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For people who use a CGM that does not typically require calibrations: If you were to spend 4 hours away from home but still in your local area (e.g., an afternoon of running errands around town, or going out for dinner and a movie), would you bring a glucose meter with you just in case?
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4 Hours? Absolutely. I once experienced on coming DKA at a movie theater an hour from home. Pump was failing and no emergency kit accompanied me. I tried a couple of Walgreen’s nearby, failing each time. Ended up having to have my wife drive home, since I was completely incapable and desperately in need of an injection. I think I now know how drug addicts feel. Sigh!
I said NO… but just recently I had a lab take blod for a panel test as I have not felt well.. Then checked at same time my CGM and finger stick meter……. the lab and finger stick were very close….. the CGM was WAY OFF!!!! In the past my yearly blod tests, the BG’s were pretty much the same….
My Libre scanner doubles as a BG meter so technically I always have a glucose meter with me, but not necessarily test strips or lancets to go with it. That said, my meals are usually 4 or 5 hours apart, so yes, if I was going to be away from home for 4 hours or more I would bring my whole kit with me (insulin, syringes, lancets and pen, test strips, etc.) just in case. I don’t bring all that stuff with me when running errands, but errands usually only take a couple hours.
Yes I would. My glucometer is so small it doesn’t take up much space and I’m bringing a purse anyways. Why would I risk my CGM failing and having to disrupt my day to come home early? I carry an extra pod too. I’ve had it ripped off & can just replace and move on instead of having to go home. If it’s just an hour and I’m only grabbing my keys and wallet, maybe not, but for 4 hours of errands, definitely yes.
My son stocked our center console in the truck without my knowledge at some point in the last few weeks. He goes to the gym after school daily and he has had some issues with pods sweating off so he apparently decided this was the wise thing to do- he even included and infusion set for my pump. 🤣 Yep, I can definitely say my so has his s**t together more thank do 👍
I always have a meter with me
My Omnipod case has my trusty Freestyle Lite meter—so it’s with me if I leave the house.
I have several Myabetic purses with a section for supplies so I usually have meter and supplies. Have needed a few times.
I have a CGM for a reason ……. haven’t done a finger stick in the past 4 years.
I always have my purse and meter and strips are in there.
I said probably. However, I was grabbing my pump cable out of the center console the other week and my son put a glucose meter in there, a Ziploc of smarties, alcohol wipes, and extra pod, skintac wipes and even an infusion set for my pump. Sooooo…. I mean, yes apparently we always have one handy among other things lol. He is 17 and honestly the kid has his s**t more together than I do 🤣
The glucometer and glucagon go everywhere. Period.
I marked unsure but I often bring a meter on long hikes and bike rides and I do take a meter on trips sway from home.
I have a meter and strips and other supplies in an accessory bag in my purse at all times. I have experienced really wonky Dexcom readings often enough that it just makes life simpler to have a test kit handy.
I always do a finger stick before I drive. Just to be safe!
I said “probably not.” But, it really depends on the situation. If I were close to home, probably not. If I were driving an hour or more away, I probably would. Currently, I seldom do blood test, using my Tandem Control IQ and Dexcom G6.
I always take a finger stick glucose meter with me as well as my CGM reader
I keep one in my car all the time.
I answered Probably Not but I take a backpack with me whenever I go to town. It contains extra pump supplies, meter, and most importantly: treatments for lows.
Everything is there, so all I need to do is grab it and go.
Why would I not, my life could depending it. No gray area here, meter, glucose, insulin, and syringe.
I live in earthquake country. I keep a week’s supply of insulin pens with me at ALL times, along with a meter and strips since I don’t also carry replacement sensors (the Dexcom applicators are so clunky that would be difficult to do). I am amazed how few people seem to take earthquakes into account in California with respect to their diabetes.
No but there have been a very rare number of times when I have needed it due to numbers I didn’t feel were correct and had no way of checking. I feel like the smart thing would be to carry the test kit. I don’t always do the smart thing;/
No – for that short period of time even a micro-manager like myself wouldn’t do that. I read on this board the success stories from people who not only survived yet thrived through the darker ages of pee on strips to determine BG levels while using the animal based insulins. As a late in age member of our disease community – you people are my heroes!
Thanks… from one of your heros!!!
I have it always in my purse in case I want to double check. I really could rethink this though.
My dia-bag consists of what I know I am likely to need: my fiasp insulin pen, extra needles, libre scanner, and glucose tabs in a tube. this is for everyday life. (grocery store, work,visits). Using MDI, I do not have to worry about pump problems. As for glucose levels, I had spent more than 20 years guessing how accurate each urine test might be, so I may be more practiced at reading my body, since that was all I could rely on for so long.
The only cgm problems I have had were due to a combination of being the first hours of a new sensor and dehydration, which occurred recently during trans-Atlantic air travel. Fortunately, my old test strips were on hand.
Yes! I have had CGM failures (fall out of arm , sensor end incidences) and want to know where I’m at… I also carry one syringe w/meter.. Was away from home a whole day recently (am actor on set filming) and insertion device fell out and back-up emergency insertion device I had in car I rushed and didnt insert properly. My BS spiked after 2-3 hrs. of no insulin. I was able to withdraw insulin from pump cartridge with a syringe i keep w/meter to bolus and needed meter when BS spiked over 400 for an hour or so (CGM tops out at 400). I needed to know if it was coming down or heading even higher!! All resolved by the time I got home and replaced everything. What a relief to not have to bail on my whole day and go home early to deal with it.
I have to admit that I admire the ones who are super-prepared for all disasters, but I’ve never wanted this disease to make me feel as if I’m its captive. I enjoy feeling free, and try not to overthink the possibilities. Of course, it’s easier now that I’m pretty old and not so apt to be off hiking in the woods!
Lucky to have had an unscathed life :^) !
I never leave home without one. It seems odd not to do so.
I carry my insulin pen in a padded case that also holds a meter and supplies. If I have my insulin, I have a meter. Rarely use.
I have no idea what this question means. Freestyle Libre 2 lasts two weeks, requires one hour to calibrate itself after replacement and stays that way for a full two weeks. It’s reliable and accurate. There’s no way to do anything to it after that initial hour.
I believe the question is just asking people who use a CGM if they also carry a blood glucose meter with them as a back-up in case their CGM should fail or if they want to check the accuracy of their CGM
As for calibration, that is when you can adjust the reading on your CGM. Say your CGM reads 140 but your blood glucose meter reads 152. On a Dexcom, one can adjust the CGM reading to match the meter if you want to. I am not sure if you can do that with your brand of CGM.
Unsure, really depends on transportation and activities I’d be engaged in. But, glad to see this question today because tomorrow I’m going to a gathering with in-laws several hours away. It reminded me to fill my bag with infusion set, CGM, meter/strips…all supplies I might possibly need for a full day of “fun & games”. Thanks!
I’m prepared in case pump or infusion set malfunctions. I also have insulin & syringes along.
Yes, our son’s diabetes supply bag, which includes a meter, goes everywhere he goes.
My phone checks my CGM too so I only need to make sure I use the meter in less than 8 hours to keep the data in the meter for my endoscopy visit
I said yes, but I always have a meter in my bag. Even though I use the G6, there are times that it isn’t within accuracy standards.
I keep a meter in my bag/car, in case of CGM sensor failure or session expiration while I’m out.
Yes. Besides the meter that is necessary for my Omnipod pump, I have a second meter that always accompanies me. I get odd CGM readings often enough and the Omnipod meter is not what I would consider accurate enough that a third meter seemed like the best way to know which BS number to act on. The third meter “calibrates” the two numbers that can be wildly different. (for instance, just two days ago, my CGM said 49 and dropping rapidly, but my Omni meter (Freestyle) said about 130… the third meter said 169. If I had trusted my CGM, I would have treated for a low until I was dangerously high.)
I think my three-meter habit means I’m a bit paranoid! ;p
I never leave the house without my glucometer and a full insulin pump site chg. Period!
I use a Dexcom and MDI. Whenever I leave the house, I always carry my backpack with at least 2 smaller bags inside, one of which is for my small finger stick meter kit that has room for an extra syringe containing my next glargine dose, and 2 extra syringes (one is marked in half units) of lispro. The bag also has 12 extra sugar cubes in pill bottles, my lunch, some aspirin tablets (seldom used), spare hearing aids, caffeine tablets, a few baby wipes, 50 SPF sunblock, store coupons, chewable pink bismuth tablets for occasional indigestion. The other bag: iPad, appointment calendar & water/coffee/tea bottle. After other errands or meetings or library trips, I shop. The 2 smaller bags go back in the backpack on top of the groceries for my homeward journey and dinner. Cell phone is there somewhere. Dexcom receiver in pants pocket. I try to alternate day of leaving house with day at home, sort of yin-yang thing.
I always carry my meter and test strips along with other backup supplies
I carry my glucose meter with me in my purse wherever I go.
Rarely. However I do carry a meter and spare supplies anytime I go away from home on long day trips or overnight stays. I used to carry a meter with me all the time as back-up but have gotten out of the habit since I have experienced very few CGM disruptions or failures with Dexcom. I coordinate CGM changes q 10 days to be done at times when I can sit still and change it.
A lot of times my g6 is just not accurate enough to dose by
Yes, to many bad readings from G6 to trust it, not as accurate as they clam for me, but how do we know for sure the Meter is correct ?
I would NEVER do that 8-D
It would be against the written protocol(s) of the CGM companies themselves
I ALWAYS bring a meter with me. Not because of calibrations, but because the CGM may be ripped off or the Sensor reading does not match how I feel (like a rapid low).
I rarely carry a glucose monitor if I’m away from home for 4 hours. If i’m in the office all day or traveling, I have it with me.