Since the start of my diabetic life, I have been hearing 'off and on' about a continuous glucose monitor..what they did, and how they worked. I was always interested, but hmmm, how much different could it really be from my life now (not using a monitor, and just doing 5+ finger sticks a day)? There can not be THAT big, or much, of a difference than now. Right?
WRONG!!!
I would simply say, having a continuous glucose monitor is the difference between being blind and NOT being blind. (I say that with the MOST respect to the blind population as well.. )
I was home over the Holidays and DEFINITELY much more active, running from here to there with my lovely family and visiting friends. It was Christmas time, so I was in the malls, shopping. My nephew is 2.5 years old now, and constantly wants to play with his Auntie. There was plenty of food, wine, and several different forms of deliciousness coming at me, full force! I suffered many lows, and a couple highs, and found it hard to remember to check my blood sugar, all the needed times. It was a FAR cry from working at your desk 9 to 5- typing on a computer, then going home to your nightly exercise and HBO on the couch. How do I say what I am needing to say so everyone can understand? I was OUT of my daily routine? Yes that is it. Basically..
I got home and researched the Dexcom G4, and I watched a few helpful Youtube videos. One phone call and insurance check later, I had one delivered to my home.
The BEST parts of the Dexcom G4:
-You get a new blood sugar reading, every 5 minutes. How cool is that?
-You only need to do 1-2 finger sticks a day to 'calibrate' the Dexcom.
(To keep it on track)
-You can set low and high alerts. Catch your low/high and treat it before it gets BAD!
(We have all been there..)
-The arrow next to your reading/number REALLY says a lot. I know if I am trending UP or if I am trending DOWN with Dex. That alone makes me want to throw a party, especially when I am exercising!
-The sensors lasts 7+ days. (Note the + sign ... that is all I will say about that, la la la!)
So, there has to be a list of negatives, right? I can really say I tried to think of some, and I did not have a 'progressive' list of negatives. The price IS high, or can be high- and that is with insurance covering the transmitter and sensors. I know some insurance companies, do not cover it at all. Ouch! So, to have the Dexcom G4 - you have to make sure to budget for it, sad but true, at least for me..
Oh, when you do change your sensor out (every 7+ days) you have to give it 2 hours to start up, after inserting it, I think it is a BIT excessive, but nothing terrible.
I do not ever see myself not using the Dexcom G4. As mentioned before, I felt blind without it. You can take a blood sugar reading, but that is just 1 reading .. and does not paint a CLEAR picture of where you are going! :)
It has definitely changed my life as a diabetic, made my life easier and given me the freedom all diabetic deserve!
