Thank you so much for this!!! I have a newly diagnosed child and I've wanted to drive over his dexcom, lol. It's gotten better, but this video cemented all my thoughts. Thank you!
One of the best ways to avoid the inaccurate low readings that tend to happen during the first 12-24 hours of wearing a CGM is to insert a new sensor the day before your old one is about to expire. The next day when the old sensor expires, transfer the transmitter to the new sensor and start the sensor. Since that new sensor has been in your tissue for about 24 hours, the sensor should not have the inaccuracies of the first day. That has always worked for me and I have heard other people do this also. I am on Dexcom so not sure how the Libre sensor would work. I am wondering how the new Dexcom G7 will work however, as the G7 is supposed to start up as soon as it is inserted and will not need to be "started" as the G6 is started. I have heard that the new G7 will have better accuracy so I am hoping that those low readings will not happen on the first day as one cannot delay the sensor from actually starting by one day. Only time will tell.
Yes, great tip. I’ve also heard of others who have had success with that approach. G7 will have a 30 min warmup, and it might make sense to still do the “vetting”. We’ll have to experiment 🙂
TV commercials never say how many finger sticks those persons were doing a day before they started wearing a CGM, rarely say what their A1Cs were before and after, or indicate whether the person has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.They are almost always say paid endorsements. imo Celebrity sports endorsements are the worst, and only serve to indicate that they can wear a CGM and not have it interfere with their activities.
Since the CGM sensor is only supposed to e be worn for 10 days, does this method cause any anomalous reading on the last day before you remove it?Or does it maintain its level of accuracy right until the end?
Those were the same exact mistakes I was doing when I first got my Dexcom G6. I wanted to chuck it across the room with those annoying alarms lol. Thanks for the video!
Just started on G6. The big mistake I made was pressing to hard when I pressed the button and of course bled bad. Press hard when getting it to stick but lighten the pressure when you press button. Should just be holding lightly against skin at that point.
This could be a good tip to use. I had a big bleed the last time I inserted my G6 sensor. Total waste of sensor as it has to be removed in order to stem the blood flow. Now I'm once bitten, twice shy as I haven't inserted a new sensor for 3 days now, just relying on finger stick tests.
Thank you so much for the information. I am on my first Dexcom7 sensor and yes I have been scared when my reading was too low but my meter was right. I rely on my meter more than the senior. Thanks again
T1/LADA diabetic here. I've had my Dexcom G6 since March 2020 and it's been an absolute miracle in getting me to better control of my blood sugars! I have gone through these mistakes, thus learned the hard way what happens and how to not do these mistakes anymore. I don't bolus/take fast-acting insulin as I'm doing great with long-acting alone, but I did go through the roller-coaster of the high/low when I was on fast-acting. I always tell new CGM users to double check highs/lows via finger stick so you're treating your blood sugars accurately, and stopping to think and assess that situation before treatment. I've found my Dexcom has helped me better understand and become aware of my lows, via physical symptoms, and how accurately it can alert me to check and correct. It also helped me discover I have severe insulin resistance due to how my blood sugars reacted to coffee and my CGM would go nuts for very high blood sugars! Thanks for posting your videos and helping other diabetics! Sharing your experiences is a gift!
Thank you so much, Ive been T1 for 56 years and I just started the omnipod and dexcom 6. Ive been on Medtronic for years I do like the set up but getting used to the dexcom can be tricky as all pump equipment 😊 so I thank you!
Thanks for the advice. I had a low sugar on my dexcom. I did a fingerstick. It wasn't90 but 174. So I calibrated. Then it was152. I'm glad I thought out my decision.
I have learned so much about dexcom 7 from your videos especially the first 24 hours. dexcom finally told me no changes the first 24 hours, if inaccurate that you should do 3 calibrations 15 min . apart to bring it on line properly. seems to work.
Thank you for sharing, my little girl 10 yrs old was recently diagnosed with type1 diabetes and this is all new to us. I have learnt alot from this video. Thank you. Regards Annie from the UK 🇬🇧.
Thank you so much. I'm T2D and considering a CGM so I can be more aware of what my food intake does to my blood glucose. I have been successful in staying off meds for the last 11 years but now my diet isn't the best and I need to smarten up! I believe the CGM will really help me!
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I am new to insulin and dexcom 6, about 6 months now. I have already made all the "mistakes" you just highlighted in your video. I am learning but there's so much to learn. Your videos have been very helpful and informative. I am 60 and you know what they say about old dogs, lol
Thank you so much for this advice! We have been chasing high blood sugars because we treat the low messages right away, we are going to try your advice, I believe this will help.
Good information. And it also applies to the dexcom g7. I have been using the g7 since December 2023. And i did many of the things you said. Like i said, great video.
Your videos have been very helpful. Just started on my 2nd sensor, so only using 11 days. I have checked my CBG when I thought the sensor was wrong but then stopped doing the CBGs thinking I should just use the dexcom. Watching your videos the last 2 days, you have taught me so much! I'm a type 2 for 18 years and everyone should realize there are always new tricks to learn!
Thanks, again for your videos. I love the G7 and it's definitely worth an immediately upgrade from G6. My Medicare insurance paid for 100% and 3 months of supplies. My local pharmacy filled it versus Duramed who I had to call monthly precisely on the 23rd and if I was 1 day early I was told to call back the next day. Though I loaded the app on my Apple 14 plus I love the new G7 receiver. It's light as a feather and very small. I'm not joined at the hip to my Samsung Fold 2 or my new Apple. I've had cellphones since '82 and not married to it versus my wife of 50 years. My wife watched your videos too and loved them. You're cute, funny, and very informative! Kudos.
Thank you for this!! These are the types of tips that neither my endocrinologist nor my diabetes nurse educator have given me. Your Number 1 tip is excellent as well as your "think it through" guidance. I find the television commercials for the Dexcom G6 to be quite misleading as the people featured make a big point in their mini-testimonials that they no longer need finger sticks from their blood glucose meters. Perhaps the tiny, tiny, tiny wording shown at the bottom of the television screen which appears for about two seconds suggests people still need to double-check their glucose levels with finger sticks when prudent to do so. I find the G6 very useful in controlling my glucose levels, but still don't trust it, especially in those first 24 hours when readings can get quite goofy. This is one of the reasons I hesitate to consider an insulin pump, especially one that works in tandem with the G6. Again, thank you for this important video. Please keep up the good work.
Thank you and you’re welcome. We can learn so much from each other and I appreciate all the comments on my videos. I understand the pump hesitation, we can of course turn off the Tandem IQ functionality until the sensor has stabilized, but using that functionality does require a lot of trust
@@DiabetesStrong Thanks Christel. You hit the nail on the head. This indeed requires a lot of TRUST with the G6. It reminds me of President Ronald Reagan's famous expression when negotiating nuclear weapons reduction with the Soviets in the 1980's. He said "Trust, but verify." Good advice in general and applicable to glucose readings. With occasional well-off-the mark G6 readings in the first 24 hours of insertion and beyond, I keep one trusted glucose blood meter at home and another one in my car, each my as-needed back-up and verification tools. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.
My PCP and endocrinologist seem competent enough but I often get the feeling that my doctors have no real feeling what it's like to live with the daily uncertainties of type 1 diabetes. "You need to get your A1C down and get more exercise" is not a prescription; it's a general platitude. Everything that I've ever done to improve the management of my disease I have initiated and worked out the details myself. BGM, MDI, multiple insulins - all are things I started doing out of pocket before my doctor's understood these were "things". I had to ask for my first A1C test. I read clinical trial reports, tech journals covering noninvasive sensors engineering trials, and the 2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support - before my doctor's are aware they exist. All that "book learning" is of limited value without specific guidance how to apply it. I'm fortunate that TH-cam exists and that there are many persons with diabetes, CGM and pump users from around the world, sharing their experience through TH-cam and forums, not influenced as paid endorsers, and not constricted by professional guidelines and what the FDA has authorized. I learned more about the real practical aspects of CGMs and pumps in 2 weeks online, identifying their common problems and insights than I could have learned on my own in 2 years, or ever learned from my doctor's or the makers of the equipment . I know that I was very fortunate to meet a diabetes educator who has had type one diabetes since she was a teenager and been wearing pump for more than 10 years and using a CGM for a few. If not for meeting them, I wouldn't have opened my mind about updating my management tools. I wouldn't be wearing a CGM now and wouldn't be getting a pump. But even they are limited in what they know and they believe they are allowed to tell me. They want to "stick by the book". I want to be doing what new books are written about.
@@psdaengr911 that’s a great comment. And I’m very much onboard, my endo is amazing, but most of my daily practices I’ve deduced myself but reading (a lot) and a lot of trial and error
Thank you for this, I'm going to share this with my in-law who sometimes watches our T1D toddler. She has a harder time adjusting to waiting for levels to regulate after doses or after low snacks. Like you mentioned when you first started, you'd react right away to changes with highs or lows, she also does that. I also like to not just look at numbers or the arrows, but the trend on the graph. Like, it might show an up/down or diagonal arrow, but the trend on the graph says something else and it takes time for the dexcom to catch up to what's actually happening. We try to explain this stuff to her, but sometimes it's harder hearing info from relatives than from experienced strangers. :) Appreciate you!
I've been using Dexcom CGM for about a year and before that I used the Freestyle Libre System for a couple of years and I consider this to be good advice particularly about starting a new sensor when your glucose level is relatively stable and also about taking the readings with a grain of salt for the first 24 hours.
Great info. I use the other system but same info applies. Starting a new sensor when BS is stable and not after a meal is something I never thought about but will now keep in mind. Just thinking through the situation in terms of timing of insulin and food intake and not knee jerking a response to an abnormal reading is very important. These systems are a great aid but not replacements for finger sticks and experience in interpreting results.
I ve been a diabetic for 31 years. I've was using g the Libre but have switched over to the G5 Dexcom reciently. I have to say I love it. ❤️ the sensor is a little bigger than the Libre but I find it sticks WAY better than the Libre. Love the notifications when high and low. (Especially low due to I can not feel when I'm dropping any more.) The only thing that I do not like is that I need to carry another machine to test my glucose readings. Wish it was all on the machine it self. (I can not carry my phone at work) other than that the G5 is amazing so far. 😁
Thank you for this video. I'm new to dexcom G6. My sugars are all over the place. I really hate being woken up at night with alarms. Too high or too low. I'm going to insert the sensor during the day 2 hrs. before I eat lunch.
Thanks for the info. I have been on the Dexcom G6 for at least 5 years. You learn things all the time. I like the thinking it thru thought. Very good advise,
This was super helpful.. I just got mine a few days ago and to be honest I wanted to rip it out and toss the whole system. Right now I have two sensors in right now, the dexcom and libre 2. The first two nights I was checking both and getting crazy differences in numbers. I didn't know which one to trust, I went through that roller coaster of chasing my highs and lows with food or insulin for 2 nights now and I haven't got a wink of sleep between the two meters beeping at me. Your advice is well appreciated and I hope it will help me get over the learning phase with this system. Thank you.
Thanks for your video, I just started on the dexcom 7 five days ago and was about to throw it out the window after one night. It kept alarming high and low no matter what I do. I wasn't quite understanding how to use my dexcom to the fullest. But after reading and watching your video it has help me a lot. already I was able to sleep on the third night without turning off any of my alarm.and found it work well with me doing everything with more understanding.Thanks very much
I wish I hadhad watched this video earlier. Last night I changed my CGM at 9 PM and it woke me up three times for low blood sugar and each time I checked my blood glucose it was in the normal range. So I slept on the four hours last night and I have been very sleepy all day. Thank you so much for sharing this invaluable lesson.
Your comments about the fast acting insulin timelines I started to finally be able to truly understand now that I've got this set. Thank you for verifying that my questioning something as trivial as this IS an important step and that I am seeing things in a properly formed line myself, "thinking it through", as you call it. This makes me feel better that I am asking the right questions. Thank you very much.
You’re so welcome. Yes! Always ask questions. The better we understand this condition the easier it becomes to see the path to how we each best manage it
Thank you so much for putting this out. I'm new to the Dexcom G6 - have only been using it now for a week. Your tips are invaluable. It also is extremely helpful to read the other comments. The one about inserting a new sensor the day before the old one expires, I think will be a goto procedure moving forward. My first impression of the unit was good, however after getting sensor errors , wild readings and having to change out the sensor 3 days early. Makes complete trust an issue. The way you explained how the sensor works with the fluid, and lags the blood makes perfect sense, and it is something that I saw when double checking readings with my old meter. Thanks again !
Awesome!!! Glad this made sense and that both the video and comments were helpful. But yes, total trust issues. My current sensor has been way off more than once these last 10 days so I’ve been doing a lot of finger sticks. It’s frustrating because I know that lack of trust will carry over to the next sensor. But still wouldn’t want to be without it
I definitely used a separate meter often when I was on the G5 for calibration. Being on the G6 and soon switching to the G7, I rarely use a separate meter. I'm not suggesting that others shouldn't. I've been able to keep my A1c in the mid-5s with plus 85% time in range over 3yrs now, though.
I have the G7 and for the first few days I checked with a separate meter to compare accuracy. The G7 is very accurate and I barely use my other glucose meters. My A12 is also in the 5’s
Was given a Dexcom by the VA...the first couple of weeks were crazy because no one explained that the transmitter last for 30 days and sensor only 10 days. Had accidentally gone through a couple of sensors and transmitters. But I research videos such as this one and read up more about the Dexcom, I can agree with some of what was said here.
Hi, I was given the run around from the start. First my provider recommended Dexcom. The pharmacist disapproved and suggested I be started with the Libre CGM. I then had to have an appointment with a Dr. in the Diabetes Department who recommended and Dexcom. Once again the Pharmacist disapproved and suggest the Libre. I was then advised that I had to attend a Diabetes Education Class before being approved for the Libre. After attending the class I then had to wait another week before the sensor for the Libre was mailed to me. I told the Pharmacy that my iPhone had an IOS of 16.6.1 and the Libre was not comparable. I then called Abbot Industries and was told that I could load the Libre App on my phone but their would be certain portions of the Libre CGM that would not work properly. I put the sensor on and this was 6 days ago. Needless to say I have been on a roller coaster for the past 6 days. High alarms at night and then all the way down to 61 at night. Had my bags packed and was getting ready to go to the hospital. I then remembered about the Glucose tablets. Took 4 the first night. That ran the numbers up to the high 240s. Same thing happened last night and had to take 12 glucose tablets through out the night. Up and down, Up and down. This morning I sent a message to my Provider at the Naval Hospital to see if he could get me a Dexcom G7 Kit. I am waiting for the results now. I am almost ready to give the Libre sensors that I have back to the VA. Terrible experience. Glad to hear you had no dazzles. Wish me Luck.@@devildogcrewchief3335
You've taught me a lot. I was a blood sugar chaser when I first got this CGM. It made no sence to me. My A1C has been 6.0 for a while now. All of a sudden the fluxuaction made me feel like I was out of control. Your vudeo makes everythimg make sence. Thanks so very much for what you do.
Thanks for all your help! I had a compression low and because I didn't know what it was I start glugging down sugary creamer. S learning from you what was actually happening was valuable beyond Valuable!!
I'm different. Type 1 Diabetic here. I'm on a Tandem T Slim X2 Insulin pump with Control IQ via the G6 and I have a number of things I do differently that have worked for me quite well for the most part. I've been using the G6 since it came out in 2018. First, I heavily rely on the Dexcom readings, including within the first 24 hours and when my BG numbers fluctuate, in most situations. Because of that, I barely ever use finger sticks. Would I recommend it for everyone? No. But, it works well for me. The main thing I'd say regarding relying on just the CGM data is it depends on what type of Insulin you use and how often you are using it. Since I'm on a pump with Humalog which is pretty mild in how it is absorbed into the body, I don't see any massive drops in BG that might cause me to want to react quickly. I'd say if you were going to rely mostly on the CGM readings, I would only recommend it if you're on a Pump. Second, I still have the habit of reacting to my surges and my lows, although more-so surges. Due to this, I do have the occasional low spells that either get suspended and prevented from being bad with my Pump's Control IQ setting, or a short low that eventually goes away as the food and other variables in my body react. However, the overall % of lows isn't too insane and I mostly don't have the rollercoaster effect too often unless I'm having relatively high carb meals that tend to be less healthy and react in odd ways to my BG. My A1C is 5.6% and had been 5.8% for many years and within great range since shortly after diagnosis. Third, you need to give yourself time to learn how food affects your BG by keeping an eye on trends with your CGM. Everyone's body is different and one person may have a totally different reaction to meals compared to others, and with that comes more or less variability in their numbers throughout the day. The variability is where the problems happen and if you're on a pump at least, you can fine tune your ratios (carb ratio, correction factor, etc.) to reduce that variability immensely and that should lead to a smoother CGM usage scenario in the long run. The main thing I focused on was building up my understanding of how different foods affected my BG and then that helped me build up trust in the CGM values themselves until I got to a point where I could pretty much anticipate and understand every variation in my numbers with the CGM and make up for any gaps that may be there. What I've noticed is the less often you calibrate your CGM, the less often you -need- to keep calibrating it. It's meant to be factory calibrated once you receive it, so it theoretically doesn't require (many) manual calibrations. I've very rarely had to calibrate mine at all and its worked great and the values I've seen have pretty much always represented the values that I've gotten from my glucometer. Lastly, I need to emphasize insertion location. I used to have a lot more variability and also sensor failure incidents when I used my G6 in my stomach region as they recommend. Once I switched to Arm insertion, my sensors all last me 10 full days with zero issues the entire 10-day period. I also notice that the CGM glucose readings are overall more consistent as well because the sensor isn't moving around within my body too much, and I did have one time when I used to insert into the stomach where Dexcom was able to pinpoint that my sensor failed because of body tissue in my stomach blocking the signal. It basically got moved around so much with regular movement of the body to a point where it damaged the signal to the sensor and caused a failure. (This was very early in the release of the G6 when they actually used to give very precise details of why a failure happened. They stopped doing this like a month or two after release of the G6, I noticed.) Overall, I am really looking forward to the G7 as it is made for Arm usage and is so much smaller than the big and clunky G6, which is already so much smaller and thinner than the G5. Now, for Type 2 Diabetics, I think there is a lot to gain from using a Dexcom CGM. Why? Connected bluetooth smart pens. If you have to inject some insulin daily for your meals, some pens nowadays actually integrate directly with the Dexcom CGM and it can make finding the right treatment plan for you so much easier. The connected pen space is only going to grow quicker and quicker as time goes on. Also, just having the CGM readings as a T2D will help with figuring out trends and understanding how food affects you. That's the most valuable thing I've gotten from the Dexcom CGM myself even as a T1D - understanding how different food affects me so I can make the right treatment decisions for my own needs. Good luck out there and thanks for this informative video!
Hi, I just have a question for you regarding arm insertion. I always found outer arm (or inner arm, for that matter) w the medtronic G3 to be a good spot, but I’m having trouble w pump not being able to read the sensor, even though it’s only on my waist band (on the same side as the arm where sensor is inserted). Do you have any suggestions on this? Thanks, your tips are great & I’m finding this channel to be fantastic. I like how T1s seem to stick together (we have to, right?) - 41 years for me & I’ve always been a fan of ‘aggressive treatment’, hence the closed loop system - the second one for me. I ‘put all my eggs in this basket’, so to speak, expecting the Tandem system to be great but I’m having a lot of trouble these first few weeks.
@@robin31165 Sorry for the late reply. Sory to hear you're having trouble with the arm insertion. It sounds to me like you may be inserting in some muscle, possibly. The place I put it is a couple inches below the shoulder on the fatty side of the underpart of the arm. So, looking in a mirror, I just look for that area and make sure it is fatty and insert it. It usually has no issues, but what I also do is I have it connected to both my phone and my pump. Occasionally, it will very briefly have an issue with signal loss for a second, but that isn't often nor lasts long. And if it happens, my phone usually still has signal. Are you finding that your sensors are failing, or just having some signal issue occasionally?
@@TheHanStudios firstly, absolutely, no reason to apologize - I certainly wouldn’t call this a late reply! With my arm, the problem I was that having was losing signal when the sensor was on my upper arm (pretty much in the fatty part) & my pump was in on my waist (on the same side). Yesterday I put it in my thigh, for the first time ever & so far it’s working out really well, but I will keep in mind interior part of my arm, because I always liked that spot in the past. Is that what you mean when you say “underpart of the arm“? And thank you SO much for responding, I always feel like I can rely on other T1s for help - there’s just some sort of community feeling about living w his condition (that I refuse to call it disease!)
@@robin31165 Indeed. It’s kind of hard to explain but yeah. I look in the mirror and put the sensor on the side below my shoulder. Not too far down and it usually ends up slightly facing on the underside of my shoulder/arm. It may just be individual body dynamics but mine usually end up being ok and not having issues. It could also be possible that your sensors are faulty and you can ask dexcom for replacements. Good luck!
Thank you for the video. I am new to the Dexcom CGM G6 system and trying to learn the system. I have had many failed sensors because of my blood thinner causing considerable bleeding under the sensor. After 3 months I changed everything and forgot to enter the new transmitter code, makes for bad night. Again thanks Don
Thank you for this information, I actually considered everything your touched on. Before inserting for my first G6, which was only 10 days ago. I am due to change the sensor in 1 hour, which is 2 hours after lunch. I also find that this is the best time for a new sensor insertion, As you explained in this video, and it has been my routine since I started using the G5 2 years ago. I’m loving the G6, and love the fact you don’t have to finger prick twice after warm up. Best advise for sure, thanks again Mel t1d for 30 years from Australia 🦋😊
I’ve been wearing a Dexcom six for three years now and have until the last few months reasonable accuracy. But I’ve received a number of transmitters in the last six months seven of them have been defective. Dexcom has replaced them, and even given me a additional sense transmitter do the fact that they’re having problems with the Dexcom transmitter’s. I’m switching to the Dexcom seven at the end of the month, so just be aware of a bad batch of transmitters.
I thought it was something I was getting wrong when I started my sensors and it was so inaccurate. Its nice to hear you explain and make me realise I am not alone or DOING something wrong. Thanks for the info
This is a great video. My daughter has one, mainly for monitoring. The fluctuating caused so much stress. It took a couple of days for me to figure this all out. I should’ve just came to TH-cam, because endocrine didn’t help me out at all!
TH-cam for the win 🙂. That being said I really hate that we have to figure so much out on our own and that you went through all of that stress! It takes time but sounds like you’re already doing great
Thank you. I have had issues regarding digestion and chase, or surf my numbers until recently. Your explanation on timing is much appreciated. I wind up diving hard at night because of using those readings. This is great. Calibration helps too and reminds you to use your stix to check occasionally.
Am new to using G7 to manage pre diabetic condition. Thanks for the insights. It help me understand best time to put it on and how to more effectively monitor my results without overreacting. Thanks!!!
Interesting. Just bought Dexcom. I had three libre2s fail on me. I used to chase my levels, but I'm slower to react now, unless I am plunging low. The libre seems to be accurate though. It reckoned my A1c was 6.1 (sorry, use metric) and my actual test said 6.2. Doc is very happy. I will insert my Dexcom in a week and see how I go.
Great stuff thank you. Figured them out before video but great for someone who hadn't. You nailed the things i had issues with at first ..nice to see it on line.
I’m using the G6. What I don’t like is the 20 foot Bluetooth range. I can’t understand why CGMs were given such a lousy range. Plus the Dexcom G6 starts to peel off after a day or 2 and Dexcom didn’t make an arm band. The over Patches make the Peeling issue worse. Plus I do hate the 2 hour warm up period.
Wow you are giving me even more reason to stop this dexcom meter I never had these problems with the libre my current one just broke and the doctor gave me this one to replace it the first time I changed the sensor it fell off in 3 days after several years with the libre I know how to handle that and I no longer had that problem but I sure didn't expect it to just fall right off so quickly if it is going to read that poorly in the first 24 hours I don't think I'm going to keep it
I still love my Dexcom (I also made a video about that), so please know this video is not to discourage anyone from using it, just an attempt to set expectations. It "can" be inaccurate the first 24 hours, but it's not consistent. However, if using the Libre works well for you I'd stick with it if you can. When I did a direct comparison I found Dexcom to be better but it also seems that the different monitors works differently depending on the person wearing them
I was on day 7 of my first Dexcom G7 and hit it on a door jam. After that I got inaccurate readings confirmed with my regular glucose reader. The meter showed readings 20-30mg lower than the G7. After 48 hours it was almost the end of it’s cycle, and the collision with the door frame also peeled off some of the bandage. I went ahead and took the whole thing off. It was then that I saw the needle was bent back, almost flat, and was not even in the arm that well. Lessons learned.
Put the new sensor in when you get the 12 hour expired warning. Then when the 12 hours are up and the sensor stops, the new one is warmed up. I wear the Dexcom G7. And get good quality over patches to help protect from yanking it out.
Thank you for your information. I always find it very helpful. I have been a T1D for 2 years now and I quickly react to the double arrows either way. I am so happy to hear your information. It will help me get off the rollercoaster too. Also, I would like to know if you have ever covered workouts highs and lows. I just started working out in a gym and I go real high after my workouts. I usually turn my pump to exercise mode during some point of my workout. Any videos on workout situations? Thank you!
Thank you, I’m glad it’s helpful. And excited to hear you’ve started a new workout routine. I have a few videos covering exercise, this is the most detailed th-cam.com/video/11XbiAawXyE/w-d-xo.html
That was really helpful. I should have figured some of these things out myself after wearing a Dexcom for many, many years. It's good to hear a fellow user's advice. I know I'm a bit too quick to react. Also, the dexcom reading is minutes behind my actual blood sugar. I feel like I've met a new friend. Blessings on you.🎉
I love my Dexcom CGM. Before I started wearing one I could never get my glucose numbers under control. Now it's just a matter of looking at the receiver. I have a tendency to ignore the high glucose alarms so I set the alarm notification relatively high. But my low alarm goes off at 80 because my numbers can drop rather quickly. As far as insulin dosing I use a sliding scale my diabetes specialist developed to determine my insulin needs. I count carbs as part of the calculation. Before my meal I look at my number. I use 140 as the baseline. It prevents low readings during a meal. The first number I calculate is how much above 140 my reading is. For every 5 points above 140 I take 1 unit of insulin. If my number is below 140 I don't take any insulin based on my number. Then to that number I determine how many carbs are in the meal I'm going to eat. I use a scale of 1 unit of insulin for every 3-5 grams of carbs. However, each person has food(s) which will cause their blood sugars to spike (the foods which affect me the most are rice, white bread and corn). You will need to determine what foods are on that list and increase your insulin accordingly when you eat those food(s). This sliding scale has resulted in an increase to my overall glucose numbers being within normal range to around 97 percent. Of course, part of this is due to me eating certain snacks or candy. My A1c has also dropped from around 8 to around 6. My diabetes specialist couldn't be happier. One caveat. Using Medicare to pay for your CGM can be difficult, at best. Your prescriber has to jump through many hoops to get the CGM covered. If just one item on the application is wrong your provider may have to restart the process from the beginning.
Wow, thank you. I started with G4 in 2014, and some of these tips never occurrd to me. One thing I did figure out is to calibrate my Dexcom only when my blood sugar is stable.
I cannot express enough how much I have learned from diabetes strong. But I’m old and I have to be able to read your name to remember it accurately. I don’t see it right now on my screen lol seriously because if you I have.
Thank you for sharing your experience. My endo put me on Libre, but I like to know about other options also. The only alarm I have is to scan. I did ride the roller coaster with time in range. Trying to keep too tight of a range is how the diabetes nurse defined it.
Libre is a great product. See if you can upgrade to Libre 2 and you’ll get alarms as well. Time-In-Range (TIR) is the gold standard and a good thing to strive for. Thank you for your continued support
I was on Libre 2 and I really liked it, I was switched in hope to get my A1C with better numbers. I just started 10 days ago so I had my first change of the sensor today.@@DiabetesStrong
I've been on my Dex for about 1.5 years. T1 since 1985. Was on the 670G for 4 yrs prior to Dex. The Dex is seriously a vast improvement over the 670G. Not fair to compare current technology to 1st ever technology. Wish my insurance paid better for the Dex. My out-of-pocket is a lot more. But it is worth it. I wish I could silence some of the alarms. Mine alerts me if I'm going through 150, whether up or down. If coming down, I don't need to be alarmed that I'm now 150. This next complaint is more of an issue with the Tandem X2: there needs to be a way to 100% silence the pump no matter what, even if it is just for a limited time like 30-minutes. In our world today, kids might have to hide for safety purposes. Having a pump alarm could be deadly for them. Also I speak to groups of customers for my job. I should be able to silence high blood sugar alarms, instead of every 5-minutes needing to tell the pump "I know....still high".
I like your comment,i learned a lot from your video, i was on that roller coaster, all the time highs, and lows , couldn't sleep checking my readings back to back so now i no just wait it out thanks a lot !!
Regarding the stopping and thinking before you react to the ups and downs, reminds me of the old adage I learned as a nurse. Monitor the patient, not the monitor.
T2D: I am coming to the end of three years using the Libre ( 1 ) sensor, with great dissatisfaction (due to persistent low biases - my experience -- not reliable for making treatment decisions). I've spent hours reading about the various Libre sensors and the Dexcom sensors. One subtopic that has not been covered is experience with the Dexcom 6/ Tandem Tslim pump on a very low carbohydrate diet. It's hard for me to stick with that way-of-eating (WOE) but it really seems the best combination, owing to the presumption going forward that it will be a lot easier to remain in-range and require less reliance by me on the basal and bolus IQ technology. I've watched the videos on the Tandem pump, and the people who 'love' it still complain about the things they hate about it - so, I'm dreading getting that pump at the same time that I'm going to be using a new sensor (G6). (In addition to T2D, I'm trying to adjust to chronic vestibular imbalance disorder and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency). I appreciate all the information that people contribute here and on FB.
I totally agree with the 4 things you talked about and have had a Dexcom G6 about two years and starting not to be so reactive to roller coaster BS. I find certain foods help lower my BS and I don't need insulin to bring it down. Like protein shakes 30 gm protein or nuts, without sugary coating. I wish they would make the overlay patches bigger and better, I call with that suggestion.
Great tips! I’ve been using a G6 for about a year and it seems like I’m always on the up and down roller coaster and it is really driving me nuts. So I am going to start right now with your tips on not overreacting to the meter and think it through.
@@DiabetesStrong Thanks, I started with your advice only yesterday and I have already had a much better 24 hours. I’m using patients and thinking things through before I act on it. Doing nothing but waiting a bit helps also.
Ha! I’m so glad I found your video. My son got his Dexcom sensor a week ago and I’m just now learning about the adding or subtracting 30, 60, 90 based on the arrow(s). Since we got it we’ve been totally relying on the numbers. If we get a low or extremely high I verify with finger poke. I found the G6 guidelines online. Thankful for finding your channel
Is it Christa or something else? I go through the very same things but slowly learning. When my sugar starts to go up, I drink more water which helps to control it & bring it down. Have you heard of this? You provide very good information on your site.
Thank you. Yes, dehydration can make blood sugars rise, so yes, water can help. However, you still need to have some insulin circulating or it won’t do anything- Christel
I've been using FreeStyle for a number if years now and am experimenting with to find out what I like the most. I've been changing my sensors at night before I go to bed and never had a problem with it. I'll think about how the timing is with eating the blood sugar level.
I watched just in time I was going to change it tonight right before bed. Thanks
Thank you so much for this!!! I have a newly diagnosed child and I've wanted to drive over his dexcom, lol. It's gotten better, but this video cemented all my thoughts. Thank you!
One of the best ways to avoid the inaccurate low readings that tend to happen during the first 12-24 hours of wearing a CGM is to insert a new sensor the day before your old one is about to expire. The next day when the old sensor expires, transfer the transmitter to the new sensor and start the sensor. Since that new sensor has been in your tissue for about 24 hours, the sensor should not have the inaccuracies of the first day. That has always worked for me and I have heard other people do this also. I am on Dexcom so not sure how the Libre sensor would work. I am wondering how the new Dexcom G7 will work however, as the G7 is supposed to start up as soon as it is inserted and will not need to be "started" as the G6 is started. I have heard that the new G7 will have better accuracy so I am hoping that those low readings will not happen on the first day as one cannot delay the sensor from actually starting by one day. Only time will tell.
Yes, great tip. I’ve also heard of others who have had success with that approach. G7 will have a 30 min warmup, and it might make sense to still do the “vetting”. We’ll have to experiment 🙂
TV commercials never say how many finger sticks those persons were doing a day before they started wearing a CGM, rarely say what their A1Cs were before and after, or indicate whether the person has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.They are almost always say paid endorsements. imo Celebrity sports endorsements are the worst, and only serve to indicate that they can wear a CGM and not have it interfere with their activities.
With g7 you won’t have a problem with this. You can insert a new sensor 12 hours before.
Great tip. Thx
Since the CGM sensor is only supposed to e be worn for 10 days, does this method cause any anomalous reading on the last day before you remove it?Or does it maintain its level of accuracy right until the end?
Those were the same exact mistakes I was doing when I first got my Dexcom G6. I wanted to chuck it across the room with those annoying alarms lol. Thanks for the video!
Glad it’s not just me 😆
Just started on G6. The big mistake I made was pressing to hard when I pressed the button and of course bled bad. Press hard when getting it to stick but lighten the pressure when you press button. Should just be holding lightly against skin at that point.
Bleeders are readers! 🫶
This could be a good tip to use. I had a big bleed the last time I inserted my G6 sensor. Total waste of sensor as it has to be removed in order to stem the blood flow. Now I'm once bitten, twice shy as I haven't inserted a new sensor for 3 days now, just relying on finger stick tests.
I did the very same thing cause my thinking was, you really want the wire (needle) to get way down in there. I did it for a few years
I like what you said about chasing your blood sugars around because you're following the Dexcom instead of pausing for consideration.
Thank you so much for the information. I am on my first Dexcom7 sensor and yes I have been scared when my reading was too low but my meter was right. I rely on my meter more than the senior. Thanks again
T1/LADA diabetic here. I've had my Dexcom G6 since March 2020 and it's been an absolute miracle in getting me to better control of my blood sugars!
I have gone through these mistakes, thus learned the hard way what happens and how to not do these mistakes anymore. I don't bolus/take fast-acting insulin as I'm doing great with long-acting alone, but I did go through the roller-coaster of the high/low when I was on fast-acting.
I always tell new CGM users to double check highs/lows via finger stick so you're treating your blood sugars accurately, and stopping to think and assess that situation before treatment.
I've found my Dexcom has helped me better understand and become aware of my lows, via physical symptoms, and how accurately it can alert me to check and correct. It also helped me discover I have severe insulin resistance due to how my blood sugars reacted to coffee and my CGM would go nuts for very high blood sugars!
Thanks for posting your videos and helping other diabetics! Sharing your experiences is a gift!
Thank you. And thank you for sharing
Thank you so much, Ive been T1 for 56 years and I just started the omnipod and dexcom 6. Ive been on Medtronic for years I do like the set up but getting used to the dexcom can be tricky as all pump equipment 😊 so I thank you!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the advice. I had a low sugar on my dexcom. I did a fingerstick. It wasn't90 but 174. So I calibrated. Then it was152. I'm glad I thought out my decision.
Excellent! Well done 👏
90 is not low...its normal
I have learned so much about dexcom 7 from your videos especially the first 24 hours. dexcom finally told me no changes the first 24 hours, if inaccurate that you should do 3 calibrations 15 min . apart to bring it on line properly. seems to work.
Thank you for sharing, my little girl 10 yrs old was recently diagnosed with type1 diabetes and this is all new to us.
I have learnt alot from this video. Thank you. Regards Annie from the UK 🇬🇧.
Thank you so much. I'm T2D and considering a CGM so I can be more aware of what my food intake does to my blood glucose. I have been successful in staying off meds for the last 11 years but now my diet isn't the best and I need to smarten up! I believe the CGM will really help me!
Eating less trash will help you.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I am new to insulin and dexcom 6, about 6 months now. I have already made all the "mistakes" you just highlighted in your video. I am learning but there's so much to learn. Your videos have been very helpful and informative. I am 60 and you know what they say about old dogs, lol
Thank you for watching, and good to hear that you've already moved past all of those little mistakes. Learning is a lifelong process, right? 🙂
Thank you so much for this advice! We have been chasing high blood sugars because we treat the low messages right away, we are going to try your advice, I believe this will help.
Thank you. The information you provided was most helpful.
Good information. And it also applies to the dexcom g7. I have been using the g7 since December 2023. And i did many of the things you said. Like i said, great video.
Your videos have been very helpful. Just started on my 2nd sensor, so only using 11 days. I have checked my CBG when I thought the sensor was wrong but then stopped doing the CBGs thinking I should just use the dexcom. Watching your videos the last 2 days, you have taught me so much! I'm a type 2 for 18 years and everyone should realize there are always new tricks to learn!
I'm so glad the content has been helpful
Thanks for the advice, I’ve just started using the G7, and you make some great points!
I thank you so much. I have been scared so many times and run straight to the candy bowl then up you go! thank you again for this information
Thanks, again for your videos. I love the G7 and it's definitely worth an immediately upgrade from G6. My Medicare insurance paid for 100% and 3 months of supplies. My local pharmacy filled it versus Duramed who I had to call monthly precisely on the 23rd and if I was 1 day early I was told to call back the next day. Though I loaded the app on my Apple 14 plus I love the new G7 receiver. It's light as a feather and very small. I'm not joined at the hip to my Samsung Fold 2 or my new Apple. I've had cellphones since '82 and not married to it versus my wife of 50 years. My wife watched your videos too and loved them. You're cute, funny, and very informative! Kudos.
Thank you 😊 And super happy to hear that you like your new G7
Thank you for this!! These are the types of tips that neither my endocrinologist nor my diabetes nurse educator have given me. Your Number 1 tip is excellent as well as your "think it through" guidance. I find the television commercials for the Dexcom G6 to be quite misleading as the people featured make a big point in their mini-testimonials that they no longer need finger sticks from their blood glucose meters. Perhaps the tiny, tiny, tiny wording shown at the bottom of the television screen which appears for about two seconds suggests people still need to double-check their glucose levels with finger sticks when prudent to do so. I find the G6 very useful in controlling my glucose levels, but still don't trust it, especially in those first 24 hours when readings can get quite goofy. This is one of the reasons I hesitate to consider an insulin pump, especially one that works in tandem with the G6. Again, thank you for this important video. Please keep up the good work.
Thank you and you’re welcome. We can learn so much from each other and I appreciate all the comments on my videos. I understand the pump hesitation, we can of course turn off the Tandem IQ functionality until the sensor has stabilized, but using that functionality does require a lot of trust
@@DiabetesStrong Thanks Christel. You hit the nail on the head. This indeed requires a lot of TRUST with the G6. It reminds me of President Ronald Reagan's famous expression when negotiating nuclear weapons reduction with the Soviets in the 1980's. He said "Trust, but verify." Good advice in general and applicable to glucose readings. With occasional well-off-the mark G6 readings in the first 24 hours of insertion and beyond, I keep one trusted glucose blood meter at home and another one in my car, each my as-needed back-up and verification tools. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.
@@garytannenbaum534 thanks. Happy new year to you too
My PCP and endocrinologist seem competent enough but I often get the feeling that my doctors have no real feeling what it's like to live with the daily uncertainties of type 1 diabetes. "You need to get your A1C down and get more exercise" is not a prescription; it's a general platitude.
Everything that I've ever done to improve the management of my disease I have initiated and worked out the details myself. BGM, MDI, multiple insulins - all are things I started doing out of pocket before my doctor's understood these were "things". I had to ask for my first A1C test. I read clinical trial reports, tech journals covering noninvasive sensors engineering trials, and the 2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support - before my doctor's are aware they exist. All that "book learning" is of limited value without specific guidance how to apply it.
I'm fortunate that TH-cam exists and that there are many persons with diabetes, CGM and pump users from around the world, sharing their experience through TH-cam and forums, not influenced as paid endorsers, and not constricted by professional guidelines and what the FDA has authorized. I learned more about the real practical aspects of CGMs and pumps in 2 weeks online, identifying their common problems and insights than I could have learned on my own in 2 years, or ever learned from my doctor's or the makers of the equipment .
I know that I was very fortunate to meet a diabetes educator who has had type one diabetes since she was a teenager and been wearing pump for more than 10 years and using a CGM for a few. If not for meeting them, I wouldn't have opened my mind about updating my management tools. I wouldn't be wearing a CGM now and wouldn't be getting a pump. But even they are limited in what they know and they believe they are allowed to tell me.
They want to "stick by the book". I want to be doing what new books are written about.
@@psdaengr911 that’s a great comment. And I’m very much onboard, my endo is amazing, but most of my daily practices I’ve deduced myself but reading (a lot) and a lot of trial and error
Thank you for this, I'm going to share this with my in-law who sometimes watches our T1D toddler. She has a harder time adjusting to waiting for levels to regulate after doses or after low snacks. Like you mentioned when you first started, you'd react right away to changes with highs or lows, she also does that. I also like to not just look at numbers or the arrows, but the trend on the graph. Like, it might show an up/down or diagonal arrow, but the trend on the graph says something else and it takes time for the dexcom to catch up to what's actually happening. We try to explain this stuff to her, but sometimes it's harder hearing info from relatives than from experienced strangers. :) Appreciate you!
Thank you, I hope the video helps getting the message through
I wonder why I never have any problems like this… blessed
I've been using Dexcom CGM for about a year and before that I used the
Freestyle Libre System for a couple of years and I consider this to be
good advice particularly about starting a new sensor when your glucose
level is relatively stable and also about taking the readings with a grain
of salt for the first 24 hours.
Thank you
Yup
Great info. I use the other system but same info applies. Starting a new sensor when BS is stable and not after a meal is something I never thought about but will now keep in mind. Just thinking through the situation in terms of timing of insulin and food intake and not knee jerking a response to an abnormal reading is very important. These systems are a great aid but not replacements for finger sticks and experience in interpreting results.
Great point, thank you for sharing
Gained so much… ❤ the tip abt NOT starting sensor b4 bed, & not during post-meal flux! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Will do!
This saved me tonight. Thanks. I’ll insert new one but leave old one on. Till the morning. Thanks!
I ve been a diabetic for 31 years. I've was using g the Libre but have switched over to the G5 Dexcom reciently. I have to say I love it. ❤️ the sensor is a little bigger than the Libre but I find it sticks WAY better than the Libre. Love the notifications when high and low. (Especially low due to I can not feel when I'm dropping any more.) The only thing that I do not like is that I need to carry another machine to test my glucose readings. Wish it was all on the machine it self. (I can not carry my phone at work) other than that the G5 is amazing so far. 😁
You get separate portable receiver with G7. You can use that for your office. It’s simple device which only shows your blood glucose levels.
Thank you for this video. I'm new to dexcom G6. My sugars are all over the place. I really hate being woken up at night with alarms. Too high or too low. I'm going to insert the sensor during the day 2 hrs. before I eat lunch.
Thanks for the info. I have been on the Dexcom G6 for at least 5 years. You learn things all the time. I like the thinking it thru thought. Very good advise,
Great to hear!
This was super helpful.. I just got mine a few days ago and to be honest I wanted to rip it out and toss the whole system. Right now I have two sensors in right now, the dexcom and libre 2. The first two nights I was checking both and getting crazy differences in numbers. I didn't know which one to trust, I went through that roller coaster of chasing my highs and lows with food or insulin for 2 nights now and I haven't got a wink of sleep between the two meters beeping at me. Your advice is well appreciated and I hope it will help me get over the learning phase with this system. Thank you.
Oh no, I remember that frustration. I hope your experience gets better and glad this video could help. Thank you for watching
Thanks for your video, I just started on the dexcom 7 five days ago and was about to throw it out the window after one night. It kept alarming high and low no matter what I do.
I wasn't quite understanding how to use my dexcom to the fullest. But after reading and watching your video it has help me a lot. already I was able to sleep on the third night without turning off any of my alarm.and found it work well with me doing everything with more understanding.Thanks very much
That’s amazing. I’m so glad it helped
great information... been on G6 for a couple of years. Just switched to G7 and broke your first rule.... What a night of ups and downs.
😬
I wish I hadhad watched this video earlier. Last night I changed my CGM at 9 PM and it woke me up three times for low blood sugar and each time I checked my blood glucose it was in the normal range. So I slept on the four hours last night and I have been very sleepy all day. Thank you so much for sharing this invaluable lesson.
Ugh, that’s so frustrating. I hope you sleep better tonight
Your comments about the fast acting insulin timelines I started to finally be able to truly understand now that I've got this set. Thank you for verifying that my questioning something as trivial as this IS an important step and that I am seeing things in a properly formed line myself, "thinking it through", as you call it. This makes me feel better that I am asking the right questions. Thank you very much.
You’re so welcome. Yes! Always ask questions. The better we understand this condition the easier it becomes to see the path to how we each best manage it
Thank you. Reaffirm what i am learning
Thank you so much for putting this out. I'm new to the Dexcom G6 - have only been using it now for a week. Your tips are invaluable. It also is extremely helpful to read the other comments. The one about inserting a new sensor the day before the old one expires, I think will be a goto procedure moving forward. My first impression of the unit was good, however after getting sensor errors , wild readings and having to change out the sensor 3 days early. Makes complete trust an issue. The way you explained how the sensor works with the fluid, and lags the blood makes perfect sense, and it is something that I saw when double checking readings with my old meter. Thanks again !
Awesome!!! Glad this made sense and that both the video and comments were helpful. But yes, total trust issues. My current sensor has been way off more than once these last 10 days so I’ve been doing a lot of finger sticks. It’s frustrating because I know that lack of trust will carry over to the next sensor. But still wouldn’t want to be without it
I definitely used a separate meter often when I was on the G5 for calibration. Being on the G6 and soon switching to the G7, I rarely use a separate meter. I'm not suggesting that others shouldn't. I've been able to keep my A1c in the mid-5s with plus 85% time in range over 3yrs now, though.
I have the G7 and for the first few days I checked with a separate meter to compare accuracy. The G7 is very accurate and I barely use my other glucose meters. My A12 is also in the 5’s
Was given a Dexcom by the VA...the first couple of weeks were crazy because no one explained that the transmitter last for 30 days and sensor only 10 days. Had accidentally gone through a couple of sensors and transmitters. But I research videos such as this one and read up more about the Dexcom, I can agree with some of what was said here.
Did VA approve right away without hassling you?
@@Mknuddy Yes and no hassle.
Hi, I was given the run around from the start. First my provider recommended Dexcom. The pharmacist disapproved and suggested I be started with the Libre CGM. I then had to have an appointment with a Dr. in the Diabetes Department who recommended and Dexcom. Once again the Pharmacist disapproved and suggest the Libre. I was then advised that I had to attend a Diabetes Education Class before being approved for the Libre. After attending the class I then had to wait another week before the sensor for the Libre was mailed to me. I told the Pharmacy that my iPhone had an IOS of 16.6.1 and the Libre was not comparable. I then called Abbot Industries and was told that I could load the Libre App on my phone but their would be certain portions of the Libre CGM that would not work properly. I put the sensor on and this was 6 days ago. Needless to say I have been on a roller coaster for the past 6 days. High alarms at night and then all the way down to 61 at night. Had
my bags packed and was getting ready to go to the hospital. I then remembered about the Glucose tablets. Took 4 the first night. That ran the numbers up to the high 240s. Same thing happened last night and had to take 12 glucose tablets through out the night. Up and down, Up and down. This morning I sent a message to my Provider at the Naval Hospital to see if he could get me a Dexcom G7 Kit. I am waiting for the results now. I am almost ready to give the Libre sensors that I have back to the VA. Terrible experience. Glad to hear you had no dazzles. Wish me Luck.@@devildogcrewchief3335
You've taught me a lot. I was a blood sugar chaser when I first got this CGM. It made no sence to me. My A1C has been 6.0 for a while now. All of a sudden the fluxuaction made me feel like I was out of control. Your vudeo makes everythimg make sence. Thanks so very much for what you do.
Thank you for that comment. I can completely relate to that feeling. Glad it made sense
Thanks for all your help! I had a compression low and because I didn't know what it was I start glugging down sugary creamer. S learning from you what was actually happening was valuable beyond
Valuable!!
Glad it helped!
Yup, same here ! Thank you for the tips
Thanks. I've had the same problems. I just started using my Dexcom G6.
I'm different. Type 1 Diabetic here. I'm on a Tandem T Slim X2 Insulin pump with Control IQ via the G6 and I have a number of things I do differently that have worked for me quite well for the most part. I've been using the G6 since it came out in 2018. First, I heavily rely on the Dexcom readings, including within the first 24 hours and when my BG numbers fluctuate, in most situations. Because of that, I barely ever use finger sticks. Would I recommend it for everyone? No. But, it works well for me. The main thing I'd say regarding relying on just the CGM data is it depends on what type of Insulin you use and how often you are using it. Since I'm on a pump with Humalog which is pretty mild in how it is absorbed into the body, I don't see any massive drops in BG that might cause me to want to react quickly. I'd say if you were going to rely mostly on the CGM readings, I would only recommend it if you're on a Pump.
Second, I still have the habit of reacting to my surges and my lows, although more-so surges. Due to this, I do have the occasional low spells that either get suspended and prevented from being bad with my Pump's Control IQ setting, or a short low that eventually goes away as the food and other variables in my body react. However, the overall % of lows isn't too insane and I mostly don't have the rollercoaster effect too often unless I'm having relatively high carb meals that tend to be less healthy and react in odd ways to my BG. My A1C is 5.6% and had been 5.8% for many years and within great range since shortly after diagnosis.
Third, you need to give yourself time to learn how food affects your BG by keeping an eye on trends with your CGM. Everyone's body is different and one person may have a totally different reaction to meals compared to others, and with that comes more or less variability in their numbers throughout the day. The variability is where the problems happen and if you're on a pump at least, you can fine tune your ratios (carb ratio, correction factor, etc.) to reduce that variability immensely and that should lead to a smoother CGM usage scenario in the long run.
The main thing I focused on was building up my understanding of how different foods affected my BG and then that helped me build up trust in the CGM values themselves until I got to a point where I could pretty much anticipate and understand every variation in my numbers with the CGM and make up for any gaps that may be there. What I've noticed is the less often you calibrate your CGM, the less often you -need- to keep calibrating it. It's meant to be factory calibrated once you receive it, so it theoretically doesn't require (many) manual calibrations. I've very rarely had to calibrate mine at all and its worked great and the values I've seen have pretty much always represented the values that I've gotten from my glucometer.
Lastly, I need to emphasize insertion location. I used to have a lot more variability and also sensor failure incidents when I used my G6 in my stomach region as they recommend. Once I switched to Arm insertion, my sensors all last me 10 full days with zero issues the entire 10-day period. I also notice that the CGM glucose readings are overall more consistent as well because the sensor isn't moving around within my body too much, and I did have one time when I used to insert into the stomach where Dexcom was able to pinpoint that my sensor failed because of body tissue in my stomach blocking the signal. It basically got moved around so much with regular movement of the body to a point where it damaged the signal to the sensor and caused a failure. (This was very early in the release of the G6 when they actually used to give very precise details of why a failure happened. They stopped doing this like a month or two after release of the G6, I noticed.)
Overall, I am really looking forward to the G7 as it is made for Arm usage and is so much smaller than the big and clunky G6, which is already so much smaller and thinner than the G5. Now, for Type 2 Diabetics, I think there is a lot to gain from using a Dexcom CGM. Why? Connected bluetooth smart pens. If you have to inject some insulin daily for your meals, some pens nowadays actually integrate directly with the Dexcom CGM and it can make finding the right treatment plan for you so much easier. The connected pen space is only going to grow quicker and quicker as time goes on. Also, just having the CGM readings as a T2D will help with figuring out trends and understanding how food affects you. That's the most valuable thing I've gotten from the Dexcom CGM myself even as a T1D - understanding how different food affects me so I can make the right treatment decisions for my own needs.
Good luck out there and thanks for this informative video!
Hi, I just have a question for you regarding arm insertion. I always found outer arm (or inner arm, for that matter) w the medtronic G3 to be a good spot, but I’m having trouble w pump not being able to read the sensor, even though it’s only on my waist band (on the same side as the arm where sensor is inserted).
Do you have any suggestions on this?
Thanks, your tips are great & I’m finding this channel to be fantastic.
I like how T1s seem to stick together (we have to, right?)
- 41 years for me & I’ve always been a fan of ‘aggressive treatment’, hence the closed loop system - the second one for me. I ‘put all my eggs in this basket’, so to speak, expecting the Tandem system to be great but I’m having a lot of trouble these first few weeks.
@@robin31165 Sorry for the late reply. Sory to hear you're having trouble with the arm insertion. It sounds to me like you may be inserting in some muscle, possibly. The place I put it is a couple inches below the shoulder on the fatty side of the underpart of the arm. So, looking in a mirror, I just look for that area and make sure it is fatty and insert it.
It usually has no issues, but what I also do is I have it connected to both my phone and my pump. Occasionally, it will very briefly have an issue with signal loss for a second, but that isn't often nor lasts long. And if it happens, my phone usually still has signal.
Are you finding that your sensors are failing, or just having some signal issue occasionally?
@@TheHanStudios firstly, absolutely, no reason to apologize - I certainly wouldn’t call this a late reply! With my arm, the problem I was that having was losing signal when the sensor was on my upper arm (pretty much in the fatty part) & my pump was in on my waist (on the same side).
Yesterday I put it in my thigh, for the first time ever & so far it’s working out really well, but I will keep in mind interior part of my arm, because I always liked that spot in the past. Is that what you mean when you say “underpart of the arm“?
And thank you SO much for responding, I always feel like I can rely on other T1s for help - there’s just some sort of community feeling about living w his condition (that I refuse to call it disease!)
@@robin31165 Indeed. It’s kind of hard to explain but yeah. I look in the mirror and put the sensor on the side below my shoulder. Not too far down and it usually ends up slightly facing on the underside of my shoulder/arm. It may just be individual body dynamics but mine usually end up being ok and not having issues.
It could also be possible that your sensors are faulty and you can ask dexcom for replacements. Good luck!
Excellent, personal experience information. So helpful.
Thank you for the video. I am new to the Dexcom CGM G6 system and trying to learn the system. I have had many failed sensors because of my blood thinner causing considerable bleeding under the sensor. After 3 months I changed everything and forgot to enter the new transmitter code, makes for bad night. Again thanks Don
Thanks - new T1D diagnosis for my 20 yo daughter - great info😊
Thank you for this information, I actually considered everything your touched on. Before inserting for my first G6, which was only 10 days ago. I am due to change the sensor in 1 hour, which is 2 hours after lunch. I also find that this is the best time for a new sensor insertion, As you explained in this video, and it has been my routine since I started using the G5 2 years ago. I’m loving the G6, and love the fact you don’t have to finger prick twice after warm up. Best advise for sure, thanks again
Mel t1d for 30 years from Australia 🦋😊
Thank you, glad it resonated and that you’re happy with your Dexcom
I just started my CGM last Monday, and I love it, your video's have been extremely helpful to me
Great to hear!
I’ve been wearing a Dexcom six for three years now and have until the last few months reasonable accuracy. But I’ve received a number of transmitters in the last six months seven of them have been defective. Dexcom has replaced them, and even given me a additional sense transmitter do the fact that they’re having problems with the Dexcom transmitter’s. I’m switching to the Dexcom seven at the end of the month, so just be aware of a bad batch of transmitters.
I sure needed to hear your video since I am about to get a CGM! Thank you!
I thought it was something I was getting wrong when I started my sensors and it was so inaccurate. Its nice to hear you explain and make me realise I am not alone or DOING something wrong. Thanks for the info
You're welcome!
Just starting with a G7. Greatly appreciate the tips that keep me from making the same mistakes.
Can you tell me if the G6 is a good GCM ! Thanks .
Thank you for this video. I am about to start using the cgm I received. I am looking forward to seeing what my results will be.
These are helpful tips I’ll apply to my Libre 2 - which I love.
Awesome info!!! This is the only place we have seen this information!
Thank you. Glad it was helpful
This is a great video. My daughter has one, mainly for monitoring. The fluctuating caused so much stress. It took a couple of days for me to figure this all out. I should’ve just came to TH-cam, because endocrine didn’t help me out at all!
TH-cam for the win 🙂. That being said I really hate that we have to figure so much out on our own and that you went through all of that stress! It takes time but sounds like you’re already doing great
Thank you. I just got G6. I appreciate your sharing your experience.
Thank you. I have had issues regarding digestion and chase, or surf my numbers until recently. Your explanation on timing is much appreciated. I wind up diving hard at night because of using those readings. This is great. Calibration helps too and reminds you to use your stix to check occasionally.
Glad it was helpful!
Am new to using G7 to manage pre diabetic condition. Thanks for the insights. It help me understand best time to put it on and how to more effectively monitor my results without overreacting. Thanks!!!
Happy to help 🙂 I switched to G7 recently and will start making more G7-focused content. Let me know if you’d like me to focus on anything specific
Thanks for sharing 👍🏾 tips were very helpful 😊
Interesting. Just bought Dexcom. I had three libre2s fail on me. I used to chase my levels, but I'm slower to react now, unless I am plunging low. The libre seems to be accurate though. It reckoned my A1c was 6.1 (sorry, use metric) and my actual test said 6.2. Doc is very happy. I will insert my Dexcom in a week and see how I go.
Great stuff thank you. Figured them out before video but great for someone who hadn't. You nailed the things i had issues with at first ..nice to see it on line.
Very welcome!
I’m using the G6. What I don’t like is the 20 foot Bluetooth range. I can’t understand why CGMs were given such a lousy range. Plus the Dexcom G6 starts to peel off after a day or 2 and Dexcom didn’t make an arm band. The over Patches make the Peeling issue worse. Plus I do hate the 2 hour warm up period.
Wow you are giving me even more reason to stop this dexcom meter I never had these problems with the libre my current one just broke and the doctor gave me this one to replace it the first time I changed the sensor it fell off in 3 days after several years with the libre I know how to handle that and I no longer had that problem but I sure didn't expect it to just fall right off so quickly if it is going to read that poorly in the first 24 hours I don't think I'm going to keep it
I still love my Dexcom (I also made a video about that), so please know this video is not to discourage anyone from using it, just an attempt to set expectations. It "can" be inaccurate the first 24 hours, but it's not consistent. However, if using the Libre works well for you I'd stick with it if you can. When I did a direct comparison I found Dexcom to be better but it also seems that the different monitors works differently depending on the person wearing them
thank you for this. I got my husband's on the way home from work as well as take out. I will be waiting a few hours before hooking it up.
You got this! Hope it works out well for him
Thank you so much because my dexcom G6 monitor my sugar levels so fast my reading go up and down fast thank you so much beautiful with love ❤️❤️❤️
I was on day 7 of my first Dexcom G7 and hit it on a door jam. After that I got inaccurate readings confirmed with my regular glucose reader. The meter showed readings 20-30mg lower than the G7. After 48 hours it was almost the end of it’s cycle, and the collision with the door frame also peeled off some of the bandage. I went ahead and took the whole thing off. It was then that I saw the needle was bent back, almost flat, and was not even in the arm that well. Lessons learned.
That’s so annoying. I would request a replacement sensor from Dexcom
My new doctor mentioned this & I'm trying to research the ins & outs. Your tips sound very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for this video! I was on the roller coaster for quite awhile. Thanks for helping me off it!
Put the new sensor in when you get the 12 hour expired warning. Then when the 12 hours are up and the sensor stops, the new one is warmed up. I wear the Dexcom G7. And get good quality over patches to help protect from yanking it out.
Thank you for your information. I always find it very helpful. I have been a T1D for 2 years now and I quickly react to the double arrows either way. I am so happy to hear your information. It will help me get off the rollercoaster too. Also, I would like to know if you have ever covered workouts highs and lows. I just started working out in a gym and I go real high after my workouts. I usually turn my pump to exercise mode during some point of my workout. Any videos on workout situations? Thank you!
Thank you, I’m glad it’s helpful. And excited to hear you’ve started a new workout routine. I have a few videos covering exercise, this is the most detailed
th-cam.com/video/11XbiAawXyE/w-d-xo.html
That was really helpful. I should have figured some of these things out myself after wearing a Dexcom for many, many years. It's good to hear a fellow user's advice. I know I'm a bit too quick to react. Also, the dexcom reading is minutes behind my actual blood sugar. I feel like I've met a new friend. Blessings on you.🎉
Thank you for watching. Makes me happy you walked away with the feeling of meeting a new friend, a dia-buddy 🙂
I love my Dexcom CGM. Before I started wearing one I could never get my glucose numbers under control. Now it's just a matter of looking at the receiver. I have a tendency to ignore the high glucose alarms so I set the alarm notification relatively high. But my low alarm goes off at 80 because my numbers can drop rather quickly.
As far as insulin dosing I use a sliding scale my diabetes specialist developed to determine my insulin needs. I count carbs as part of the calculation. Before my meal I look at my number. I use 140 as the baseline. It prevents low readings during a meal.
The first number I calculate is how much above 140 my reading is. For every 5 points above 140 I take 1 unit of insulin. If my number is below 140 I don't take any insulin based on my number.
Then to that number I determine how many carbs are in the meal I'm going to eat. I use a scale of 1 unit of insulin for every 3-5 grams of carbs. However, each person has food(s) which will cause their blood sugars to spike (the foods which affect me the most are rice, white bread and corn). You will need to determine what foods are on that list and increase your insulin accordingly when you eat those food(s).
This sliding scale has resulted in an increase to my overall glucose numbers being within normal range to around 97 percent. Of course, part of this is due to me eating certain snacks or candy. My A1c has also dropped from around 8 to around 6. My diabetes specialist couldn't be happier.
One caveat. Using Medicare to pay for your CGM can be difficult, at best. Your prescriber has to jump through many hoops to get the CGM covered. If just one item on the application is wrong your provider may have to restart the process from the beginning.
I learned a lot from this video. I now understand the alarms. Glad it has them and is also flexible.
Good, I'm so happy to hear that
Thanks for taking the time to note these tips.
You’re welcome
Suppose to get a Dexcom soon thank you this was supportive helpful video! 😊
Wow, thank you. I started with G4 in 2014, and some of these tips never occurrd to me. One thing I did figure out is to calibrate my Dexcom only when my blood sugar is stable.
That is such a key learning! Thank you for watching
I cannot express enough how much I have learned from diabetes strong. But I’m old and I have to be able to read your name to remember it accurately. I don’t see it right now on my screen lol seriously because if you I have.
Thank you for sharing your experience. My endo put me on Libre, but I like to know about other options also. The only alarm I have is to scan. I did ride the roller coaster with time in range. Trying to keep too tight of a range is how the diabetes nurse defined it.
Libre is a great product. See if you can upgrade to Libre 2 and you’ll get alarms as well. Time-In-Range (TIR) is the gold standard and a good thing to strive for.
Thank you for your continued support
I was on Libre 2 and I really liked it, I was switched in hope to get my A1C with better numbers. I just started 10 days ago so I had my first change of the sensor today.@@DiabetesStrong
I've been on my Dex for about 1.5 years. T1 since 1985. Was on the 670G for 4 yrs prior to Dex. The Dex is seriously a vast improvement over the 670G. Not fair to compare current technology to 1st ever technology. Wish my insurance paid better for the Dex. My out-of-pocket is a lot more. But it is worth it. I wish I could silence some of the alarms. Mine alerts me if I'm going through 150, whether up or down. If coming down, I don't need to be alarmed that I'm now 150. This next complaint is more of an issue with the Tandem X2: there needs to be a way to 100% silence the pump no matter what, even if it is just for a limited time like 30-minutes. In our world today, kids might have to hide for safety purposes. Having a pump alarm could be deadly for them. Also I speak to groups of customers for my job. I should be able to silence high blood sugar alarms, instead of every 5-minutes needing to tell the pump "I know....still high".
I think you’ll love the G7 once it works with Tandem. They have really made some improvements to the alerts
Great tips!
This is hugely helpful! Thank you!
Yay, that’s great!
I like your comment,i learned a lot from your video, i was on that roller coaster, all the time highs, and lows , couldn't sleep checking my readings back to back so now i no just wait it out thanks a lot !!
You’re welcome. I’m so glad to hear you’re off the roller coaster
Regarding the stopping and thinking before you react to the ups and downs, reminds me of the old adage I learned as a nurse. Monitor the patient, not the monitor.
Love that 🙂
I'm new ...Very helpful advise thanks😊
You rock, thx for the sage tips!
You bet!
This was very helpful. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
T2D: I am coming to the end of three years using the Libre ( 1 ) sensor, with great dissatisfaction (due to persistent low biases - my experience -- not reliable for making treatment decisions). I've spent hours reading about the various Libre sensors and the Dexcom sensors. One subtopic that has not been covered is experience with the Dexcom 6/ Tandem Tslim pump on a very low carbohydrate diet. It's hard for me to stick with that way-of-eating (WOE) but it really seems the best combination, owing to the presumption going forward that it will be a lot easier to remain in-range and require less reliance by me on the basal and bolus IQ technology.
I've watched the videos on the Tandem pump, and the people who 'love' it still complain about the things they hate about it - so, I'm dreading getting that pump at the same time that I'm going to be using a new sensor (G6). (In addition to T2D, I'm trying to adjust to chronic vestibular imbalance disorder and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency). I appreciate all the information that people contribute here and on FB.
I totally agree with the 4 things you talked about and have had a Dexcom G6 about two years and starting not to be so reactive to roller coaster BS. I find certain foods help lower my BS and I don't need insulin to bring it down. Like protein shakes 30 gm protein or nuts, without sugary coating. I wish they would make the overlay patches bigger and better, I call with that suggestion.
I really appreciate the information you provide and how it is presented!
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips! I’ve been using a G6 for about a year and it seems like I’m always on the up and down roller coaster and it is really driving me nuts. So I am going to start right now with your tips on not overreacting to the meter and think it through.
Thank you for watching. I hope you see a meaningful change quickly
@@DiabetesStrong
Thanks, I started with your advice only yesterday and I have already had a much better 24 hours. I’m using patients and thinking things through before I act on it. Doing nothing but waiting a bit helps also.
@@Orkney3 Amazing! So happy to hear that
Ha! I’m so glad I found your video. My son got his Dexcom sensor a week ago and I’m just now learning about the adding or subtracting 30, 60, 90 based on the arrow(s). Since we got it we’ve been totally relying on the numbers. If we get a low or extremely high I verify with finger poke. I found the G6 guidelines online. Thankful for finding your channel
Thank you! I'm so happy to hear that you find it helpful
Good to know!! Just got my Dexcom and going to apply it today!
Hope you enjoy it!
Great tips as always, thank you !!
Thanks and thank you for watching
We finger poke with every change, then manually calibrate. It seems to help.
Is it Christa or something else? I go through the very same things but slowly learning. When my sugar starts to go up, I drink more water which helps to control it & bring it down. Have you heard of this? You provide very good information on your site.
Thank you. Yes, dehydration can make blood sugars rise, so yes, water can help. However, you still need to have some insulin circulating or it won’t do anything- Christel
@@DiabetesStrong We appreciate your timely responses. Most sites don't.
Thank you great tips!! Keep up the good work. Any insulin changes can you do update ? Great videos
Do you mean a video on how to make insulin changes?
Thanks for the info. You're great!❤
You are so welcome!
I've been using FreeStyle for a number if years now and am experimenting with to find out what I like the most. I've been changing my sensors at night before I go to bed and never had a problem with it. I'll think about how the timing is with eating the blood sugar level.