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If you’re on a CGM, have you checked your blood glucose this week using a testing strip?
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Twice during the warmup.
Neither are valid readings, in real time. They are solely hints, whispers of where we might be at… none of it is an arterial reading. Interstitial -sp.- fluid readings could be close but it’s not any better than capillary readings which the meters get. All of it give us delayed numbers not currently where we are actually at time wise….
more than I ever thought would be necessary!
Personally, I find my CGM readings to be more accurate and reliable than my blood test strips. I can remember doing three blood tests, one after another, a few years ago. One reading was around 40, one was around 110, and one was around 160. The only time I do blood tests now is during the two hour warm up of my Dexcom G6 sensor. But, I try to avoid blood tests because I don’t trust them.
Have Dexcom G7. Very rarely do finger stick. Sometimes when first inserted if it seems off.
I have G7 too and I agree with you. I thinks it’s sometimes a little off during the 12 hr grace period at the end of the 10 days too.
Yes, still on the G6 and during the 2 hour warmup, I check BG during this time. Looking forward to G7 30 minute warmup.
So far, my Sensor has been behaving normally. No unexpected shutdowns or no way-out numbers
Yes, during the two hour wait for Dexcom G6
Yes. It’s important to user finger tests confirm readings that may feel off. The problem is now with insurance. Depending on the plan and coverage year, insurance may fully pay for CGMs, but then they don’t want to pay for test strips too and make you meet a deductible first.
Not unusual for G7 meter to be accurate at the beginning and then start tanking – reading in the 40’s – after 8 hours or so. Sometimes I just wait it out and other times I try fixing it by calibrating but that just seems to confuse the sensor.
Dexcom has been off by over 100, they replace sensors but I now have a 4 month supply with the number of bad sensors the past year.
I left my phone at home one day. Luckily, I keep a meter in my purse. Usually, I will go weeks without testing my blood. Sometimes I will when I start a new sensor, but not all the time.
I almost always test with a meter/strips during the 2 hour warm-up period of a new G6 sensor and sometimes a couple of times the first day if it seems wonky. Also, if I feel low but the sensor reports in range.
I rarely do finger sticks anymore to “check” my CGM because BG readings from finger sticks and CGM have almost always been closely aligned. I occasionally do a finger stick if I need to be confident of my BG during a sensor warmup period before driving, bolusing, etc. I recently used more finger sticks than usual when I was taking a lot of Tylenol and wanted to make sure it wasn’t affecting my CGM. (It wasn’t.)
First 24 hours of placing a CGM sensor is a time period with potentially many inaccurate readings because of inflammation around the sensor (Foreign Body Reaction). This makes capillary BG testing a necessity-at least once following warm-up. Also, any CGM low BG readings should be verified with a BG meter before treating.
I had my first SEVERE low BG in 67 years with T1D this week. So, yes, I checked to make sure my CGM sensor was in sync with reality.
I use a G6 and like to do one finger stick per day with a Contour next meter. I test when my BG is stable and I haven’t had any carbs. If necessary I calibrate the G6. It seems to keep it more accurate.
I can go severak days without doing it, but when isyatt a sensor I will check 2-4 times the first day. Trust but verify
This week???
Try 7 times per day, average!!!
Prior to using CGM, I was work required to check frequently so was testing with BG meter an average of 17 times per day.
Yes. Sensor malfunction.
I use test strips in the first several hours of a new G7 sensor. Or if the numbers seem wonky! Recently, I have put on a new sensor in the last twelve or so hours before the old one is done. (Not starting the new one, obviously.)
When the old sensor is finished I start the new one already on my arm. The warmup is non-existent and the numbers are really good right out the gate!
Me too, on the testing. Great idea to put the next one one early, hadn’t thought of that.
I usually check if the Dexcom says I’m low.
Yes. The last infusion set didn’t deliver, so was checking the replacement. All good!
I inserted sensor and hit a bleeder which meant totally off blood sugars the first day. (Reading 40 reality 289)Finally on 2nd day kicked in.
I started out with T1 in 1983, just before finger stick meters were a thing, and like 30 years when that was all we had. And you have to recall that those CGMs weren’t certified for bolusing until G6 if memory serves. So it took me a while to build trust to let go of finger sticking for every meal. But I’m currently down to a single one, first thing in the a.m., just to check everything’s on track (it isn’t always). Side bonus: I’ve built up quite a reserve of ContourNext test strips.
No
I barely need to use my tear strip and meter as my Freestyle Libre2 and the latest versions have greatly improved the app whereas you don’t need to constantly scan and your reading is continuously displayed so you always know your glucose reading throughout the day. As long as I scan several times a day the sensor is read by the app on its own which is a game changer. I will only use the test strips is there is an obvious discrepancy in my blood glucose readings or in doubt.
This week I’ve tested several times because G6 reported a below 40 reading that I doubted. The two Contour meter tests were even lower, so I drank a bit of apple cider and that took care of the low.
Luckily don’t have to on a Dexcom