Dr Ashley Ng

I was never overly keen on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) because I didn’t think I would need or use it. My hypos are few as my pancreas is still chugging along albeit rather wonkily. I had been functioning fine before a CGM, so I didn’t see how it would change my life…

…or so I thought!

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) measures your blood glucose levels every five minutes. This allows the user to see a graph or trend of what their levels may be throughout the day, through different activities and various foods. CGM also alerts you if your blood glucose levels are going too high or falling too low too quickly or if you have hit your high or low threshold. This is particularly life-saving for those who do not feel their blood glucose levels going low, aka hypo unawareness. Sadly it is an option that is currently too expensive to maintain for many.

Over the last week I have been happily trialling a Dexcom with my free sensor that came with my pump. My diabetes clinic was kind enough to let me borrow a transmitter so I could use my sensor. I was due to return the transmitter just after the usual week-long period. So I was determined to get it going for as long as I could.

But by day 6, the patch around the sensor was starting to peel off. Probably due to all the intense sessions at the gym to see its effects on my BGLs. It seemed like no amount of medical tape could hold it down and pushing the almost-dangling sensor back into my skin caused more pain than necessary. So out it came. I was devastated.

I loved being able to see trends on my blood glucose levels after new meals and be able to correct for any highs before they got too nasty. I loved being able to check my BGL trend before I started the gym rather than testing before heading to the gym and at the gym before, during and after my exercise. This before-diagnosis convenience was something I had forgotten but definitely missed!

Adjusting to life without a CGM is kinda sad. However, it was a wonderful luxury to have been able to trial this fancy diabetes technology at all. I’ll just keep waiting for money to grow on trees or win the tattslotto (although a bit hard if I don’t buy!) before I will be reunited with Dexy.