Please help me understand why you were on insulin as a Type 2, and why you choose to use a CGM verses using a BG Meters with finger-pricks (which I use every morning)?
Long story! I was first diagnosed about 20 years ago and controlled by diet and exercise - didn't do much with either, but kept my numbers in check. In 2009 I moved to Brazil, and then from 2013, spent 6 months of the year in both Brazil and Peru. Still no medication, but used to test by finger-prick (when I thought about it!), and numbers were still OK.
In 2019 on arrival in Peru,I discovered a lump on my shoulder, which was diagnosed first as a Lipoma (fatty cyst), but they wouldn't do a biopsy as they felt my sugars were too high, so put me on Metformin, which made me sick. At the end of 2019 I went back to Brazil and a doctor there agreed to do a biopsy, and agreed (incorrectly as it turns out!) that it was a Lipoma, and I shouldn't worry about it! Lipoma's were considered cosmetic in the UK so I decided to wait till I was back in Peru the following year to get it sorted - medical treatment very cheap in Peru.
March 2020 I was back in Peru and 5 days later the Covid pandemic shut everything down! I couldn't get an appointment to see a doctor, due in part to age, but also they were not accepting face-to-face appointments. Finally in September I got a video appointment, and was sent for a blood test, which showed my blood glucose a bit high, so he put me on Insulin, and a couple of months later they were low enough for a biopsy. However, when he opened me up (it was quite large by the, maybe a large Grapefruit-sized) - he decided it didn't feel like a Lipoma so referred me to the local cancer clinic, who did a small biopsy, confirmed it was bone cancer (Chondrosarcoma) and scheduled an operation. I had to wait until April 2021 (mainly the surgeon's father died of Covid so he was away for a while) when they removed a 5.2kg tumour, including my right shoulderblade.
In July 2021 I was finally able to return to the UK (spending 10 days in a quarantine hotel first) and then managed to get referred to a specialist here. I remained on insulin until September this year, with none of my reviews ever questioning it.
As for CGM - at one stage I was finger-pricking 4 times a day, but eventually settling on twice, so when the Diabetic nurse suggested a CGM, where I only had to prick occasionally as a check, I jumped at it. I do have some concerns about the accuracy of the sensors - my new one is recording at least 1 unit higher than the previous (since Sunday my average has risen from 6.8 to 7.8, and my time in range down from 100% to 89%!) - but being able to look at the App when you want, does mean you can check what foods affect your levels, and get a better idea during the day what is going on. I just wish the sensors were more consistent (have just sent back the one that never returned a reading).
Sorry for the long essay!!
