My portable time machine
I was just thinking about how my Dexcom CGM is more than just something that buzzes annoyingly when my blood sugar is going high or dropping low.To me it's a bit more like a time machine.
Ever since I first got diabetes I would hear or read about how "you have to control your blood sugar levels or..." something terrible will happen.
But here's the problem. The something terrible doesn't happen immediately.
Let's say I go to a church potluck (always causes eating problems for me) and overeat. My blood sugars go high and stay high for a few hours. It's not like I see this or there's any immediate issues. And no-one, including me, can really tell anything happened. Not by looking at me.
The only immediate problem is some level of drowsiness. Unless the numbers run high for some time, I really won't be able to see any immediate issues. And then, by the time I do see issues with my eyes, or kidneys, or heart, or something else it's almost too late.
But this is where my time machine comes in. When I'm wearing the Dexcom, I can see those highs. And knowing what they're doing to me, I really can see the future.
If I have a day where my blood glucose goes to, say, 230, and it takes me a few hours to get it down, I feel those highs in a very different way. I almost imagine the possible future problems and (for me) it's an encouragement to get things more under control.
Don't get me wrong. Seeing the future is more of a pain than a benefit. When I have days where my numbers don't get above 180, that feels good. But the swings and the long highs are hard to take.
I'm still learning how to use this information for better control. And I'm still learning to accept the (WAY TOO LOUD) alarms the Dexcom gives. (Can you hear me, Dexcom folks).
But I'm also starting to get somewhat better control. My total daily dosage has gone down a little, and there are less profound swings.
I thank God for this small blessing, and I'm looking forward to the next generation of devices that will keep me healthy until something better comes along. (Hint: it's a four letter word, C**e).
Labels: Dexcom, diabetes, healthcare
posted by Bernard @ 6:27 PM
4 Comments:
Bernard, both you and I, being long-term veterans of db, have witnessed many small blessings. I too am grateful and know that with those that are yet to come life can only get better!
Stay the course. Take care of yourself so that you can reap the rewards of research and technology.
Kathy
Remember when they were talking about developing contacts that could detect blood sugar levels? Those would be pretty public.
Hey, why are your eyes orange? :)
Oh man, how can I resist the bait of that picture!? Hmmm...
Ok, Ok - I'm going to just go to bed and not come up with some crazy picture edit that depicts Bernard with a high BG. Maybe with orange eyes... :-)
On a serious note, very good post and I too look forward to these technologies as they advance.
Good post, Bernard! I enjoy your blog very much but I don't think I've ever told you so :)
I was only on the Dexcom for a week, but my experience was the same as yours. I LOVED being able to ward off those highs...but when they didn't go down immediately, man was that frustrating. I can "see" persistent highs without the Dexcom, but of course the Dexcom trend line paints an unmistakeable picture for you to obsess/worry over as you see fit in a way that hourly fingersticks can never do. Truly diabetes made visible!
I am very glad we don't get pink noses.
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