I had my yearly appointment with my endocrinologist yesterday. It’s usually a pretty pleasant appointment and my doctor usually compliments me on being such a boring patient. I’m boring, because my blood sugars are well-controlled, I keep a firm grasp on my fitness and my diet and my overall health is usually NOT that of someone who has been Type-1 for over 37 years! This year’s appointment was a bit different…
Proper blood sugar control has always been a point of pride, for me. I don’t always eat in a manner that some would consider the best… As my wife and friends are quite aware, I have a fondness for cheeseburgers that borders on the obsessive. But I work out consistently, eat well in general and constantly monitor my blood sugars through my FreeStyle Libre and finger pricks.
The past two years have been among the most stressful I’ve ever been through. I’ve had sleepless nights, bad eating and the occasional indulgence in some rather high alcohol content adult beverages. In the last six months, I’ve unfortunately started to have some pretty serious blood sugar spikes. These spikes have been in the mid to high 20’s.
I’ve often written about the side effects and complications that can accompany badly controlled Diabetes. Given that I’m a person who practices what he preaches, this was the focal point of my concerns while speaking with my doctor today. Given that my insulin pump has been off warranty since last summer, not only was it decided that it’s time to get a new pump, it’s also time for a serious upgrade in technology!
Not only will this new pump be all shiny and pretty, it also includes Continuous Glucose Monitoring. Now, I’ve fought hard against CGM over the past five years. The reason for that has been quite simple: I hate having things attached to my body! I resisted getting an insulin pump, years ago. Especially in light of my chosen profession, I considered wearing an insulin pump to be a hindrance. But I couldn’t have been more wrong!
Since I’ve been wearing a Freestyle Libre for the past year, I’ve warmed up to the idea of CGM, despite the fact that it will include a second piece of electronic equipment tethered to my flesh. Basically, I’m taking one step further towards being a cyborg!
The 670G has a CGM system that performs an interstitial blood glucose check every five minutes. EVERY FIVE MINUTES! That means that my blood sugars will be checked 288 times, every day! Even on my most compulsive day of constantly checking with my Freestyle Libre, I can’t match that. The pump and CGM will communicate with each other and micro insulin dosages will be provided to help maintain the best amount of “time in range” possible. I’m pretty stoked.
When I think back to the massive brick I used to carry as a glucometer, and the multiple types of insulin I had to use throughout the course of a day, I’m continuously impressed with the advent of new technologies and devices that, while not a cure, definitely help make the life of a Type-1 Diabetic just a little bit easier. ☯
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