At T1D Exchange, we learn something new from our Online Community by asking a “Question of the Day,” every single day. Consider connecting your T1D friends with our Online Community, so they can be part of a community that gets it, too.

  This month’s Top Questions:

  1. What is your primary connection to the T1D community?
  2. Where do you order your continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) from?
  3. How much of your total amount of insulin is your basal insulin?

(*Comments have been edited slightly for clarity as needed.)

 

 

What is your primary connection to the T1D community?

Here are a few insightful comments from community members:

  • “I identify as a person with T1D, but I am not auto-immune compromised. My entire pancreas was removed to avoid Early and Certain Death from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The procedure was about 9 years ago, and my recovery was slow but has been excellent. I am in good health (for a 75-year-old man).”
  • “I live with LADA and have also raised two T1D’s before my diagnosis. Also, my brother is a T1D.”
  • “I have been told that LADA is not an official diagnosis, although that may have changed. I put LADA because I figured by the question you wanted to differentiate the Type ones to know your audience better. My diagnosis is now type 1, although, for many years, the diagnosis was Type 2 even though I was on insulin and was not characteristic of Type 2, i.e., insulin resistance. I was diagnosed at age 39. The term LADA may not have even been coined at the time (1993). I am now almost 70.”
  • “I’ve been a part of the T1 community since 1972 when my brother was diagnosed at 7 months old. I was diagnosed 10 years later.”
  • “I have T1D and am also a medical professional working in the diabetes space.”

 

 

 

Where do you order your continuous glucose monitor (CGM) from?

Here are a few insightful comments from community members:

  • “From 2021 until the end of last month, all my medical supplies (I found out after the order was placed that included the insulin pump I received in October) were all covered under my pharmacy benefits. My current insurance says CGM supplies are available either from the pharmacy or DME, but pump supplies are exclusively DME, so I now must find an in-network DME supplier that handles insulin pump supplies, and none of the local DME suppliers handle any insulin pump or other T1D supplies!”
  • “I like to pick it up and not wait for a supplier or mail-order pharmacy. I can get them earlier and not have to worry about delivery being delayed.”
  • “Medicare is the Grand Wizard with the magic wand who waves it every 30 days (I wish it were 90). Then, magically, the DME / CGM ‘s show up on the front step. Wow! I love magic.” 
  • “DME, but I don’t really have an option with my insurance.”
  • “My secondary insurance company requires that I use “in-network” Durable Medical Equipment (DME) companies to get my supplies. The only in-network companies that they deal with are Byram and Edgepark.”

 

 

 

How much of your total amount of insulin is your basal insulin?

Here are a few insightful comments from community members:

  • “I’m on MDI at about 60/40 Basal/Bolus. My dose is 11 units of Tresiba (basal) 1x per day, 8-9 units of Humalog per day split between breakfast & dinner (based on carbs that will be consumed, but my diet varies very little). I typically eat a very low-carb lunch- green veggies or salad, so I don’t need to eat a bolus before lunch. I’m 90% in range on my CGM, and my A1c is typically around 6.3. Diagnosed T1D 51 years ago and going strong!”
  • “The answer differs vastly depending on your diet. I’m on a very low-carb diet—about 20 carbs/day—and average 75%-80% basal. After having read Gary Taubes’ latest book, “Rethinking Diabetes,” what I’ve learned is that the 50-50 ratio promoted by the ADA is based on a diet relatively high in carbs, as is most standard clinical advice, advice based on the assumption that diabetics will eat the relatively high-carb diet promulgated by the ADA.”
  • “Years ago, my Endocrinologist talked about obtaining a 50/50 bolus/basal ratio. It has fluctuated over the years. But I’ve always, or mostly, been around 30% basal/ 70% bolus. Currently, I am 32% basal and 68% bolus. I wonder if it is because I’ve always eaten high-carb diets (fruits, vegetables, breads).”
  • “All I know is I feel better when I’m not jacking myself up with a large bolus. My basal levels may be higher, but my blood glucose goes down slowly over two hours after eating.” 
  • “The standard line for decades was that it “should” be 50/50. I used to get that from various endos without there ever being a good explanation. AFAICT just decided that since it was something you could have a statistic for, with the advent of basal/bolus MDI as well as pumps that can keep track. I figure if your time in range is good, these rule-of-thumb kinds of things are meaningless.”

Thank you to every member of the T1D Exchange Online Community for sharing your experiences. Your words inspire others who come to this community to know they’re not alone. We appreciate your voice in our community.    

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