Anonymous wrote:My friend has uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Her A1c is 8.5. she has an intellectual disability and is non compliant with meds and insulin. How can she get this? How does it work? Maybe eliminating one step of the regimen would make it seem easier to administer insulin and make healthier food choices. She is in the hospital now with complications from a foot blister. We asked about an insulin pump and were told it is for people who comply with giving themselves insulin. How about the monitor? Are there restrictions on who can get it?

Anyone can get a monitor. It measures your blood sugar at various intervals and can let you know if you need insulin or are low on sugar. Your friend will still need to administer her insulin though based on the reading. But it is still helpful because it takes out the constant finger pricks.

My friend has uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Her A1c is 8.5. she has an intellectual disability and is non compliant with meds and insulin. How can she get this? How does it work? Maybe eliminating one step of the regimen would make it seem easier to administer insulin and make healthier food choices. She is in the hospital now with complications from a foot blister. We asked about an insulin pump and were told it is for people who comply with giving themselves insulin. How about the monitor? Are there restrictions on who can get it?

I learned that eating a banana by itself on an empty stomach spiked my blood sugar v. eating it with other food. Glucose Goddess talks about this.

Taking a walk after eating is helpful

The days that I had even blood sugar - I felt incredible!

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thought it worth reporting back after meeting with my doctor today to review the cgm’s data. Turns out I’m prediabetic. Yay!

I don’t drink much, I eat well and exercise often. I’ve got about 12 lbs to lose to get to my comfortable weight but nothing too excessive.

My next step is to start working with a dietitian to help try to improve things. But considering that I’m starting with pretty good habits, and my family history of type 2 diabetes, the doctor suggests prescription intervention if it doesn’t improve in a couple of months.

Glad I listened to my gut that things were off and gave the cgm a try.

This is good information. Hopefully you can avoid full blown diabetes, and meds.

To the snotty "Exhibit A" poster - this is precisely what can be done with a CGM for a non diabetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are you doing with that newly found insight?

Exhibit A ^^^

Not exhibit A. It's a valid question.

I just talked to my doctor today about my A1c and adding metformin to bring it down. I asked about CGM's and he noted that insurance companies generally don't cover them unless levels are in the "not well controlled" zone, above an a1c of about 8 (though some are starting to). Many find them helpful. It definitely was a game changer for my sister and I too am confused by the negativity here. It's a tool. And certainly for weight loss data suggests recording (food or macros or whatever you're monitoring) does improve outcomes.

OP, which cgm machine did you use?

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thought it worth reporting back after meeting with my doctor today to review the cgm’s data. Turns out I’m prediabetic. Yay!

I don’t drink much, I eat well and exercise often. I’ve got about 12 lbs to lose to get to my comfortable weight but nothing too excessive.

My next step is to start working with a dietitian to help try to improve things. But considering that I’m starting with pretty good habits, and my family history of type 2 diabetes, the doctor suggests prescription intervention if it doesn’t improve in a couple of months.

Glad I listened to my gut that things were off and gave the cgm a try.

What kind of prescription was suggested? Metformin?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are you doing with that newly found insight?

Exhibit A ^^^

Don’t be an idiot. It’s a legit question.

A longevity doctor I know does this for all of their patients who want to lose weight. It’s the first step - before and after - a mounjaro script. It’s supposedly key to long lasting weight loss.

I use them occasionally without a diagnosis of pre/diabetes. Here’s what I learned: I actually have pretty LOW blood sugar generally. And will get drops after breakfast. I also go really low overnight, but having a bedtime snack of almonds and an orange or cheese and crackers helps a lot - I would wake up overnight and not be able to go back to sleep. Those episodes were corresponding with really low BS.

I was feeling those lows, but not connecting the dots. Now I’m more careful about having carbs and protein with most meals. If dinner is too low carb or if it’s not substantial enough, I don’t sleep as well.

My child has a Type 1 and has been wearing a CHN for over 6 years.

The most helpful aspect, which is not applicable to most, is how her overnight numbers change with adjustments to basal insulin.

The second is to see what direction BG is going and rate of change. Libre has arrows to show if blood sugar is going up or down and additionally show rate of change.

This allows child to make decisions about what is the best thing to eat to avoid the straight down, dropping fast arrow. When blood sugar is dropping rapidly, people tend to feel ravenous, overeat and then it spikes back up. The yo-yo pattern is the worst.

You don’t really need a sensor to know an equal split of protein, fat, carbs yields the most stable numbers. Fiber plays a big role too. Fiber over a certain amount per serving has a negative net effect on the total carbs. I usually net out fiber at a rate of 50% when the amount per serving is over 5g. This gives the most stable results.

Too much, fat or fiber means super slow breakdown. If you are diabetic it might mean your fast acting insulin won’t work long enough to avoid a delayed spike.

Too many carbs without protein or fat any means BG goes up fast.

Lastly, you need to consider the amount and type of exercise in relationship to meals. Sometimes exercise can lead to a delayed drop in BG several hours later, after the rise in cortisol and adrenaline wears off.

My child was diagnosed with Type 1 almost 11 years ago. I have been at this for awhile, so just my 2 cents.

Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why you need a monitor to tell you that carbs will increase your blood sugar. That is how the body was made to work. Unless you are a diabetic needing insulin, wearing a monitor for "data" is just stupid. There is plenty of data to confirm to carbs increase blood sugar.

Why does everyone want to over complicate weight loss and think they are special snowflakes who need perfectly balanced blood sugar to lose weight? Actually, I can answer this- overly complicating weight loss and making people think they can't lose weight unless they make it complicated is something people can sell and make money from.

Jfc. I don’t know why I bothered posting the update. I have close family history of type 2 diabetes. Cgm showed my body is not responding to food the way it should. It’s not a simple of matter of “I ate carbs therefore my glucose rose.” The dietitian isn’t to lose weight. It’s to try to manage what’s going on without going on medication.

Not sure why you feel the need to be such an a55hat.

Not sure why you need a monitor to tell you that carbs will increase your blood sugar. That is how the body was made to work. Unless you are a diabetic needing insulin, wearing a monitor for "data" is just stupid. There is plenty of data to confirm to carbs increase blood sugar.

Why does everyone want to over complicate weight loss and think they are special snowflakes who need perfectly balanced blood sugar to lose weight? Actually, I can answer this- overly complicating weight loss and making people think they can't lose weight unless they make it complicated is something people can sell and make money from.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thought it worth reporting back after meeting with my doctor today to review the cgm’s data. Turns out I’m prediabetic. Yay!

I don’t drink much, I eat well and exercise often. I’ve got about 12 lbs to lose to get to my comfortable weight but nothing too excessive.

My next step is to start working with a dietitian to help try to improve things. But considering that I’m starting with pretty good habits, and my family history of type 2 diabetes, the doctor suggests prescription intervention if it doesn’t improve in a couple of months.

Glad I listened to my gut that things were off and gave the cgm a try.

Eh, probably 80% of people over 40 are prediabetic

Op here. Thought it worth reporting back after meeting with my doctor today to review the cgm’s data. Turns out I’m prediabetic. Yay!

I don’t drink much, I eat well and exercise often. I’ve got about 12 lbs to lose to get to my comfortable weight but nothing too excessive.

My next step is to start working with a dietitian to help try to improve things. But considering that I’m starting with pretty good habits, and my family history of type 2 diabetes, the doctor suggests prescription intervention if it doesn’t improve in a couple of months.

Glad I listened to my gut that things were off and gave the cgm a try.