Ho there I am 3c and have brittle too - highs and lows, sometimes very difficult to control or predict... I like the sound of the Diabox app but am unclear as to where to get it. Could you please elucidate? Thanks, Jamie
Hi Jamie
@jasholden.
I originally found Diabox through Bubblan as an app to make best use of my mini bubble. But that quickly changed, since shortly after I set up my mini bubble it became clear that Diabox would work direct from Libre 2, so I adjusted and removed my mini bubble.
I believe that Diabox currently only works on android phones; if there is an ios solution it is not obvious. For android there is a site called telegram and the Diabox app can be installed from there. I understand if you Google "telegram for diabox" you will be able to start from there. I am on version v.2021.08.02.1. The Diabox developer is working on getting an ios approved version.
My diabetes is very brittle and I suspect that will continue for the foreseeable future. By rigorously responding to alarms I've reduced my hypos and Libre "low glucose events" to very, very few. On the rare occasion I do go low it is very shallow, 3.8 or 3.9. I set the upper low alarm at c.6.0 and monitor closely from that start point, ready to snack on medium GI foods such as Nature Valley (or similar) cereal bars [no chocolate, this slows down the carb intake], or oatcake biscuits (eg Nairns); if that doesn't stop a downward trend at around 4.5, I'll take 1x jelly baby. My lower low alarm (ie my Urgent low alarm) is set at 4.3; when that goes I immediately take 1 or 2 jelly babies and don't waste time finger pricking, which I will then do if I am feeling hypoish. Almost always this heads off the hypo before it becomes a hypo. But this requires commitment and time to be effective.
Sometimes my Libre gives false low readings which influences Diabox readings. This is a nuisance and can lead to an over-reaction by me; but by staying calm and waiting to see how things develop I generally avoid the former rapid bounce back to hyper.
Sometimes, for reasons I simply don't understand, I go lowish and seem to stick there. It's frustrating, but manageable. Eventually I get a steady raise in my BG.
I'm now working on reducing hyper periods. As my BG rises I'll get active, finding things to do or going for short walks. I start getting active at 8.0 and with a sloping arrow up. This is still "work in progress" and very time consuming. Its not sustainable in the long term, but currently I'm exploring what options are open to me with the benefit of continuous glucose monitoring from Diabox reading continously from Libre 2. I will take corrective bolus doses but try to avoid insulin stacking.
I don't use the Libre alarms, they can interfere with Diabox alarms, which are far superior to Libre alarms: Diabox has 2 upper and 2 lower alarms; better sounds; better range, particularly for lower alarms. Libre caps one to 5.6 for top of low range; this is too low for me - I need to be responding by 6.0 sometimes 6.5; 5.6 is too late for me.
