snack then go back to sleep depending on what time it is.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

What is the fast acting insulin you’re using?

[ThyroidThora in reply to Activity2004]

Humilin I.

[ThyroidThora in reply to ThyroidThora]

I'm signing off now because it's nearly 10pm over here in the UK. I'll try and log in tomorrow evening for a catch up.

Night, night and God bless.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

Good night!😀👍👍

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

What is the long acting one?

[HOBIEONE]

Pleased for you Activity. Its better for your head when things go right. Its dammed important

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HOBIEONE]

Thank you for saying that. With the 'outage', I had called to find out how to get the ones who follow my numbers can do that since they weren't being sent from my phone at the time. It's working now, but still has a few issues. The new sensor is okay, so far, too.

[HOBIEONE in reply to Activity2004]

I will keep my fingers "X" ed for you this week. Good luck

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HOBIEONE]

Thank you! Will let you know what happens soon!😀👍