25 Comments
If you do NOT use a CGM, on average how many times per day do you check your blood glucose levels?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2022 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
Oops I answered the wrong question. I wear a CGM.
have been wearing a Libre2 for just over a year. before the CGM, I’d test 6x per day.
I have a Libre but before that I would test ten or more times a day.
Although I DO wear a CGM I still check my blood glucose level anywhere between 6 and 9 times a day. (Some of those times are used to calibrate the CGM.)
Using a CGM, I still test at least once a day.
I use a CGM – but being the Medtronic brand, I am forced to check on a meter at least 3 times a day. Looking forward to switching to Dexcom!
I wear a Dexcom G6 CGM and do not blood test. However, before I had a CGM I tested 12 times a day, on average. I had very erratic numbers.
Really encouraging to see the overwhelming percentage of respondents who have a CGM. I’ve had T1 since 1983, and of all the changes in insulin, supplies, regimens, etc I’v gone through, the CGM is far and away the single most helpful tool in controlling BG. I’d give up my pump before giving up my Dexcom if it ever (god forbid) came to a choice. Not too long ago it was a struggle convincing the medical establishment that CGMs for T1s are a necessity and should be prescribed at diagnosis or as close as possible. I remember when fingersticks and at-home testers were a new thing, and I was grateful for them, but fingersticks are a snapshot that tell you nothing about where you’ve been or where you’re trending. They’re the stills, but CGM is the movie.
I was diagnosed in 1985. I am too grateful for the advances in technology. I really appreciate my CGM, and tell others to get one too. At one point my Doc told me if I wanted a pump I’d have to fingerstick 8 times a day to show the insurance company I could handle a pump. I had already been on DexCom for a while and didn’t want to regress to fingersticks. I really like the graph, bg direction, and alarms that the DexCom CGM provides
i said 10-11.. but only because my libre reader recently broke, so I am back to blood tests. Waiting on my new cgm has me in a state of panic, especially at night!
so sorry Iknow how that feels
I answered for the days when I don’t have a CGM on. I usually skip a day in between to allow for refill delays. Then, if there is a delay, I don’t have to be without it for as many days in a row. I’d say I test around 7 times, more if I feel like I’m low. In the morning, before meals, before driving, before bed. I test after meals if I feel like my carb guess work was shaky.
I wear the cgm Dexcom G6 and test as needed during the 2 hour warmup. Before the cgm I used to test 7 or more times a day. My fingers were always bruised after years of fingersticks. T1 was diagnosed in 1955. Very happy now with Dexcom and looking forward to the G7.
When I DIDN’T have a CGM, I checked before and 2hrs after each meal, when I got up, at bedtime, before getting in the car to drive somewhere, and anytime I felt weird.
I’ve been using a CGM for about 4 months now. Prior to that I checked my blood glucose levels 6 – 7 times a day.
I use a CGM, but I still have to do a BG 3x a day to calibrate my CGM. (medtronics). Before having a CGM I had to check BG 7-10x daily.
I do use a CGM but it’s Medtronic so I need to test 2-3 times a day for calibrations. On the first day I have to test more because it can take half a day to settle in. Prior to CGMs I was testing 10-15 times a day due to being hypo unaware.
I answered that I use a CGM (now a Dexcom G6 – my 4th Dexcom) but prior to CGM I was 15-20 fingersticks a day. The usual wake up, before bed, before and after meals, before strenuous exercise, and every time I was going to drive.
I use a CGM but still need to check my blood glucose values because my readings are frequently not accurate. I’m hoping that when Medicare lets me change to the Dexcom CGM 7 that this problem will be better since they say the catheter that samples the interstitial space for the CGM 7 will be shorter. Dexcom said they know that T1D’s who are thin have this happen so I’m hoping the 7 will resolve this.
But I still do blood stick test at least 8 times a day because the CGM can be very inaccurate.
BUT I DO use a CGM and I STILL check my BG levels on average 6 to 7 times per day.
But prior to starting with CGM monitoring, my work has always involved operating heavy equipment around other people so without the CGM, my average daily BG monitoring was closer to 18 times per day!!! Before CGM was an option, my employer required me to check my BG reading a minimum of once every 90 minutes on the job so my 12 hour shift meant I was checking my BG reading at least 8 times per work shift in addition to the 8 – 10 times I checked while away from work.
I use a Tandem CIQ with Dexcom G6 CGM and rarely finger stick test anymore, except if and when I need to during a 2 hour sensor change warm-up. In the old days before CGM use, I used to test 8 to 12 times day. Then with the older versions of Medtronic CGMs I tested to calibrate and as often needed because they were often inaccurate.
I use a CGM but answered for the last 12 days, when I am waiting for my supplier to send more sensors. I would comment on that delay, but am not sure my answer would be polite.
I am pretty annoyed at the system which PWDs must use, I mean the system my provider has set up to satisfy Medicare rules. Perhaps, with Medicare now allowing a 90-day distribution on sensors (Yay!!), PERHAPS this customer will begin to see my order fulfilled promptly.
I use a CGM, but CGMs don’t measure sugar in the blood. Before CGM I’d do 4 – 8 times per day. I still use finger pokes to calibrate, sometimes to double check. Using the CGM convenience I can so easily check trends and take readings at least 8 to 16 times per day. Tip: much less pain using the sides of and backs of fingers then pads of fingers when poking.
I check the maximum number of times my @&#*&@*#@* insurance allows it. Aa a Type 1 the insurance coverage for strips is literal medical incompetence.