Technology

Hey y’all!

I’m trying to post more since it’s Diabetes Awareness Month, but the occupational hazard of blogging more frequently is that I almost immediately run out of things to talk about. (Sigh.) So today’s post is going to be something a little different!  I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the different types of technology that I use to manage my condition.  This post is gonna cover the basic types, and I’ll also include my thoughts about why I’ve chosen the ones that I have.  Here goes!

Blood glucose monitors:
Obviously, the ability to monitor bg levels is one of the most crucial things that a PWD needs to survive.  Thanks to recent advances in tech, the options for glucose management have expanded a lot in recent years.  There are two main types of monitors: CGMs and manual glucometers.
Glucometers
For the first 6 years after my diagnosis, I relied on a manual glucometer to check my bg.  There’s several different brands, but they’re all pretty much interchangeable.  A glucometer kit consists of a lancet (which is used to prick the pad of the finger and draw blood), a container of test strips (where you place a drop of blood), and the meter itself (which reads the blood on the test strip and provides a number).  Glucometers are fairly reliable, but limited in their inability to show trends or predict where bg is heading.  They’re also pretty painful; I still have scars on my fingertips from years of drawing blood 10 times every day.
CGMs
I got my first CGM when I was 15 years old, and it completely changed my life.  A CGM, or Continuous Glucose Monitor, is a device worn on the body that sends bg readings to a phone or other receiver.  The CGM consists of a wire under the skin (the sensor) connected to a small plastic piece attached to the skin (the transmitter).  Mine, the Dexcom g6, provides readings every 5 minutes and also gives an arrow that shows which way my bg is going.  There are a few other brands, including Medtronic and Freestyle Libre, but most PWD that I know use Dexcom because it’s reliable, lasts a long time (I change the sensor every 10 days) and relatively easy to insert.

Insulin delivery methods:
Lots of PWD have different opinions about the best insulin systems.  There’s two main categories, but the options within those categories vary pretty widely.
MDIs
I’ve been on MDIs, or Multiple Daily Injections, since my diagnosis.  This means that I give myself an injection whenever I need insulin (either for food or high bg).  People who use MDIs can take their injection with either a pen or a syringe; I use syringes because the needle is smaller, but some folks prefer the convenience and safety of a pen.  MDIs are painful, but they work well for PWD who don’t want to wear a pump.
Pumps
There’s a whole bunch of different types of insulin pumps, but the basic operation is the same for all of them.  Similar to a CGM, pumps are worn 24/7, connected to the body through a narrow cannula.  The most popular pump brands include Medtronic, Tandem, and Omnipod—Omni is the only one that doesn’t have tubes; it’s a self-contained device, which is appealing to PWD who are involved in sports.  Pump sites are typically changed every 3 days.

I’ve been asked countless times why I make the choices I make in terms of which tech I use to manage my condition.  That’s a complicated question and, quite honestly, there’s no easy answer!  Every PWD chooses their devices for personal reasons.
In my case, I made the choice to switch to Dex because managing my blood sugar manually during the tennis season was super difficult.  Other folks might choose to switch because of high a1c levels, lifestyle factors, or even just because they’re tired of finger-pricks!
Y’all know I’m in the relative minority of PWD who choose not to wear a pump.  I have no doubt that I’ll get one someday.  But for now, the only one that appeals to me is the Omnipod, because I hate the idea of having tubes tethering me to a device.  Until the Omnipod is available for use in a closed-loop system, where the pump and CGM communicate and deliver insulin automatically... until then, it just isn’t worth it for me to have another device attached to me.

Bottom line: there are so many awesome tools that allow PWD to manage our condition in the way that works best for us.  Our tech is a personal choice and it’s undeniably a part of who we are.