Using a continuous glucose monitor these days can be awesome \u2013 blood sugar trends, streaming data to the cloud, the ability to share data with trusted loved ones, upgraded wearability from previous sensors \u2026 the list of pros goes on.<\/p>\n
But sometimes the benefits of using a CGM can feel overshadowed by the drawbacks of wearing a medical device 24\/7.\u00a0 Does your insurance company battle back over coverage?\u00a0 Do you have trouble keeping the device stuck to your skin?\u00a0 Are you intimidated by the idea of wearing a medical device?<\/p>\n
Wearing a CGM often requires a little bit of \u201chacking\u201d to make integration into your life easier and more streamlined.\u00a0 Which is why we turned to the diabetes community \u2013 the CGM experts in the field – for advice on practical advice, tips, and tricks for using a CGM.\u00a0Here\u2019s what the DOC had to say about making the CGM experience better:<\/p>\n
Tapes\u00a0<\/strong>were a popular topic.\u00a0 We\u2019ve written about medical tape options in our summer adhesive roundup<\/a>, and plenty of PWD chimed in with their favorite options.\u00a0 Jessica said, \u201c[Using] Opsite flexfix and keeping the G4 has saved me a ton of money on sensors. Not being able to restart old sensors has me hesitant to move to the G6. Also arm and calf placement [helps].\u201d\u00a0Nia offered, \u201cI like StayPut [tape] for extended wear. Grif Grips are good too, but I get longer shelf life with StayPut.\u201d<\/p>\n Calibration\u00a0<\/strong>is another key issue, especially for folks who are seeing unreliable CGM results.\u00a0 Bill said, \u201cLearn when to calibrate. I try to calibrate when I\u2019m completely flat … not rising or falling.\u201d\u00a0 Amy agreed, adding, \u201cSometimes dried blood at insertion means poor accuracy the first day. Usually resolved by a shower.\u201d\u00a0 Most CGM manufacturers recommend calibrating if meter results are drastically different from CGM results \u2013 consult with your CGM company for details.\u00a0<\/p>\n Placement\u00a0<\/strong>for CGMs mattered to a lot of people.\u00a0 Brian said, \u201cPlacing sensor on arm. Custom covers<\/a> for sensor because tape has never worked well for me.\u201d\u00a0While many CGMs are officially approved for abdomen placement, people with diabetes are wearing their CGM sensors wherever they can get good results and comfortable wear<\/a>.\u00a0 Kerri wears her CGM sensor exclusively on her thigh.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s more out of the way there than on my stomach,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cWith waistbands that shift and fluctuate, my stomach is a high traffic area and the sensor wilts off too fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Insertion comfort\u00a0<\/strong>is a factor, too.\u00a0 While CGM users across the board recommend things like numbing cream, icing the area beforehand, and rotating sites regularly (to decrease scartissue and increase healing), one CWD mom had an interesting take.\u00a0 Stacey said, \u201cIf you cough on insertion, everything hurts less. B [teenage son with T1D] has done this for about two years with insets and CGM sites.\u201d<\/p>\n Ease when traveling<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>matters, too.\u00a0 Navigating airport security with diabetes\u00a0<\/a>devices can be awkward, but there are things you can do to make your experience easier.\u00a0 Most CGMs won\u2019t alarm during screening, but if you do get pulled for a pat down, be sure to tell the gate agent where your device is on your body so they don\u2019t pull it loose during the screening process. Brian added, \u201cTSA pre-check has made both CGM and Pump less frustrating when traveling.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Insurance coverage\u00a0<\/strong>is a tricky hurdle to clear<\/a>, but the CGM companies have teams that are willing to step in and help.\u00a0 Connect with your CGM manufacturer of choice and ask if they have an insurance assistance department, and you can also check out this advice from the team at Diabetes Forecast<\/a>, as well as the Integrated Diabetes website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n And sometimes the advice we need most is how to take a breather before reacting to the CGM data.\u00a0 With a steady stream of information coming at you all day long, it can be a little chaotic to manage all that data without feeling overwhelmed.\u00a0 Jaime said, \u201cTry not to overreact to the number you’re seeing and how many up or down arrows. I know if I see two down or two up arrows I panic and either eat, or take, more insulin. Then I end up in a roller coaster. Sometimes it pays off to wait it out!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":49198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1437],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n