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Type 2 unmedicated, is CGM a good investment?

T

Tcuzz1

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all, I have not posted for a long time, but need some guidance.
I have been Type 2 (diet and fitness controlled/unmedicated) for about 6yrs. Following forum advice when first diagnosed I purchased a tester, and tested to identify what triggered my numbers up and down. I then tested only when I felt I needed to.

I now find due to lifestyle changes and work commitments over the last couple of years, I have lost control of my routine and feel a CGM may be more beneficial for a few months than just test strips to understand my triggers and dietary needs. My work and sport activities vary from extreme to sedentary and everything in between. My diet is mainly good, but lately due to when I can eat (has been erratic) and eating with family who no matter how often I explain to them, seem to think what they serve me is fine even when it is not.

Has anyone who is T2 and unmedicated tried a CGM? If so any advice is welcome, or link me to a post where this has already been discussed would be great.

Thanks in advance

Tracy
 
Hi Tracy - not sure if a welcome is really justified, so how about "congratulations on your post"?

I am T2 and unmedicated. I tried a CGM after reading about them on the forum, and because Abbott was running a free trial. I'm glad I did because:

it gives you information about what happens when you're not testing - eg while you're asleep.
it shows clearly how blood glucose responds to food and exercise - I found some things that I had thought "didn't affect my blood glucose" actually did, but the rise was up and down at the two hour point
linked to that, with a fingerprick, you don't know how your reading is trending - is it 6 going up, or 6 coming down, or is 6 the peak? The CGM will show you what's what.

The disadvantages I found:

main problem - I had a total of three CGMs. One never worked, one failed after a week, and eventually one worked OK but persistently read low.
CGMs measure glucose in interstitial fluid rather than blood, so there's not a direct read across to fingerprick tests (or, I suppose HbA1c)
and finally - you have a thing stuck to you. It catches on stuff.

That said, I don't regret trying it.
 
Hi, your history seems to mirror mine. Been LCHF controlling my T2 for 7 yrs, then last year lost focus (new partner = indulging in craft beers, eating out frequently, etc) So following wake up call, my annual blood test results being bad , HBa1c 53 , I bought CGM libre 2 and love it. Love the constant feedback and have found my partner has got behind my low carb diet now he can see the effects carbs have on my blood glucose levels.

I've been using them since January, my intention was to just use for a month but find the feedback very reinforcing for good changes. I've heard of some cgms failing but not had that so far and users report Abbot don't quibble about replacing them .

Knocking and falling off. Not had problems with that but didn't like it on my arm so wear on chest. I know this is not an Abbot approved placement site but as I'm only using it to watch my food reactions and don't take medication there is not an issue around driving insurance. I check each monitor against finger pricks and find after the first 24hrs (take a while to settle in) they're pretty much in sync.

Cost £££ eek ghastly but for me worthwhile.
 
I use one occasionally, usually for holidays or other times when I can't be in control of buying and cooking my own food.
I am about to order another to use as my fbg has risen and I can't work out why.
I would use them more often if it weren't for cost
 
Just remember they often don’t match a meter exactly, sometimes high sometimes low. Usually they are fairly consistent to themselves though so the trends, speed and extent of change and direction should all still yield valuable information. Beware of what appears to by a hypo at night as lying on the sensor creates this false reading often
 
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