Thank you for being a part of our Online Community! Your answers to our daily questions offer a valuable glimpse into real life with type 1 diabetes (T1D)! Here are the three most popular questions of January 2023:

 

Which of these best describes how often you typically change your lancet?

Which of these best describes how often you typically change your lancet?

This question provoked a wide range of responses because if you’re on a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) you probably rarely prick your finger anymore. The most popular response was “every few months” with 22% of the responses. The least popular response was “multiple times a day” with only 1% of responses. The comments confirm that many CGM users rarely perform finger sticks.

Popular quotes from the community:

  • “Really?!? You’re kidding right? Once a month, if that. I have a CGM, don’t check unless something seems really amiss.”
  • “Since I started using a CGM I rarely use lancets. Pre-CGM I normally changed lancets when I opened a new set of test strips, usually a couple times a month.”
  • “When I was testing about 12 times per day, I would change the lancet when it began to hurt, once or twice a year.”
  • “Since beginning to use a CGM and following that with a Tandem pump I am using the lancet much less, so I do not change it often. Prior to this I changed it regularly, but not daily or weekly, perhaps monthly or as I felt it should be changed.”
  • “I change it when it starts hurting. This is sometimes every couple months and sometimes (more often since I have the CGM and only test a couple of times a month) every couple of years if I do a test, and it really hurts, I move on to the next needle!”

*Comments have been edited slightly for clarity as needed.

Have you ever used glucagon? If so, when is the last time used it?

Have you ever used glucagon? If so, when is the last time used it?

Our second most popular question this month had almost 500 responses. 63% of responses said they had never used or administered glucagon before. 34% of responses have used or administered glucagon before. Glucagon is an emergency medicine used to treat severe low blood sugars. The comments share personal experiences with emergency glucagon.

Interesting comments from the community included:

  • “I’ve never used glucagon during my 50 years on insulin.”
  • “I have had to use glucagon several times over the past 55 years, in my teens and early 20’s, administered by others when having a seizure. It was always horrible afterward, vomiting, and headaches for hours.”
  • “Have it but never used it. There was one time it would have been useful, but my wife just called 911.”
  • “Thankfully, I have been hypo-aware and never needed to use glucagon, in 66 years with T1D, even though at a doctor’s insistence, I have filled a prescription a few times.”
  • “I had glucagon by my bedside for decades and never used it. Every few years I would get a new prescription for glucagon.”

*Comments have been edited slightly for clarity as needed.

At the time of your T1D diagnosis, did you already personally know anyone who had T1D?

At the time of your T1D diagnosis, did you already personally know anyone who had T1D?

The power of being a part of a T1D community is especially crucial when you’re first diagnosed. If you don’t know someone with T1D at the time of your diagnosis, which 36% of our respondents said they didn’t, it can be a hard adjustment to make. There is so much to learn. It can feel overwhelming and scary. 60% of the respondents said they knew someone personally at the time of their diagnosis.

Some of the most engaging comments from the community:

  • “Yes, my dad had T1D. My diagnosis made him and my mom so sad. I tried hard to make it no big deal so they wouldn’t worry.”
  • “I did not ever know any other T1Ds until I attended diabetes camp. After that, it was many more years.”
  • “At 19 had no awareness or knowledge on diabetes. I’m the only lucky one in my family to have it!”
  • “I knew a total of three people when I was diagnosed. Fortunately for me, one of these three people was my brother and the other two were close friends. I’ve got to admit it made the transition into being a T1D that much easier.”
  • “We did, but we had no idea about what it meant or any of the challenges or complications associated with this disease.”
  • “Not at all, no one with any type of AASSAt. I sure wish I had.”

*Comments have been edited slightly for clarity as needed.

Thank you to every member of the T1D Exchange Online Community for sharing your experiences. Your words inspire others who come to this community looking for advice and the reminder that they’re not alone.

If you are not already a member of the T1D Exchange Online Community, click here and join today!