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    • 4 hours, 41 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If your insulin pump stopped working, how prepared do you feel to manage injections, including having supplies on hand and understanding dosing?
      Since I started this journey long long ago when there were no pumps, CGMs, I have always kept long acting insulin and test strips on hand so I can use those when needed. Sometimes I have to go old school because of medical tests, so my feeling is to always be prepared.
    • 5 hours, 30 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      If your insulin pump stopped working, how prepared do you feel to manage injections, including having supplies on hand and understanding dosing?
      I answered not at all perpared! I have novolog and syringes on hand but no lantus. However, I use Omnipod 5 pods, which come in boxes of 5 pods, so I always have some on hand. They must be replace every 3 days anyway so if one fails I simply replace it. That has happened twice and when I contacted Insulet they provided a replacement pod both times.
    • 5 hours, 52 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      If your insulin pump stopped working, how prepared do you feel to manage injections, including having supplies on hand and understanding dosing?
      Was on injections for yrs before a pump so no problem for me
    • 2 days, 2 hours ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How often do you intentionally run your glucose slightly higher during certain activities (e.g., driving, public speaking, exercise)?
      The question is poorly worded. If I am doing those things I run my blood sugar higher if not I don’t. A better question might be how often do I do those things. Since I do them often I run high often on purpose. I cannot be sub 100 and do them.
    • 2 days, 2 hours ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How often do you intentionally run your glucose slightly higher during certain activities (e.g., driving, public speaking, exercise)?
      Exercise affects me profoundly at an older age (and has the physics of momentum and driving at ANY age!). Answer: often/
    • 2 days, 3 hours ago
      Richard likes your comment at
      How often do you exercise? Share more in the comments about your exercise routine.
      I have to try my best to move my Leg's for at least 30 minutes a day. If not something around that.
    • 2 days, 3 hours ago
      Richard likes your comment at
      How often do you exercise? Share more in the comments about your exercise routine.
      I exercise daily! I ski, bicycle, walk/jog, and workout at the gym. I currently have a rotator cuff injury so I limit my trips to the gym.
    • 2 days, 4 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      How often do you intentionally run your glucose slightly higher during certain activities (e.g., driving, public speaking, exercise)?
      During Ramadhan I keep it slightly elevated so that I don’t have to break the 12 hour fast.
    • 2 days, 4 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      How often do you intentionally run your glucose slightly higher during certain activities (e.g., driving, public speaking, exercise)?
      when I am traveling, I will let it run a little higher because I don't know what I'll be doing at any given moment.
    • 2 days, 4 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      How often do you intentionally run your glucose slightly higher during certain activities (e.g., driving, public speaking, exercise)?
      The question is poorly worded. If I am doing those things I run my blood sugar higher if not I don’t. A better question might be how often do I do those things. Since I do them often I run high often on purpose. I cannot be sub 100 and do them.
    • 2 days, 5 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      Been doing it for so long it's mostly estimation at this point. Every once in a while at home I'll measure out exact portions of rice, pasta, etc to remind myself just how SMALL portions should be as I tend to let them get a little bigger over time. (wishful thinking) Very helpful to have that image in mind at restaurants where portions tend to be way larger than a single serving.
    • 2 days, 5 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often do you intentionally run your glucose slightly higher during certain activities (e.g., driving, public speaking, exercise)?
      Exercise affects me profoundly at an older age (and has the physics of momentum and driving at ANY age!). Answer: often/
    • 3 days, 1 hour ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Moderately. My doctor and pharmacy are awesome, my insurance and durable medical equipment supplier, not so much. The excessive red tape of paper to get DME supplies shipped is almost always a nightmare!
    • 3 days, 1 hour ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Run, don’t walk from Edgepark! Read my response to Nevin Bowman above! (Hint: the company I was referring to in that post was Edgepark)
    • 3 days, 1 hour ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I once had a supplier withhold old pump supplies while refusing to ship the order for a new pump and I was on a 3-way call with insurance and got to listen to DME lie directly to Insurance about it and then I had the pleasure of interjecting and getting to call them a liar! I would have been more vindicated if it actually accomplished anything, but after I finally got my shipment I fired that DME and never looked back. The red tape that insurance insists on for DME is excessive for chronically ill patients!
    • 3 days, 1 hour ago
      kristina blake likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      After doing this weighing and measurements you get pretty good at estimating
    • 3 days, 2 hours ago
      Patricia Dalrymple likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 3 days, 3 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      Been doing it for so long it's mostly estimation at this point. Every once in a while at home I'll measure out exact portions of rice, pasta, etc to remind myself just how SMALL portions should be as I tend to let them get a little bigger over time. (wishful thinking) Very helpful to have that image in mind at restaurants where portions tend to be way larger than a single serving.
    • 3 days, 3 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      Yes, for me never weighing or measuring but actively using the Calorie King book and app for several years I have most things memorized or I can make a decent assessment.
    • 3 days, 3 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      After doing this weighing and measurements you get pretty good at estimating
    • 3 days, 3 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 3 days, 4 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 3 days, 5 hours ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Well, since I'm waiting on pump supplies for 2 months now, my confidence is slipping.
    • 3 days, 5 hours ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I am confident about access to my medical needs in the immediate future. I am not a fortune teller and have no idea what my access to medical supplies will be like in a year or longer. I don't take my spoiled lifestyle for granted.
    • 3 days, 5 hours ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I've often said that "hoarding": is a character asset for T1D people. I try to purchase (paying out of pocket) a 60-90 day supply - just in case). I have a new health plan,. effective 1/1/26. AS we know, getting an appt with an HCP isn't easy. They have to be accepting new patients, they have to be in network etc. Once I knew what my new policy would be (nov 2025) I made an appt. The earliest appt I could get was in Sept 2026. Thank goodness for my stash of device supplies. I had to go to Urgent care to get an Rx for insulin (my old HMO plan "doesn't do bridge refills"). So yeah, I worry, and plan for hiccups in the supplies process.
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    Do you have hypoglycemia unawareness?

    Home > LC Polls > Do you have hypoglycemia unawareness?
    Previous

    If you have gone through the process of getting an insulin pump, how easy or difficult was it for you to get the pump you most wanted to use?

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    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    35 Comments

    1. Ahh Life

      No. 72 years T1D and have the exact opposite–acute awareness.

      I am ready to eat lions, tigers, bears, crow bars, thumb tacks, table legs — anything! — to relieve the symptoms. Needless to say, I am very poor at the 15 carbs wait 15 minutes rule. Otherwise, I am quite disciplined. Sigh! 🙃

      6
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. mojoseje

        Same. How is that even possible? Lol

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. Kristine Warmecke

        @Ahh Life I wish I had that keen alertness. I’m only 40 years into it.

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Jordan Harshman

      I go through phases where I’m too low too often and get desensitized to it (about a month) followed by another month where I’m really sensitive to lows as I’ve brought my time in range back to (more) ideal

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Jane Cerullo

      Always feel but I tolerate pretty low readings. Just because 😼 don’t run high a lot.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lyn McQuaid

        Same here. I don’t really feel low until I’m in the 50’s so I’m not sure if that means I’m “unaware” if I don’t feel anything until then?

        1
        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Barbara Bubar

      After 72 years, yes, like Ahh Life, my eyesight changes and I see a sort of yellow shape when I’m around 55 or lower. It’s actually handy that it happens in case the Dexcom is not quite there yet.

      3
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. Mike Plante

      Was 61 on Dexcom and 51 on Contour Next last night, but I just felt normal.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Steve Rumble

      It used to be a problem before I started using a CGM

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. mojoseje

      I have to be in my 40s and my vision going dark before I feel low. A lot of times I feel normal and CGM is the only way I know I’m going low.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Sherolyn Newell

      In the last couple weeks, I’ve noticed feeling the lows sooner. I don’t know why, it will probably change back. That’s the way T1D seems to work, likes to keep you guessing.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Lawrence S.

      I have occasional unawareness. Usually, when my blood glucose drops quickly.
      Other times I feel light headedness, occasionally a “hole” in my vision. Usually, by the time I’m sweating profusely, it’s too late. I’m deep into it.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Rick Martin

      Yes I have complete unawareness. AND, I thank God everyday for my CGM.

      5
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Joan Fray

      I wear my Dexcom all the time so I very rarely go low. Only when exercising. Then I just get more tired than warranted, so I check if I’m low. Glucose tabs and some food do the trick. Lows aren’t my problem. My ‘icky’ stomach is my problem. Eat to live, 15 units of humalog for 24 hours, plus .3 basal all the time. Is that a lot?

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Judy Hampton

      Until I started using a cgm I was very aware of dropping blood sugar. Now it seems my body depends on the cgm to alert me. I really wish I could still recognize LBS without the cgm.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Daniel Bestvater

      T1D for about 45 years, I seem to feel a low BG around 3(54).
      I have been down to 1.8(34) recently before detecting any symptoms. I don’t think my stomach works properly after 45 years! Some days are normal and other days it seems only liquid carbohydrates are absorbed.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Claude Laforest

      No, because my CGM alerts have replaced my symptoms, alerts are much more reliable than symptoms and less variable!

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. kenneth brooks

      I used to have hypoglycemic unawareness but in ten years since CGM, my sugar never gets low enough to be a problem

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Sue Martin

      This is one of the reasons I got a CGM. The other reason is that my symptoms didn’t always manifest the same way.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Kathy Morison

      The only time I experienced hypoglycemia unawareness was when I was using humalog insulin

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Janis Senungetuk

      Yes, both hypo and hyperglycemia unawareness. If I’ve dropped to the low 40’s my vision becomes impaired and I’ll see light yellow amorphous blobs in my central vision. Fortunately that rarely happens now because of CGM alerts.

      3
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. William Bennett

      Important to note that hypo awareness is a threshold thing that changes depending on what your average BG is like. People who run very high–up around 200–can start feeling low at levels a lot of us with tight control would consider high in their own rate. 120-50 e.g. Before getting a CGM, back when I was on MDI, I’d feel trembly and my knees would start locking up in the 70s. Now that I have much tighter control (last A1C was 5.8) I don’t feel low above 60, and even below that if it’s a slow drop I’m now aware of it until I start getting that flash-bulb effect in the center of my vision. Speed of descent also seems to have a lot to do with it. The old insulins could make you crash very hard all of a sudden because of the very long effect curves and the practice of taking both types in one shot. So shaking OMG I’m gonna pass out lows were far more of a fact of life back then than they are for me now.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Jneticdiabetic

      Hypo unaware and appreciative of my CGM. Rarely feel symptoms unless I’m dropping quickly. Recently had a middle of the night CGM alarm that I was 80 and dropping. Got up, stumbled and could tell I was already much lower than that. Required a mega carb binge to correct. CGM may lag, but it saved the day again this time.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. John Williamson

      Prior to going on a pump 14 years ago I had sever hypoglycemia unawareness. After a year on the pump (and much better control than on MDI) I began to detect even low 70’s.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. LuckyPineapple

      I FEEL every second of being low..that’s why I try so hard not to get that way ever. I have very sever hyper-unawareness though. I can’t even tell if I’m 400+

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Robert Kovalik

      I wear a CGM.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. Bob Durstenfeld

      I am thankful CGM alarms.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. pru barry

      I think my nervous system is losing its mojo. Lots of neuropathy, lots of not feeling highs or lows. So glad to have my Dexcom with the Tandem! I’m making an effort to rely more on this technology.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    26. Nancy Burgess

      Since I’ve had T1D since 1960, I’ve lost the ability to feel hypoglycemia. I totally rely on my Dexcom to keep me in the range.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    27. Kristine Warmecke

      I’ve been hypo unaware since the early 90’s. It’s not fun. I wish I’d aware, even though it was scary and made me feel like crap. I was made to get Medtronics CMG in July 2007 because I had my first and only car accident due to being unaware of my hypo. I couldn’t stand all the alarms, false low & high’s, need to calibrate it, etc. and stopped using it. I was introduced to Dexcom a couple years later and started with the G4, far more accurate for me and still use Dexcom but it doesn’t catch my fast falling or rising numbers as well my DAD dose now.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    28. Carol Meares

      I put “sometimes.” It depends generally on the speed of which I am dropping.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    29. Amanda Barras

      Sometimes I can keep on trucking down to the 40s, self treat and keep going on about my day. Other times I feel terrible, super lethargic and irritable and it stops me in my tracks.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    30. Donna Condi

      I always feel it but that doesn’t happen until I hit about 42.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    31. George Lovelace

      I am surprised sometimes by the Dexcom warning but in combination with Tandem CIQ I have about eliminated All Hypos even with a 5.4 A1c

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    32. Bonnie Lundblom

      Yes and I’m thankful for having my Dexcom.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply

    Do you have hypoglycemia unawareness? Cancel reply

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