Continuous glucose sensor?

[Levy]

Hi all,

Is there anyone around who has used a continuous glucose sensor in the past? I am going to hospital on Monday get one for a week because nurses want to try and find out why my levels won't stabilise.

I have no idea what to expect! How big will the sensor be? Where will it be fitted? Will it be in the way when I want to take a shower or bath or when I go to bed?

 

[onlytwintip]

I had one for just over a week once as well. I am on the pump and I simply had a sensor attached to my stomach (similar to the pump) which would send all the info to the pump every 5 minutes. Quite cool to see BG readings every 5 minutes for a whole week. I remember it being quite big though which was quite annoying,they put a plastic plaster on it so that it was water proof and wouldn't clip onto anything... Maybe they have smaller and better ones now though.

Hope that helps a bit.

Harry

 

[Levy]

Thanks for your reply Harry! I am not using a pump myself but I guess it will probably be the same anyway. Not happy about the size of the thing, hopefully you're right and they have become smaller now :lol:

 

[noblehead]

levy,

Take a read of the following which should be useful:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our ... onitoring/

Nigel

 

[Levy]

Thanks Nigel that's helped a lot!

 

[ams162]

my 8 year old had one was suppose to be for a week but lasted 3 days we tried resetting but wasnt working properly. we liked having the readings while it did work tho and had been given one for the same reason as u. it didnt bother him at all he went swimming with it on and to a disco and not one complaint.

he is now on an insulin pump after the trial on the sensor as he was so varied in what he needed from one hour to another good luck sure u will be fine

anna marie

 

[Levy]

Hi Anna Marie thanks so much that is quite a relief to hear!

I'm actually secretly hoping that my results will show the same because I am hoping to get an insulin pump myself but the nurses still seem a bit reluctant. I haven't been able to stabilise my readings in the 8 years I've had diabetes so I'm hoping this (combined with my HBa1C levels that I requested from my old hospital in the Netherlands) will make them decide to let me try one!

Hope your son is doing well now he has his pump!

 

[ams162]

we waited a year after asking for a pump think u sometimes have to be a bit forward in asking for them, thought hearing about a child with one would help when kids manage it ok an adult should be fine

we had 4 years of hba1c over 10 before they went for it but now we have one its the best thing we did fight for it, hes not there yet taking some jiggling about but i can see the benefit and had waking blood sugar this morning in the 5s best we have ever had

if its what u want fight for it u wont regret it

anna marie

 

[Levy]

That's great! Hope things continue to go better and better for him!

I will definitely fight for it, thanks so much for all your advice!

 

[grandmacarol]

I had one for 5 days it was stuck to my arm with a little probe and I had a little controle that I could press and it told you your blood reading. I had it because the DNS said that I was going low and hypoing at night and that was why I was high in the mornings and I should drop my Lantus at night.
Well she was right the readings were quite a supprise I was going down to 1.9 through night and I dident konw it so Lantus has droped from 20 and now at 10
I think they are very good and would like one all the time

 

[Levy]

Hi there just a quick update.

I've been given my continuous glucose meter this morning. I could actually pick between an old model (which was huge and would hang off your belt with a little tube into your tummy, much like a pump but a tiny bit bigger) or a new model which is only tiny and has a tiny little pod that attaches to a little tube directly into your tummy. Pretty much invisible (all you can see is a tiny little lump under my shirt where the pod is). I will be wearing it until Thursday.

I also had another chat with my nurse about starting to use a pump, and she seemed much more keen this time. She showed me the type of pump they use and how it works and explained how to use it and she said the most important thing was for me to be motivated to use it (because it's so expensive they will not let you use one if they think you're not going to work with it the proper way as it will be a waste then). When I go back on Thursday we will be talking about it a bit more and maybe start the process Can't tell you how happy I am! Never thought I'd be this excited about getting a pump!

Thanks for all your advice!

 

[ams162]

hello

so pleased to hear ur news i know how i felt when i knew we were being considered and then again when i knew it was approved, the excitement is natural to feel u are getting there. it sounds as if u have the same sensor we had is it used with a paradigm pump??

hope all goes well with the sensor and u get more news about the pump soon keep us informed

anna marie

 

[Levy]

Typically, as soon as this sensor went in my readings have been stable as can be all day yesterday! This is not really helping me building my argument for needing a pump :lol:

I have received my HBa1C readings from my old hospital yesterday as well which I will be bringing to my appointment on Thursday. Basically, they have been floating between 10.5% (highest) and 7.6% (lowest I managed) for 8 years now. I really need that to be within the norms if I want to start thinking about having children in the foreseeable future...

 

[Levy]

I will be getting a pump!

The results from the sensor came back today, and the nurse and specialist both agreed a pump would be the best solution for my unstable levels.

They made me an appointment for the 23rd of March which is when I will be getting it. Can't wait to start it!

 

[ams162]

wow that was fast took us ages to get ours well done i bet ur well pleased

anna marie

 

[Levy]

Yeah I can't believe myself how quick it's gone! Couldn't be happier