Blog

  • Need to follow my own advice

    Last night, I ripped off a Dexcom sensor.  I kept wanting to call them and see if they would replace it but I didn't.

    Finally the receiver and iPhone app were behaving badly this evening, so I did feel the need to call, because I didn't understand the non-message I was getting.

    Long story short, a new sensor is on the way.  

    As soon as this transmitter ends, I'm switching back to the two remaining Medtronics sensors and building up a buffer.

  • Dexcom Receiver problem solved

    My biggest problem with the Dexcom receiver is locating the blasted thing šŸ˜‰

    Seriously. 

    I lost one because it fell out of my pocket into a suitcase when I was packing for a cruise. I think I found it when I got to the ship. 

    Well, CVS/Caremark is forcing me to go to the One Touch meter. The case that comes with the Vario is perfect, it holds the meter assembly, a Tile, and the Dexcom meter perfectly. It's because of the form factor of the test strip holder. 

    I am not too broken heartened over the Countour Next loss as I am going off the pump when I am out of supplies and I like the way the One Touch app works on the Apple devices. 

  • Kathleen Weaver

    I have lost a lot of weight with Jenny Craig but I have been stalled this year. A Facebook post reminded that JC is expensive, $140 a week.  With mystery shopping I can eat healthy and get a lot of lunches free.  This week I have two lunches scheduled. I like eating out, it makes me feel special and the whole Jenny Craig messes that part up in my head.

    I am starting with dinner tonight.

    Beef Stew and some kind of bread. That will make Rich happy.

     

  • My Dexcom Receiver arrived today

    It’s been a frustrating week. Few things have gone as smoothly as I would like. 

    We put in the script for Dexcom last Thursday. Transmitter and sensors arrived Friday and I got everything working but no receiver. 

    They reordered and finally heard back Wednesday that they were back ordered.  Came today. Super easy to hook up, just had to put my transmitter SN and it’s up and running. 

  • Finally going down in my insulin usage and interesting letters

    First, when I went on the VIctoza, I had some lows, so we went the wrong way in adjusting insulin usage.  Reducing insulin usage too much in this case was better than too little because I hate lows.  Smile

    First we have the basal and dropped the bolus dosage.  I even tried going off pump for a few days.  Didn’t work, my blood sugar was way too high.  So I decided to try halving the bolus dosage and that really helped. I still had to bump up the basal a bit, but I started waking up with blood sugars under 120.  This is a good thing.

    Lately I’ve seen fasting blood sugars in the 90-110 range, so I’m really glad.  The last couple of days I woke to blood sugars in the 90s, so now I’m bumping down the basal dosage a bit.  I’m also going to start watching after meal dosages more closely.

    The goal is to get off the pump when I run out of supplies.

    I’m thinking of turning off the USPS Informed Delivery.  Yesterday I got a letter from each diabetes doctor’s  office.  I knew the new doctor would be sending me a ā€œthank youā€ for joining the practice, but since I had written a letter terminating services from the other diabetes doctor’s office, I was afraid this was a letter of protest.

    No, it was part of a mailing they had done to all their patients, inviting us to come to the new office. Don’t think so.

  • Good cornea news and good insurance news

    Had an appointment today with my cornea specialist.  She said I didn't need to come back unless I had another tear.

    Office visit was $14 with the new insurance – was $25.  Plus they over charged me last year and will be sending me a check. 

     

  • Things are looking good insurance wise

    I got on a ā€œkickā€ today to make sure everything was straight insurance wise with my pharmacy since I got call that they were trying to get the doctor to respond on a prescription.

    So Freestyle Libre is cancelled everywhere.

    I picked up my Dexcom Transmitter and Sensor Friday and numbers are quite good since.  Let me tell you when that high blood sugar alert goes off, you stop eating.  Zero out of pocket.

    Met deductible on the 12th of January with my Victoria.  There was a huge out of pocket on that since I was still had not met. 

    The doctor’s appointment costs are interesting since I now pay 20%. 

    My costs to the endocrinologist has been $39.72 for office visit, where I paid $25.00 before.  My labs are another $40.00 so far.   That was usually $25 and $25 each.

    So far, it is all looking manageable.

  • Loving the Dexcom

    I’ve had the Dexcom and the Enlight Sensor on since about 5:00 pm yesterday.  Both are working great. 

    I do have two Enlight Sensors – returns from Medtronic’s if anyone needs.

    Anyone both of them are cruising right along and giving similar reasons.  The Enlight has been on since Tuesday, and I don’t see any reason to pull it.  Right now, I would not say if one is better than the other. 

    I am getting super blood sugar readings and my new endo taught me something I’m sure she didn’t know.  I really think upping the dosage by .06 for three days helped things.  I’ve got enough extra that I might pull that off whenever I see bad numbers again.

    I am seeing a morning spike, but I think exercise fixes it so far.  I’m keeping an eye on it.

  • Dexcom Victory – Almost

    Got a call at 4:00 pm from my pharmacist.  Seems my sensors and transmitter had come.  I was pretty sure that I didn't really need the receiver, but I called Dexcom to check.  So hopped into the car, and went and got them.

    So cool — script was translated and entered into the system yesterday morning (see previous post).  The key components arrived today.  No insurance preauthorization, no waiting for a trainer, lots of good videos on the internet to see how to hook things up.  My biggest problem is that I walk away from my phone.

    Oh, and no charge after the vouchers.

    I've currently am $3864.91 towards my out of pocket.  There are still quite a few claims related to the labs run this week, and next week I see my cornea specialist.

    But now I can see my blood sugar on my phone and my watch.  Just need to remember not to walk away from my phone.

  • Dexcom revisited – Caremark patients can have it without preauthorization.

    Apparently the pharmacy had a head explosion over the doctors prescription.  The pharmacy kept telling me they didn't have a script and the doctor swore she sent it.

    According to Caremark, and they told me twice on the phone and the website reflects this, if you are willing to pay the copay you can have a Dexcom prescription filled. 

    Anyway, it should all be straight now. 

    The really good news is that if all diabetics get Dexcoms, the price will go down and there will be a market for more similar and maybe better devices.  Econ 101.