[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

Has anyone else had a prescription for dexcom g6 sensors drop in their door? I've just received same and in other news for me, I'm also now T1 🤷

I've been T2 then T1.5 since 2007, LADA was ruled out via antibody testing back around 2017. The 1st inkling I've had of being moved to a T1 diagnosis was the prescription dropping in my door this morning.

Yep. I had been on insulin for a few years from around 2015-2019 went off it in Feb 2019 and kept my control tight. It's crept out over the last few months and my last Hba1c was 63/7.9 which is the highest it's been since 2008. My mobility is currently v restricted and as such I decided to go back on Insulin with an eye to tighter control until other issues are sorted.

I did bring forward an appt with my Endo team from April to December to get a med review in the meantime.

No other contact with them, them this morning a script signed off by it looks like the LTI team for the dexcom with a confirmed T1 diagnosis as the reason.

It doesn't change anything for me in treatment or management, although if I was still insulin free there would be an interesting conversation 😉 It's already on my Driving License and nothing else changes for me. It was just a little bit of a surprise to read that on a letter before I knew myself.

For anyone on the Dexcom G6? My script is for the Dexcom Platinum sensors 3 pack. The Core list F GMS number is 97629, and that's precisely what my pharmacist dispensed to me today.

Thing is these need a transmitter, and there's none in the box nor listed on Core list F that I can find?

How does one get hold of that?

Dexcom should send a transmitter direct to you every 3 months, by DHL. Nothing to do with the chemist.

Get onto Dexcom and see if the paperwork has been sorted.

Amazing story, gives some hope too. Stem cells research all the way, that’s where all the money should go, not some “artificial pancreas” nonsense

The return to a basal insulin dose has had a fairly marked effect already for me. My Hba1c in late Oct was 62/7.9 and my average out of range was @ 25%. I resumed insulin on the 10/11 and already my time in range has improved hugely. Its went from 65% in range, to 100% albeit via fingerprick rather than CGM.

I've managed to keep the basal dose quite low too, at least compared to my prior run with insulin where my basal dose was as high as 48 units regularly and sometimes higher due to trying to nail down morning highs. My new regime currently hasn't been higher than 18 units and once I get the transmitter for my CGM sorted? I can hopefully taper that down a bit more too.

My main aim is to find the balance between best impact from insulin on my BG and preventing the weight gain that I experience last time around on it. So far? It seems to be working, weight is staying stable and I'm happy with the effects so far.

Good luck with your recovery WhiteRebel, fingers crossed your op goes well.

I had my Endo review on Tuesday. Went quite well despite them issuing a script at the start of the month for Dexcom G6 and noting I'm a T1. The registrar has said that as my 2018 antibodies were negative that I'm not T1 and there is "diagnostic uncertainty". The prescription may have issued in error?🤦 Because dropping an unsolicited letter to a patient with a new diagnosis is always a great way to go.

Weirdly, whilst I have a script for the Dexcom sensor, I don't have one for the transmitter 🤷 but I am a fan of CGM and the libre was a game changer when I used that! So, I've bought the transmitter and I'll try xdrip+ to see if I can eke longer intervals out of the transmitter than 3 months to keep a cap on my costs.

I'm treating it like a co-pay 😉 free sensors and I'll cover the transmitter.

I don't think any continuous glucose monitoring devices are available on the LTI for Type 2s. If you want one you will need to self fund. Diabetes Ireland have made a submission to the government that CGMs be available on LTI scheme but what becomes of that remains to be seen.

Thanks @leche solara @banie01 for your replies I did not realise there would be a limit to the strips, looks like I have more research to do !

Appreciate the replies.😉

I agree it's crazy but, that's the system the powers that be running the LTI scheme and the clinical requirements in particular have taken.

I'm very much of the opinion the CGM and flash monitoring offers huge benefits in both real time monitoring and improvement in A1c. Research to date would support that belief too. I think if better data via CGM offsets medication, and delays onset of diabetic complications? That it's very much money well spent.

Wait a second, you can run a Dexcom with non-Dexcom software? Did I just buy a phone I didn't need?

Aww, feck. I couldn't run their software on my LTE tablet that I have a sim in to use as a phone. It flat out forbids you from running it on anything not on the list (I'm guessing it's a medical testing issue or something?). Bought a phone that works but the screen is much smaller so I find it a lot less useful.

Thanks for the links, I need to figure this all out.

I got mine recently too. I was told to wait until I was called to set it up so I have it all sitting here while I'm using test strips like a common peasant. I'm guessing the Dexcom person is going to show me how to use their app. So I'll swap over my sim and the third-party app as soon as that's out of the way. Expect questions when I have it up and running.