T1 diabetics thread

[Tankrizzo]

I use xDrip+ with the Libre2 patched app, broadcasting to a smartwatch every 5 mins and a Nightscout site so I can have a little screen with a readout by the side of the bed when I wake up.

[23.7]

mike9009 said:

Those levels sound very good! Mine are often at those levels but more as a fleeting glance as the blood sugar's plummet or rise through them.

I 'think' I am experiencing the seasonal change again as I saw earlier this year. My blood sugar's keep dropping low, so adjusting basal again as I did six months ago. I wonder whether the colder temps mean my body is using more sugars to keep warm, or something like that????

Libre is giving me far more confidence in adjusting this nowadays though.....

I'm finding my physical hb1ac results are usually a couple of points lower than the libre estimate. The libre doesn't seem as accurate when readings spike, probably accounts for the difference.

I'm waiting for the lastest result as I type.

[mike9009]

I have lost a stone in weight since March this year. BMI was 25.5 and I am now 23.9. I have a slight frame so this was a slight concern.

Now the daft bit, how I did it.....

When I was a kid in the 80's, whenever I was hypo, I was 'rewarded' with chocolate as the the dextrose tablets were always damp or mouldy. This habit has continued into adult life and using Libre over the last 18 months has meant more hypos (or at least more chocolate preventing the imminent hypo)

Swapped to Lucozade and the weight has been dropping off, unsurprisingly.

My dentist has warned me though!!

What does everyone else use for hypos??

[Tankrizzo]

I'm using the Lyft shots as they're sweeter than Lucozade - I had to ditch the latter after nearly 25 years of using it for hypo treatment when they avoided the sugar tax and swapped half the glucose content for artificial sweetener.

The Lyft shots are smaller and 15g of carbs in each one so perfect hypo treatment size.

https://amz.run/4xcF

[Brainpox]

I use the Lift tablets (previously called Glucotabs). They are minging enough to not want to eat them normally but bearable enough to scoff when low. They come in quite a tough plastic tub and have a good sealing lid so you can have an opened pack stuck at the bottom of your bag for months without them breaking up or getting damp.

I really struggle with only having the 15g of glucose in those drinks because it doesn't get me very far before I crash again. Fine if you're able to get something decent to eat within 15 minutes but if you are caught short the packs of tablets offer more glucose in a similar size pack.

[23.7]

mike9009 said:

I have lost a stone in weight since March this year. BMI was 25.5 and I am now 23.9. I have a slight frame so this was a slight concern.

Now the daft bit, how I did it.....

When I was a kid in the 80's, whenever I was hypo, I was 'rewarded' with chocolate as the the dextrose tablets were always damp or mouldy. This habit has continued into adult life and using Libre over the last 18 months has meant more hypos (or at least more chocolate preventing the imminent hypo)

Swapped to Lucozade and the weight has been dropping off, unsurprisingly.

My dentist has warned me though!!

What does everyone else use for hypos??

Chocolate isn't a very quick acting carb. Too much fat.

Hypostop/ glucogel if sugars are dropping fast
Fruit pastilles if more of a correction
Chocolate biscuits or twix pre exercise if I want to top up.

[23.7]

I'm currently using novalog (aspart) agreed that I should try Fiasp. More front end, hoping it helps combat spikes.

[mike9009]

Any T1s had COVID?

Just tested positive (lateral flow), and got a PCR booked for tomorrow morning.

So far very mild symptoms, foggy head and slight cough. Blood sugar's are normal...

[mike9009]

mike9009 said:

Any T1s had COVID?

Just tested positive (lateral flow), and got a PCR booked for tomorrow morning.

So far very mild symptoms, foggy head and slight cough. Blood sugar's are normal...

Just to complete this. Background is I am 47 and T1 for 40 years. Double jabbed. Nervous because diabetes is the largest underlying health condition to give COVID complications. Plus a few 'fitter' than me mates have been hit hard and hospitalised with COVID.

I had a PCR test which came back positive. So wife has isolated me, so she or the kids don't get it.

Friday was the worse day, a bit tired, cough and brain fog. I had heard people talk about 'brain fog' before but never experienced it. Basically, it took me ages to think something through to its end, and invariably I would get distracted with something else and lose the thread of the thought process. Ad infinitum. Very frustrating. Lost sense of smell on Sunday morning and that is yet to return.

....and that is it so far. I have been working all the way through (did have an hour's sleep half way through Friday morning!!). Not too bad at all....

Blood sugar's have been raised but I think that is linked to the severe lack of exercise and being confined to the house, rather than being linked to COVID. Consequently I have been quite thirsty too.....


Mike

[mike9009]

Look like I was last to post on this thread.

Anyone using Omnipod 5 yet? What is it like? It sounds like it will be rolled out to all T1s over the next few years.

[PositronicRay]

mike9009 said:

Look like I was last to post on this thread.

Anyone using Omnipod 5 yet? What is it like? It sounds like it will be rolled out to all T1s over the next few years.

I've put my name down for one, I think I'll also need to swap from freestyle to dexcom G6 for full functionality.

A younger colleague has already taken it on, still in his honeymoon period but loves the control.

[Brainpox]

PositronicRay said:

I've put my name down for one, I think I'll also need to swap from freestyle to dexcom G6 for full functionality.

A younger colleague has already taken it on, still in his honeymoon period but loves the control.

A few weeks ago my specialist said that they should be opening up Libre to communicate with Omnipod sometime early next year so that Dexcom won't be mandatory. Enabling true CGM functionality on Libre 2 was the first step.

[mike9009]

Brainpox said:

PositronicRay said:

I've put my name down for one, I think I'll also need to swap from freestyle to dexcom G6 for full functionality.

A younger colleague has already taken it on, still in his honeymoon period but loves the control.

A few weeks ago my specialist said that they should be opening up Libre to communicate with Omnipod sometime early next year so that Dexcom won't be mandatory. Enabling true CGM functionality on Libre 2 was the first step.

Thanks both,

I was told this about Libre too.

My specialist has said I need to learn how to carb count again and measure my ratios between insulin and carb. I have not carb counted for decades and just roughly 'know' how much insulin to take for a given meal or snack. Not eating out often helps this....

It might be a couple of years wait for me as my control is pretty good at the moment...Hba1c 6.8.

Please update each stage of trying omnipod....it will be really interesting.....

[PositronicRay]

mike9009 said:

Brainpox said:

PositronicRay said:

I've put my name down for one, I think I'll also need to swap from freestyle to dexcom G6 for full functionality.

A younger colleague has already taken it on, still in his honeymoon period but loves the control.

A few weeks ago my specialist said that they should be opening up Libre to communicate with Omnipod sometime early next year so that Dexcom won't be mandatory. Enabling true CGM functionality on Libre 2 was the first step.

Thanks both,

I was told this about Libre too.

My specialist has said I need to learn how to carb count again and measure my ratios between insulin and carb. I have not carb counted for decades and just roughly 'know' how much insulin to take for a given meal or snack. Not eating out often helps this....

It might be a couple of years wait for me as my control is pretty good at the moment...Hba1c 6.8.

Please update each stage of trying omnipod....it will be really interesting.....

I hope they improve the libre accuracy, I'm on Freestle 2. The 1st 24 hrs after starting a new sensor are....erm.....interesting. i understand the dexcom to be more consisten..

[Brainpox]

PositronicRay said:

I hope they improve the libre accuracy, I'm on Freestle 2. The 1st 24 hrs after starting a new sensor are....erm.....interesting. i understand the dexcom to be more consisten..

Dexcom is better because you calibrate it with finger pricks. Libre tries to self calibrate which can have odd results

[Feirny]

Just had the approval to be put on Hybrid Closed Loop. Have to move to Dexcom from libre but I’ll be fully functional in about 3 weeks. Extremely happy and excited about it!

Have Professor Partha Kar to thank a lot for this.

[mike9009]

Feirny said:

Just had the approval to be put on Hybrid Closed Loop. Have to move to Dexcom from libre but I’ll be fully functional in about 3 weeks. Extremely happy and excited about it!

Have Professor Partha Kar to thank a lot for this.

Ah that's good news. Let us know how it goes.

A mate at work is on Omnipod and seems very happy about it. He suffered a lot of hypos which has now improved massively. Only negative seems to be change over times but I don't fully understand that.

I have my review next week and last time Omnipod was briefly discussed. Thing is, I worry my hba1c is too good at 49 without many hypos, to justify putting me on it.....

[PositronicRay]

mike9009 said:

Feirny said:

Just had the approval to be put on Hybrid Closed Loop. Have to move to Dexcom from libre but I’ll be fully functional in about 3 weeks. Extremely happy and excited about it!

Have Professor Partha Kar to thank a lot for this.

Ah that's good news. Let us know how it goes.

A mate at work is on Omnipod and seems very happy about it. He suffered a lot of hypos which has now improved massively. Only negative seems to be change over times but I don't fully understand that.

I have my review next week and last time Omnipod was briefly discussed. Thing is, I worry my hba1c is too good at 49 without many hypos, to justify putting me on it.....

Similar to me, nice guidelines require an hba1c of 58 to qualify,

[Feirny]

mike9009 said:

Ah that's good news. Let us know how it goes.

A mate at work is on Omnipod and seems very happy about it. He suffered a lot of hypos which has now improved massively. Only negative seems to be change over times but I don't fully understand that.

I have my review next week and last time Omnipod was briefly discussed. Thing is, I worry my hba1c is too good at 49 without many hypos, to justify putting me on it.....

My hba1c was at 52 when I was originally given omnipod a few years ago, so everyone will get it at some point.
I’d ask them about it at your review and see if they can get you on it.

[mike9009]

Feirny said:

My hba1c was at 52 when I was originally given omnipod a few years ago, so everyone will get it at some point.
I’d ask them about it at your review and see if they can get you on it.

Had my 6 monthly review today. Now on waiting list for Omnipod, although evidently I am at the back of the queue due to my decent hba1c. Should be 6 to 8 months wait....

Quite excited about it, after 43 years of injecting insulin.

Got a stty cough at the moment which seems to be playing havoc with my blood sugars. I am almost double dosing my insulin and still they just launch upwards.... I have been told Omnipod would help sort this at times of sickness.....