The CGM makes life easier, but it’s no cure

Two weeks into Sacha’s use of the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, and the excitement is over. Yes, the CGM is great. No, it didn’t make his type 1 diabetes go away. I suppose it’s like every new toy that you get, either as an adult, or as a kid. At first, you’re so excited – “this will change our lives!”  – but then, a short while later, reality and familiarity do their bit. Yes, things are a bit better, and a bit different. But, the underlying situation stays the same. 

Here are some initial thoughts on the Dexcom. 

First, reliability: The new Dexcom CGM does often give good trend data. Fantastically helpful. The point BG estimates, however, are often very wrong. Not very encouraging, and makes one suspect, in the heat of the moment, that the trend data are also wrong. And even if the trend is right, there is a huge difference between a 300 and a 200! I suppose with time, we’ll get a sense of how much we can rely on this thing. 

Second, the alarm function: I love it, especially in those down times when I wouldn’t be testing him, but want to know whether he might be going low. The alarm is only as good as the underlying data, however, so see above. If those aren’t correct, the alarm may be unuseful.

Twice now, Sacha has buried the CGM under his coat, or his blankets, when it has alarmed. He can’t really explain why, but in both cases, he risked his life; there was a serious hypo underway. I think he just didn’t want to deal with it, or have anyone else deal with it.  

Third, ease of insertion: Pretty good. Pain is moderate, and the process is pretty simple. And replacing only once a week is a godsend. SO MUCH better than the older Medtronic CGM.  

Finally, keeping it on: Much to our surprise, Sacha has not asked to take the CGM off. It hasn’t yet bothered him sufficiently. Good news!

All in all: we’re happy we have it. But life with Type 1 diabetes continues….This is one tool. A neat tool. But unlike the hype from my last posting, this is not, really, a “game changer.” 

Sigh. 

James Ron

James Ron is an American, Israeli, and Canadian academic, whose son, Sacha, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2009 at the age of two. Until then, James had never heard of the disease. Today, James is a member of the scientific and advisory group of Life for a Child, an Australia-based charity that supplies insulin and other diabetes supplies to children and youth in the developing world. James teaches international affairs and human rights at the University of Minnesota, and lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Emma, and their two children, Tessa and Sacha.

James Ron

James Ron is an American, Israeli, and Canadian academic, whose son, Sacha, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2009 at the age of two. Until then, James had never heard of the disease. Today, James is a member of the scientific and advisory group of Life for a Child, an Australia-based charity that supplies insulin and other diabetes supplies to children and youth in the developing world. James teaches international affairs and human rights at the University of Minnesota, and lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Emma, and their two children, Tessa and Sacha.