Category: Blog

The receiver seems much more stable now — I really had an interesting day yesterday when about half the time I looked at the receiver I had ??? and lots of gaps in readings.

Last night there were very few gaps and Dexcom is reading close to the meter (but under it).

I go to the endo on Monday and I still haven’t figured out how to handle all the data — do I put it in EzManager for example.

I forgot how frustrating the first day of a sensor can be — and yesterday my sensor acted just like a brand new sensor.  Missing readings mostly but also off.  The weird thing, is that my sensor was slightly higher than the meter before resetting and now it is reading slightly lower than the meter.

I did get the Sensor to stop and restart — and am getting readings again.  So you can definitely get the Dexcom Seven to go more than 7 days.

Here’s one really interesting issue.  I had to do three fingersticks to get the system to start.  The first two were almost at the same time and were 138 and 126.  The third fingerstick about 5 minutes later was 144.  The sensor is now reading 121.

I’m beginning to believe that Dexcom is the accurate one and really wish I could use a more modern meter.

I just checked my claims with BCBS of Texas, primarily because of the Symvist treatmeat and saw that Dexcom is showing as an unpaid claim.  It will be interesting to see if it gets covered.

I continued experimenting dosing using Seven.  Yes, it works.

Sensor is still on and working.  I got the sensor expiration screen this morning.  I just told it I had moved the sensor, and then told it I put in a new sensor.

Since I wasn’t doing anything yesterday, I decided to give it a try of dosing on the Dexcom and cutting down on the number of finger sticks.  Saw no adverse problems.

I do find that the steadier I keep my blood sugar the more accurate the Dexcom Seven is — but that was true of the STS-3 system too.

I should be having to “change” my sensor soon.

I’m still not happy with the numbers — however, the trends are definitely accurate, which is what they advertising.

However, the numbers are getting closer as I go along.

Well, not really, but the Animas IR1250 arrived this morning and it was SO nice to be able to set up my pump using the software, rather than having to rely on the screens.

I still had to do the basal settings by hand but everything else is good.

Now I’m trying to figure out the best way to log. 

Also trying to figure out how much data from Dexcom to import into EzManager.  I’m thinking every 15 minutes, but haven’t decided.

First, she told me that I should receive EzManager by August 31.  Sorry, I giggled.  I’ve heard that every month.

However, they are shipping me an IR1250 and I am keeping it as a loaner until the software ships.  I have two weeks after I receive EzManager until I have to return it.

I wish they had given me that solution months ago. 

Oh well….

I’m using Wingman’s post as a catalyst to do some thinking about this of my own. 

Have others of you noticed the dramatic effects a chaotic change to your normal routine can have on your bs?

Ring The Bolus: Sleep & Blood Sugar

Yes, changes in normal routine DO very much affect my blood sugar.  It’s been a huge problem since diagnosis.  Even more so, since I’m a teacher and have frequent changes in schedule.

I do a really good job of controlling blood sugar during normal teaching days.  It does take frequent checking of blood sugar (Dexcom Seven is going to be invaluable for that).  If they change my lunch during the year, I have to tweak things differently.  Typically I have “C” lunch, but they have changed me around a few times and even 1/2 hour can make a huge difference.

One of my toughest challenges are workshops — as I have blogged extensively about that.  Workshops alone are stressful — you are in a room full of people and it is worse for me when I know quite a few of them.  Oh, by the way, giving workshops is really no different than teaching.  It’s the sitting still that bugs me. 

I typically use up to 50% more insulin on a workshop day than I do on a normal teaching day.  I typically use about 20% more insulin on a non-teaching day.

Agility days can be even worse.  Again, they take about 50% more insulin, and sometimes even more.

One thing I’m going to have to look at during my next endo’s visit is adjusting basal insulin, especially at night because I’ve been going high and have been whining about that for months, even though we’ve made a few changes.