Diabetes Musings

Two Weeks of Continuous Glucose Data

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My FreeStyle Libre adventure came to an end last Thursday. Fortunately, Abbott supplied me with two sensors (plus the reader) free of charge, meaning I have a second one sitting on my shelf at home. I’ve been watching some of the other bloggers in attendance at Diabetes Exchange who have already moved on to their second sensor without hesitation. However, I don’t feel quite ready to use mine just yet.

I should stress that this is not a bad reflection on the FreeStyle Libre itself. This could easily apply to any device that produces continuous glucose data. This is a very individual feeling after having access to this kind of data for the very first time in my life. Of course, your diabetes may vary. 

The FreeStyle Libre was one of the first major pieces of diabetes tech that I’ve used. Up until recently, I’ve only ever used finger sticks and insulin injections. I’ve never before had access to such detailed data, nor has it been so convenient and easy to obtain.

Traditional glucose monitoring has become second nature to me. I use a significant number of test strips throughout the day in order to evaluate my pre meal, post meal and overnight glucose levels. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m struggling with my diabetes. It’s just another tool that works really well for me in managing my diabetes throughout the day, and gives me significant peace of mind.

As you could imagine, I entered my FreeStyle Libre adventure with great enthusiasm. My reader was attached to me for the better part of two weeks. I carried it around with me in my track pant pockets at home. It lay with the remotes while I was sitting in front of the television, within easy reach. It sat in my shirt pocket at work. And I carried it in my jacket pockets when I went out.

The data was so convenient and easy to access. A simple scan, and I was able to see where my glucose levels were sitting. If I was curious again in 5 minutes time, I could easily do so again. I didn’t even have to contemplate getting up from the couch to do so. The appearance of trend arrows, and I could easily see what direction my glucose levels were headed, and if I needed to act on it.

In two short weeks, I formed quite an attachment to my Libre. For the better part, I relied on it as an indication of my glucose data. However towards the end of my 14 day adventure, scanning definitely became a bit of a compulsion. Data did start to feel like a weight on my shoulders.

My family suggested that perhaps I was only scanning so often because this was an exciting new product that I was trying to get the most out of. If I used it regularly, perhaps I wouldn’t. I was also starting out on insulin pump therapy at the time, and using the data to evaluate my insulin delivery settings on the pump.

Going back to finger sticks has felt quite freeing these past few days. I’m back to testing glucose levels at my set times – before meals, 2 hours after meals, 4 hours after meals, at bedtime and once during the night. I’m not tempted to over test, and I don’t feel so overwhelmed with data.


The Libre was a wonderful experience. I loved that it was so discreet, lightweight and convenient to use. This is actually something that I see myself using from time to time, unlike a CGM. Definitely for my next holiday. It was extremely insightful in fine tuning my insulin pump settings, and I’ll be putting my next sensor to good use in that department, too.

I just don’t feel that I’m the kind of person who could handle continuous glucose data all the time. Perhaps my opinion and needs will change with time and more experience in this arena. But for now, I feel I need to put some more distance behind me before I feel ready to insert my second sensor.

Diabetes As An Election Pawn

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The Australian government recently pledged $54 million towards subsidising Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology in children under the age of 21 if re-elected this year.

While I am happy for the children and young families who may see benefit from this technology, I also felt rather saddened that I would be left out. It was difficult to digest comments from Health Minister Sussan Ley that seemed to imply that glucose monitoring issues were only pertinent to young people.

I do sympathise with young children and their families. I’ve often acknowledged that diabetes may be more challenging in an adolescent context. However, my time in the Diabetes Online Community has taught me that everyone’s diabetes is different. People are diagnosed with type 1 at all different stages in their lives. Each person’s experiences are unique. Each person’s experiences are equally challenging.

It shouldn’t be a case of who needs it more than the other. I shouldn’t have to justify my need for a CGM over a child’s. Or a teenager’s. Or a person older than me. We shouldn’t be at war with each other, when we are all walking the same path.

I’ve been using the FreeStyle Libre for two weeks (Abbott supplied me with a reader and two sensors free of charge), which is the closest I’ll ever get to having a CGM. The data, and the insight it supplies me with is amazing. Not having to prick my sore fingers is nothing short of amazing. Yet the cost puts this technology out of reach should I wish to use it. I’m a young adult on a less than spectacular wage, and I can think of a million other things I’d rather put my money towards.

I do tip my hat to Diabetes Australia and JDRF Australia, who, among others, have lobbied tirelessly with the government in search of this outcome over the years. I might also add that Diabetes Australia’s submission to the federal government did not have an age limit. The submission was based on clinical need, including cases such as pregnant women with diabetes and those with impaired hypo awareness, among other categories.

While many saw this as a cause for celebration, I still digest it with a grain of salt. This pledge has been conveniently made ahead of a federal election in Australia, even though Australians have been lobbying for several years without a lot of progress. As with any promise that is made, it can just as easily be broken.

But it is, however, a start.

You can read all the details here, and Diabetes Australia’s media release here.

The Healthcare Experience

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It’s Day 4 of Diabetes Blog Week, and so far I’ve managed to make my way through all of Monday and Tuesday’s posts, and comment on a fair chunk of them. Today it’s time to tackle the topic I’m most excited about. Here is today’s prompt:

Most people who live with a chronic illness end up with a lot of experience when it comes to dealing with healthcare. How would you improve or change your healthcare experience? What would you like to see happening during medical visits with your healthcare team? How about when dealing with your health insurance companies? What’s your Healthcare Wish List or Biggest Frustration? Today is the day to share it all!

I’m pretty grateful that I live with diabetes in Australia. I attend a diabetes clinic in a public hospital which is completely free of charge, and hooks me up with any related service I need. Private Health Insurance covers hospital care, and the cost of my brand new $9,000 insulin pump (posts to come next week). Diabetes consumables and insulin are heavily subsidised by the Australian government. All in all, I never need to worry about how I will make ends meet with diabetes here in Australia.


My biggest frustration, however, is that I feel my healthcare professionals don’t often have enough time for me. I was diagnosed as a young adult, which meant that getting a grasp on diabetes education and self management was a lot easier. I was quickly weaned off diabetes education as soon as I could manage on my own. My clinic has a long patient list and waiting times for appointments can often span months. My chart probably looks a lot better compared to most of the other patients in the clinic, which means I am pushed out of the endocrinologist’s office as quickly as possible.

But what about if I’m not happy? What if I don’t want to settle for satisfactory? What if I want to do better with my diabetes? What if I have the potential to do better?

Over the past year or so, I’ve really had to learn to stand up for myself and what I want from my healthcare team. During a time of burnout last year, I had to ring up and chase appointment cancellation slots down at the clinic. I had to do the research, attend the information evenings and tell my diabetes educator that I wanted to go onto an insulin pump. I had to make my goal clear in front of my healthcare team, one that was beyond the “satisfactory” point where I was at.

Nobody else was going to help me, even if there was a benefit to my health. There is simply no time for me in a busy diabetes clinic with a high volume of patients. It’s great that I am a “switched on” patient, but the sad reality is that not every person with diabetes is. Not every person is in a place where they are able to speak up for what they want. It can be hard just to accept and become comfortable with this condition, alone.

One person I would like to praise is my diabetes educator. I know that she is under the pump. Yesterday, she told me that she is under pressure to cut one hour education sessions down to 30 minutes. Yet she always makes herself available to me outside of appointments by both phone and e-mail.

I’m still in uncertain territory at the moment with the insulin pump. I’m testing my basal insulin rates overnight, and checking to see whether they keep my glucose levels steady or not. Being able to talk the adjustments through with Gwen over the phone and by e-mail these past few days is a big relief. I haven’t leaned on this kind of support as much in the past, but I know that I intend on doing so in the next few months.

Technology is also amazing. When I was first diagnosed six years ago, I was given a meter and a logbook. Today I have meters that log my blood sugar levels and calculate my insulin doses. I have devices like the Insulinx and the FreeStyle Libre which are computer friendly. I am using the amazing Diasend software, that allows me to upload the data from my insulin pump, glucose meter and FreeStyle Libre into one place. Gwen can instantly see the reports on the other end.

My biggest takeaway here, is to stand up for what you want. Don’t be afraid to lean on your healthcare team, but also the people around you who can encourage you to do so. Your health is so worth it.

To read other posts related to today’s prompt, click here.

Message Monday: Everyone’s Diabetes Is Different

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Today kicks off the Seventh Diabetes Blog Week, an annual event in the diabetes online community from Karen at BitterSweet Diabetes. Here is today’s prompt:

Lets kick off the week by talking about why we are here, in the diabetes blog space. What is the most important diabetes awareness message to you? Why is that message important for you, and what are you trying to accomplish by sharing it on your blog?

I began writing this little blog of mine almost a year and a half ago. I knew very little about diabetes, or what was going on out there in the diabetes community at the time. I wasn’t a very “switched on” patient. I used to shy away from my diabetes a lot. I can’t even say that I was very interested.

It’s been quite a journey for me, writing this blog. As Georgie pointed out last week, I look back at some of my old posts and I see how much my attitude towards my diabetes has developed. I am so much more passionate about diabetes today. I am so much more motivated to do better. I know exactly what I want from my diabetes team, and I fight for it. I’m getting started on an insulin pump today, and I can’t imagine that I would have had the courage or motivation to do it if I weren’t a part of this community.

I am here in the diabetes blog space, because it is something that genuinely interests me. Writing this blog has helped me enormously in dealing with my own diabetes. Sometimes it’s there as a way to express what’s on my mind. Other times it’s there simply as a way to get my point of view out there when I see something I don’t agree with. Blogging keeps me grounded and focussed in my efforts with my own diabetes.

Last week, I had the privilege of spending 2 days with a group of Australian diabetes bloggers at Abbott’s Diabetes Exchange event in Sydney. Disclosures can be found here.

We all came from different areas of the country. We were all diagnosed at varying points in our respective lives. Some people had decades of diabetes experience, while others had only a couple of years. Some people used insulin pumps, others were on injections, and one used an inhaled form of insulin. Some people worked in the diabetes space, while others were simply consumer advocates. Some knew each other in real life, while others were meeting for the first time. Some people selected the toast and the muesli that was served at the breakfast buffet, while others opted for the fruit and the eggs.

Even though all of us in the room had diabetes, we were all different. We all had different opinions. We all employed different tools and methods in order to manage our diabetes. We all added different issues to the conversation that reflected what we each felt most strongly about.

Yet we were all able to sit in the room together for 2 days without murdering each other. We were all able to engage in a healthy conversation. We were able to contribute our different points of view, while listening and being respectful of others who might have a different one. We were able to sit together at the dinner table on Thursday night until the lights were switched out and the hotel staff had closed up for the night. We were able to prepare and share a meal together at the Sydney Fish Market on Friday afternoon. We were able to Tweet at each other throughout the conference, even though we were literally sitting next to each other.

No two people’s diabetes are the same. The way I manage my diabetes is not necessarily any more correct than the way in which you manage yours. I try my best to be mindful of this as I write here, and in the way that I conduct myself online.

If the Diabetes Exchange event in Sydney last week was anything to go by, I believe that we can each manage our own diabetes, while being friends at the same time.


To read other posts related to today’s prompt, click here.

Side note: Thank you to Hannah and Laura for putting together a fantastic blogger event in Sydney last week. Thank you to the Abbott team for your hospitality and for the privilege of allowing me to be a part of the Diabetes Exchange program. And to the bloggers, it was an honour to meet you all in person. 

Why Australians With Type 1 Have It Better

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Happy Friday!


I’m in Sydney today for day 2 of Abbott’s Diabetes Exchange event. I’m officially hooked up to the FreeStyle Libre, and I’ll post some observations here in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, you can follow along on Twitter using #DX2Sydney and on my Facebook page here.

Second order of business: I recently wrote a column for Insulin Nation, in response to the ongoing health insurance stories coming out of the US. It’s titled Australians With Type 1 Have an Easier Time With Health Insurance, and you can read it here.

Finally, Diabetes Blog Week kicks off on Monday. I had a great time participating last year, and there’s just such a great sense of community about it. If you’re thinking of starting a blog or adding your voice to our great community, it’s a great time to do so. Head over to bittersweetdiabetes.com to see what it’s all about and to sign up.

Have a great weekend!