Living With T1 Diabetes

It has been a little less than 2 weeks (12 days to be exact), since I started using my Freestyle Libre CGM. Long story short: I love it!

Pros

The main reason I love my Abbott Freestyle Libre is the fact that I have only had to check my blood using a finger prick about 1-2 times per day. Normally, when I’m LO on the CGM, to see how low I really am (I haven’t gone below 2.1) and to check my blood sugar before bed for peace of mind.

The Sensor is pretty small when compared with the Dexcom. In fact, most people have no idea I have a needle stuck in my arm all day long. The sensor is also surprisingly comfortable. Other than the time my nephew tried pulling it out of my arm, I don’t notice it at all.

I love the fact that I can check my sugars as much as I want to, especially while I’m out walking my dog. It is super convenient when I go for dinner with friends. Instead of pulling out my glucose monitor and having old test strips fall over the floor, I just scan my arm.

It is also very interesting to see what your blood sugars are at while you are sleeping. Not that surprisingly, this is when my blood sugars are at the highest. I have fallen asleep before and woke up in the hospital, so for me, I prefer to be on the higher side throughout the night. It’s best to always have your blood sugars level, but as my doctor says, “When in doubt have a juice box. Better to wake up a little high than to not wake up at all.” Although, now that I can see what my blood sugars are doing I can be a little more confident with my evening snacks. I can cut my snacks down to only 15g instead of 24-30g.

The battery life on the monitor lasts a long time. I’m not even half way through my battery and I’m on day 12 of using it!

Cons

To be honest, there aren’t many. For me the only cons, aren’t really cons at all. A little obsessive, when checking my sugars now, is an understatement. I try to correct anything over 7.7mmol/L. I never really worried about high blood sugars in the morning, but now I never want to see anything over 7.9mmol/L at anytime during the day.

I’m also obsessed about my average glucose, which is why I’m trying to level out my overnight sugars, again, not a terrible habit.

You can’t set thresholds, but you can set alarms. Meaning, if your blood sugar is dropping the CGM won’t let you know. Once you scan your sensor, you can set alarm to re-check your sugars in 15 minutes.

I have noticed that the readings on the CGM differ to those on my OneTouch. Which, by the way, is completely normal. At first it bothered me, but in reality, they only differ by about 0.3-0.5mmol/L. When I’m low, I just double check with my glucose monitor.

Another con, is the fact that it is on your arm, so when you’re holding little ones, they’re curious. Like I mentioned before, my nephew tried pulling it off my arm. So just be careful and aware. I’m sure if I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, he wouldn’t have even noticed it.

Bra straps! When pulling up (or down) your bra straps (ladies), lift it over the sensor, otherwise you might pull it. Mine hasn’t fallen off, but it has been pulled at a few times.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I love this CGM. The Freestyle Libre is super easy to use. It is an awesome tool for those who are trying to level out their blood sugars. I have had pretty good A1Cs but I think my next one will be my best yet. I will start to use my BG app, to calculate carbohydrates again, so that I can get even better glucose numbers!

Stay tuned, I will be writing a follow-up post after 4 weeks using the Freestyle Libre!

DISCLAIMER:
I am not a medical professional and should not be taken as such. I am only speaking from personal experience. Talk to your doctor about any health concerns you may have regarding your diabetes.

Buy Freestyle Libre Sensor Stickers, insulin pump stickers, Dexcom stickers, and other diabetic accessories from Type W1N. There are so many designs to choose from for men, women, and children!

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