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Anyone Using a CGM?

DumfriesDik

Well-Known Member
Messages
249
Location
SW Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Dislikes
Carbs
I've only recently started finger pricking again and my fingers are already showing wear and tear. I was thinking of getting a CGM but not sure if I can stomach the price.
 
I used one for the free trial period - Libre. Very useful - it gives you information you can't get from fingerpricking. I haven't felt the need to use one regularly since although there's a few things I'm curious about and might buy a month's worth again at some point.

For me the expenditure for using one all the time isn't worth it.
 
Thanks all. I’ve requested a free sample, and probably will subscribe as I transition onto Ozempic
 
The price does sting, but worth it in my opinion, even if you only buy CGM’s two or three times a year. They give you 24 /7 information on what your blood sugars are doing converted into a helpful little graph. You can’t get that from finger pricking. Definitely worth it.
 
I use the Dexcom One Plus and feel it has really helped me lower my HbA1c.

It has been a real eye-opener seeing what effect different foods have on my blood sugar when it is happening, and for example, what is the best time of day to eat things - I seem to tolerate carbs a lot better later in the day, so I keep fruit and yoghurt to the evening rather than the morning, so it has less of an effect on my blood sugar.

It also has been helpful for seeing if I need to reduce portion sizes of some foods to keep the numbers down.

It definitely has helped me a lot, and although expensive I feel it has been worth it - see my signature below for the results on my HbA1c since August last year, when I started using the CGM.

I may not use it all the time later on, but at the moment I feel it is necessary for me to make sure I am on the right track.
 
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Even though I am nearly nine years from diagnosis I wear a Dexcom ONE + continually. I have a 90 day subscription which is the cheapest way to do it. I feel it keeps me on the straight and narrow. It’s like my conscience sitting on my shoulder, well back of my arm!
 
I self fund Libre2+ for exactly the same reason.
Voice of my conscience.

Although there is a little touch of Don Camillo where it also whispers "Wow! Those numbers look good. Time for a little treat?" in my other ear.
 
Thanks @Rachox I am pricking the sides. I am only using two fingers at the moment as I find that easiest to do.

Dexcom have been very problematic in sending out a free sample, so much so, they haven't sent one out. So I have bought a months supply to see how I get on with it.
 
Sensors arrived today and one installed on my arm.

Out of interest, do CGM users do finger prick test on a regular basis or as and when required?
 
I use, on occasion, a Dexcom g7 which can be calibrated. I generally ignore the readings on the first day and do fingerprick. If the numbers on the Cgm are too good, or bad, to be true I double check. I find my morning readings are way off.
I have a love/hate relationship with the monitors….I've had good ones and really bad ones….and they are expensive. I will use them on holidays and when I’ve been sick. I have one on right now and it’s been very accurate except for mornings.
 
I do a finger prick test every morning when I get up and check it against the CGM to see if it needs calibrating. For most sensors I only need to calibrate once or twice over the 10 days, but sometimes I get a sensor that I need to calibrate more often.
 
DumfriesDik said:
I've only recently started finger pricking again and my fingers are already showing wear and tear. I was thinking of getting a CGM but not sure if I can stomach the price.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on that! Prices are ridiculous and some are only for 10days. Is only the freelibre that does an entire month (by looks of it!) Won't be getting one anytime soon.
 
I have been using for just six days now, and it is fascinating, sad I know, but I find it interesting. Not just the numbers, but the trend and how different meals impact. I can get away with a small portion of chips! Who knew that might happen??

My GMI is 6.3 and that frankly, is almost too good to be true.
 
A GMI based on 6 days may well be inaccurate, as a reliable GMI needs 90 days to try to match an HbA1c from venous a blood test.
Oh and by the way I don’t think it’s sad to have an interest in numbers and how your body is coping with different foods. I love it!
 
DumfriesDik said:
I have been using for just six days now, and it is fascinating, sad I know, but I find it interesting. Not just the numbers, but the trend and how different meals impact.
Click to expand...
Rachox said:
Oh and by the way I don’t think it’s sad to have an interest in numbers and how your body is coping with different foods. I love it!
Click to expand...
I'm T1 so Ithankfully don't have to pay for my sensors anymore, but I'm the same. It's fascinating data and great to play with because you see an almost instant effect from anything you do.
The fascination thankfully hasn't left me in 9 years, I wouldn't be able to deal with diabetes as well as I do if I didn't 'like' the 'game' in and of itself.
It's an unusual subject to go all nerdy over but it serves me well so I'm not complaining.

I just remembered a fun experiment I did a couple of years ago with plums, in reaction to a thread on this forum: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/plums.198458/
 
DumfriesDik said:
I've only recently started finger pricking again and my fingers are already showing wear and tear. I was thinking of getting a CGM but not sure if I can stomach the price.
Click to expand...
I buy them, you can get them vat free which helps with price.
 
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