This post if from our friend, Annie.
After a very scary low that landed me in the ER this week, my endo and CDE have convinced me to try out a CGM for a little while. I’ve never been interested in a CGM, because from everything I hear, it isn’t really quite there yet in terms of accuracy/reliability. But, the big selling point for me was the alarms that go off when you are heading high or low. Luckily this week when I was unconscious from being low, my husband was home to call 911 and to make sure that I came through it OK. But, he isn’t usually home until after I go to bed since he works late, which often leaves me to be alone with my diabetes at night. This has never scared me, or him, until now.
At first, my husband wanted to get web cams that he could put up to keep an eye on me when I’m alone. He was only half serious, I hope! Obviously, I do not want spy cams around the apartment, so that is not an option. When I told him about the CGM and the alarms, however, that made him feel better. Being pregnant, I obviously never want to go through another episode like this again, so I’m hoping the CGM will help to catch lows that I might somehow miss otherwise. I’ll still be testing like crazy, but it will be somewhat comforting to know that I won’t be the only one keeping an eye on my sugars when I’m home alone.
I’m sorry to hear that happened, Annie! Sounds very scary. I’ve had these types of things happen, and they are the most scary – being alone. My wife has come home to find me Low. Don’t have a CGM myself, but am heavily leaning toward one for that very reason. Good luck finding a solution.
Oh my goodness Annie, I’m so glad you’re okay! As obnoxious as the CGM inaccuracy may be (not to mention wearing yet another device and being even more cyboglicious), it really does help for those alarms. I have only spent a couple weeks wearing one, and it woke me up twice to alert me of a low, which was awesome. Okay, getting up at 4 AM to scarf down some carbs wasn’t awesome, but you get the point.
Seeing trends is really helpful too. I got to see just how much I spiked after meals, and when my BG was rising and falling. It’s sometimes anxiety-inducing, but it also helps you nip highs and lows in the bud before they get too ridiculous! Keep us posted on how things go……and I agree, no webcams!
Your story reminded me so much of what I went through up to 2002. I couldn’t recognize going low and wouldn’t wake up at night if my glucose dropped when a sleep. This even though for 20 years before I had been able to function quite easily with these problems.
Its one of the serious problems that I developed during my 10 years use of Humulin type rDNA Insulins.
After watching a show on the CBC TV Network about problems that some people have using rDNA Insulins, I decided to give it a try as I had all the symptoms that were described plus others. I immediately went out and ordered some Pork Insulin to see if the documentary was in fact realistically true. I was a true non believer in other peoples diabetic problems.
Well the short answer is it was true and it worked immediately on the first day, recognition returned and I found out over the first week that I would also wake up at night if I started to go low. And the most amazing thing was that I could also react to the low by myself to bring me back up to normal without my wife’s previously required assistance. Essentially I can nicely function on my own again and the requirement for testing has reduced to a fraction of what it was before.
Animal Insulin saved me from the “Found in The Bed Dead Syndrome” that many rDNA Insulin users have died from and gave me my life back.
If I were you, I would give it a try, you have nothing to loose but the cost of one bottle of Pork Insulin and it will quite possibly save your life in the long run by returning your recognition symptoms.
I forgot to mention a book I read on rDNA Insulin problems. Its called:
Insulin: A Voice for Choice” by Arthur Teuscher printed by Basel : Karger, c2007
ISBN: 3805583532 (pbk.)
9783805583534 (pbk
Its a very interesting read on Insulin Problems and may just give you the reason you may need to question and make a change in your medication. You can likely get it at your Library, or on a loan from some other Library.
Good Luck
Wow Annie. I am so very glad you’re ok! I can’t believe that I’ve been fortunate enough to not have an episode like that for 28+ years. But stories like yours remind me that it can happen.
As for the CGM, I’ve been using mine for a year continuously (no pun intended lol) and off & on before that. I had mixed feelings about it at first but now I feel lost if I go a day or even a few hours without it. It has helped get my a1c down and although my bg are far from perfect, it lets me see a high as soon as it starts happening & act on it quicker & keep on top of it. I wouldn’t say it prevents lows but can on occasion & has definitely alarmed me of lows that I did not feel or was sleeping through. And for me I’d honestly say it’s about 95% accurate too. Good luck & I hope that was the last scary episode you had to endure.