#Diabetic Health

[typicaltypeone]

The Dexcom G6

There’s plenty of different ways and plenty of different brands of glucose monitors to help you keep track of your blood sugar. The Freestyle Libre is a pretty insurance friendly choice and a quick go to for many diabetics both type 1 and type 2.

But for those who can afford it, I use and recommend the Dexcom G6. It’s a wonderful setup that I’ve used twice in two different periods of my diabetic journey. I mention this because I’ve had two very different experiences with it based on my knowledge at the different points in time.

For beginners - I don't actually recommend using this if you’re only just starting out as a diabetic. While it is an amazing tool for later use, there is a catch to it. See, it reports your glucose levels in intervals of somewhere between fifteen to twenty minutes. On top of that it can take up to thirty minutes for insulin to kick in. As a beginner I found it very easy to “chase” after perfect numbers. I’d take medicine, get impatient, take even more, send myself into hypoglycemia, eat way too much and wind up with high blood sugar, then repeat the cycle. Be wary of this.

For average to experienced diabetics - Its amazing. Get it, use it. It’s a great way to avoid the constant pricking of your fingers. To stop being frustrated over how calloused your fingertips are getting and making it harder to draw blood. As a more experienced diabetic who understands better how insulin works now, my A1C has never been better than my second time using the Dexcom. Some perks to the Dexcom: 1. You can either use the App, or the hand held device delivered with your first package. I personally use the hand held device, as it’s more accurate and more easily picks up the signal from the monitor.

2. Super easy to charge. Comes with its own adapter and cord, and it doesn't even take two hours to fully charge it.

3. It’s water resistant! It’s waterproof up to a point, but best not to push its limits. However for just taking a bath or shower, or taking a normal swim in a pool, this thing will last you without issue. The adhesive is pretty good, though it can come slightly loose from hot water. However, its never come loose enough to ever be an issue for me.

4. If you miss one alert, it’s relentless in making sure you’re made aware. Especially good if you’re a heavy sleeper, if you miss an alert, every five minutes or so it will alert you again, while also progressively beeping louder each time. It gives me a lot of peace of mind for if my blood sugar dips during the night while i’m asleep. (I speak only for the handheld, as I’ve never tried the app. I dont know if the app also does this.)

5. Simple and easy applicator. I admit I’ve never used any other auto glucose monitor other than the Dexcom, but the applicator makes it so easy to put on. Do you feel it? Yes. But It feels like an itch, not painful and never has been for me.

6. It can later be used in conjunction with an insulin pump. I dont have any experience in this, as I still manually inject my insulin, but its a cool feature nonetheless.

Pretty awesome right? But it can be a little confusing when you first get the kit, so let me give you a nutshell layout of all the parts and what they do!

This is the applicator. You don't have to load anything into it. There is a number on the bottom on some paper that you use to help link it to your handheld device. But after removing that, all you do is take that orange tab off, press it to wherever you want your patch to be, then press the button! It inserts the sensing needle in flawlessly. I recommend rubbing along the adhesive to make sure it sticks well after using the applicator. The patch lasts ten days before needing replaced. Each applicator is only good for one use, then you discard it.

Here’s your transmitter. This tiny part is what takes the info from the patch/sensing needle, and as per its name, transmits it to your handheld/app. This piece is not automatically in the patch when you apply it to your body. You have to push it into the patch after application until it clicks. Doesn’t hurt in the slightest. It lasts for three months and can be reused until then. The patch, once taken off, can bend at a certain spot to easily remove the transmitter for the next patch.

Here’s a quick photo of what it looks like when the transmitter is locked into place inside of the patch. Warning! The adhesive can itch if you’re sensitive like me! I used to think this might be the needle poking me but trust me, that needle is not moving.

Here is the handheld device that comes with your supplies! I can personally attest that everything about this device appears as you see it in the picture. It shows you your last reported numbers, what time they’re recorded, and the arrow next to your number tells you if you’re headed up, down or steady. When setting it up it’ll ask you for basics like date and time, but it also asks you what you consider to be high blood sugar and low blood sugar, making it pretty easy to set goals for yourself as you slowly work to better control your blood sugar. I personally use the default settings. Anything below 70 is too low, and anything above 200 is too high. I still aim to stay within 90 to 150, but 200 is a good max limit I have for myself.

Something to know now that you know all your pieces; when setting up your Dexcom for the first time, it asks for a number, found either on the outside of the box, or on the bottom of the transmitter. Use the transmitter because there are at least four different numbers on the box your stuff comes in. There is only one number on your transmitter and that is the number you’re looking for. Makes it a lot easier. You’ll have to repeat this process every three months when you get a new transmitter.

To nutshell my nutshell, the only numbers you will need to be concerned with are:

The number found on the flat bottom side of your applicator, used when setting up each patch every ten days.

The number on your transmitter, used during first setup and then every three months.

Other than those, you don't need worry about any other numbers you see or find on boxes. You don’t even need to keep the boxes, though I tend to for easy storage of my applicators.

Another thing to note is that they send you 3 months worth at a time, so it’s easy to keep track of when you need a new transmitter. You need it when you simply run out of your whole batch of applicators.

And last thing I’ll say! As of this post there is a newer Dexcom out there, one meant to be worn on your arm rather than your belly. I have not used this and have no knowledge of how similar it may be to the Dexcom G6. Any questions on that should be sent to your doctor or endocrinologist.

DISCLAIMER: As always I am not a doctor or licensed medical professional. These are simply my experiences and observations as a type 1 Diabetic. You’re welcome to ask me about my experiences and personal journey but for any serious issues please seek professional help from your doctor or endocrinologist.

#keto #health #type one diabetes #diabetes #Dexcom G6 #TT1 #type 2 diabetes #type 1 diabetes #glucose monitor #Type two diabetes #Diabetic health

[beyond-the-blood-sugar]

Feasting with Finesse: Preparing for Thanksgiving with Diabetes

🍂 Navigating Thanksgiving with diabetes? Join me on 'Beyond The Blood Sugar' as I share tips for a worry-free holiday feast that's both delicious and diabetes-friendly. 🍂

As the leaves turn and the air chills, Thanksgiving approaches with the promise of warmth, gratitude, and, of course, a bounty of food. For those of us managing diabetes, this holiday can bring its own set of worries – will I be able to enjoy the feast without throwing my blood sugar out of whack? But fear not! With a pinch of planning and a spoonful of strategy, we can savor the Thanksgiving…

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#Active Holidays #Blood Glucose #Blood Sugar Balance #Carb Counting #Diabetes Management #Diabetes Support #Diabetes-Friendly Recipes #Diabetic Experiences #Diabetic Health #Gratitude and Health #Health and Wellness #Healthy Thanksgiving Tips #Holiday Eating #Insulin Management #Lifestyle Management #Mindful Eating #Mood Swings #Personal Narrative #Thanksgiving Preparation #Turkey Talk

[health245]

Diet Plan For Diabetic Patient

I am going to explain some important points regarding this discussion and listing in detail a simple but healthy diet plan for diabetic patient.   This article focuses on educated person who have the option to make critical decision on their own process due to availability of various solutions.

Most of those solutions available for diabetic will help them produce meal plans using own kitchen sources considering necessary conditions include amount fruit, vegetables, cereals etc. As there are number of sources used in nutrition it becomes difficult process particularly in middle-class of economy and so they need to consult health professionals globally deliver certain nutrition standards necessary quantity and quality. Hopefully relevant part mentioned here will convince you guys that cash may have been spent on some unnecessary solutions but the right diet should solve your problems or else medication combined with therapy time hardly do any jobs making life miserable hence

Dietary recommendations with specific instructions and supplements need to be outlined. Apart from that, patients should also be encouraged to exercise and follow a healthy diet.

#health & fitness #diet plan #diabetic health #diabetic diet

[decadeslife]

Useful Tips To Manage Your Diabetic Health during Diwali

Useful Tips To Manage Your Diabetic Health during Diwali

The countdown to Diwali feels around the corner when we start cleaning our homes, gifting our loved ones, making sweets, and whatnot, and after dussehra only few days are left for Diwali, that means back to back festival season. In India, festivals mean lots of sweets and oily food. But this is also the time when we shouldn’t forget about our health, especially for diabetic patients, it becomes…

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#Diabetic Health #stay fit in the festival season

[zurko48]

#chronic illness #actually chronically ill #chronic illness memes #chronic fatigue #chronic pain #health issues #long haul covid #long covid #covid19 #type one diabetes #type one diabetic #actually diabetic #I AM TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED!! #dysautonomia

[amaditalks]

Every year all of the big diet companies have to come up with some brand new labeling for their plans in order to encourage people to get on the January weight loss train.

This year, Weight Watchers is going further than they’ve ever gone before, by announcing that they have created a new system to give their members access to prescriptions for drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

Let me remind you that these drugs only work while you’re taking them. As soon as you stop, all of your appetite comes back. Your desire to eat returns, and because it has been artificially suppressed it may feel much stronger and less controllable than it was before you took the drugs. Many people who come off these drugs, usually because of cost (because insurers are balking at coverage for weight loss) or shortages (because so many people are taking them for weight loss, which is leaving the diabetics who need them up shit creek) or side effects report that the first weeks are really difficult, mentally painful and often binging occurs.

Additionally, all of these drugs carry a real risk of creating a terribly painful and potentially deadly condition called Gastroparesis, in which your gastrointestinal system just stops functioning, you cannot digest and process food at all.

You do not need to lose weight to be healthy. You do not need to lose weight to be beautiful or attractive, to have success, or love. You do not need to lose weight in order to pursue fitness. If you have particular health needs or goals that can only be achieved by changing the way you eat, (e.g. lowering cholesterol or blood glucose or addressing gastro issues) that does not mean that you need a weight loss diet plan, just one designed toward your needs.

But more than anything, you do not ever need to put another penny into the coffers of the multibillion dollar weight loss industry, which, if it actually had a way to take a fat person and make them thin permanently (something that cannot even be achieved by surgeries that drastically rearrange digestive systems) would be a multi quadrillion dollar industry instead. 

#cw: weight loss #cw: weight loss drugs #weight watchers #ozempic #mounjaro #diabetes drugs for fat people #new year new you old bullshit #health at every size #fatphobia

[mindblowingscience]

Scientists have repurposed human stomach cells into tissues that release insulin in response to rising blood sugar levels in a breakthrough that promises an effective way to manage conditions such as type 1 diabetes.

The experiment, led by researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine in the US, revealed transplants of gastric insulin-secreting (GINS) cells reversed diabetes in mice.

Pancreatic beta cells normally do the job of releasing the hormone insulin in response to elevated sugar levels in the blood. In people with diabetes, these tissues are damaged or die off, compromising their ability to move glucose into cells for fuel.

While GINS cells aren't beta cells, they can mimic their function. The gut has plenty of stem cells, which can transform into many other cell types, and they proliferate quickly. The hope is that those with diabetes could have their own gut stem cells transformed into GINS cells, limiting the risk of rejection.

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#science #stem #biology #health #medicine #insulin #diabetes

[mapsontheweb]

World's most Diabetic countries

#maps #diabet #health

[briarpatch-kids]

I hate how society is so fat phobic that people will question why someone with t2 diabetes needs a medication to control blood sugar more than their need to lose weight. Like maybe, just maybe, having an uncontrolled blood sugar of 300 is just a little more dangerous than you potentially having health problems years down the line. One is decidedly more dangerous.

#someone posted about weight loss patients buying up all the stock of a critically under supplied med for t2 diabetes #and people came out from under the rug screaming about how they must want fat people to die of future health problems #maybe they just want to prevent people from having dangerous health effects from uncontrolled blood sugar

[reasonsforhope]

"Sanofi on Thursday said it’s planning to cut the U.S. price of its most popular insulin drug by 78% and cap monthly out-of-pocket costs at $35 for people who have private insurance starting next year. 

In addition to its widely prescribed Lantus, the French drugmaker will reduce the list price of its short-acting insulin Apidra by 70%. Sanofi already offers a $35 monthly cap on insulin for uninsured diabetes patients.

The company is the last major insulin manufacturer to try to head off government efforts to cap monthly costs by announcing its own steep price cuts for the lifesaving hormone. 

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk made similar sweeping cuts earlier this month after years of political pressure and public outrage over the high costs of diabetes care. The three companies control over 90% of the global insulin market. 

... The change takes effect Jan. 1.

President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act capped monthly insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $35, but it did not provide protection to diabetes patients who are covered by private insurance.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent and the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, introduced a bill earlier this month that would cap the list price of insulin at $20 per vial.

Both the president and Sanders on Tuesday directly called on Sanofi to slash its prices after Novo Nordisk announced its own cuts that day.

Roughly 37 million people in the U.S., or 11.3% of the country’s population, have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 8.4 million [U.S.] diabetes patients rely on insulin, the American Diabetes Association said."

-via CNBC, 3/16/23

#insulin #big pharma #diabetes #health care #eli lilly and co #us healthcare #healthcare access #prescription drugs #biden #bernie sanders #health insurance #united states #us politics #good news #hope #it should start IMMEDIATELY and I hope their efforts to avoid gov price caps FAIL WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE #but the important thing is access to affordable insulin #so i'll take the progress #affordable healthcare

[beyond-the-blood-sugar]

The Spooky Sugar Saga: Navigating Diabetes on the Sweetest Day of the Year

🎃 Venture into 'Beyond The Blood Sugar' for a spooktacular post on managing your sugar levels this Halloween. Discover tricks to enjoy treats without a blood sugar scare! 🎃

Oh, the allure of Halloween – a night of costumes, scares, and sweets galore! But when you’re keeping a close eye on your blood sugar, this spooky spectacle can feel more like a tightrope walk over a cauldron of candy corn. Now, I adore a good sweet treat as much as the next ghoul, but over the years, I’ve learned that the key to enjoying Halloween while managing my diabetes is all about…

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#Blood Glucose #Blood Sugar Balance #Candy Moderation #Carb Counting #Diabetes Management #Diabetes Support #Diabetic Experiences #Diabetic Health #Halloween and Diabetes #Health and Wellness #Insulin Management #Lifestyle Management #Low-Sugar Alternatives #Mood Swings #Personal Narrative #Spooky Exercise #Supportive Communication #Sweet Treats

[melblink13]

Hi! I’m a chronically ill design student studying the experiences of people with chronic health conditions interacting with primary care If anyone would like to take my survey that would be great!

#spoonie #chronic illness #chronically ill #mental health #neurodivergent #pots #elhers danlos syndrome #chronic fatigue #adhd #autism #fibromyalgia #mast cell activation syndrome #chronic pain #invisible illness #sickle cell disease #diabetes

[lesbiansandco]

“you can’t let x control your life” if it didn’t i would die. if i slack off a bit or become careless (even by accident!) it would hurt or kill me. true, i can’t do everything you and others can. and it sucks. but if i want to stay safe, then x has to control my life. i’m not sorry.

#health #family shit #chronic illness #type 1 diabetes #t1d #celiac #celiac disease #tagging my medical conditions but this goes out to anyone

[healthy-dude]

Why Blaming Carbs for Diabetes is Like Blaming Water for Drowning

Welcome to my post on why diabetes isn't just a sugary death sentence but a greasy one at that. Imagine your body is like a very finicky luxury car. You wouldn't fill its tank with maple syrup and bacon fat and expect it to run smoothly, would you? Well, your body works in a somewhat similar fashion—too much junk, especially fats, clogs up the works.

Here’s the breakdown for the medically uninitiated:

The Fat Trap: Think of saturated fat as the uninvited guest who crashes on your couch (skeletal muscles), refuses to leave, and blocks the door (prevents glucose from entering cells), causing a nasty traffic jam (elevated blood sugar).

Fructose – The Wolf in Sweet Clothing: Drinking your fructose in sodas is akin to trying to put out a fire with gasoline. It rushes in, overwhelms the system, and instead of being a quick energy source, it turns into fat. That's right, that sweet drink is more like a fat keg.

Cellular Traffic Jam: Here’s a fun fact — saturated fats cause a cellular traffic jam worse than Tokyo at rush hour. It messes up the whole energy production line, leading to increased blood sugar because glucose can’t get where it needs to go.

The Historical Angle: Historically, populations gorging on fats have shown more diabetes. Surprise, surprise. Meanwhile, high carb consumers (like the rural Chinese or Okinawans with their sweet potatoes) lived their days with hardly any diabetes. Maybe carbs aren’t the bad guys after all?

Sweeney’s 1927 Revelation: Since 1927, we've known that fats mess up insulin sensitivity. That's almost a century ago, and yet here we are, still debating whether to blame sugar or fat for diabetes.

So, what do we gather from this historic and scientific mishmash? Diabetes loves fat more than carbs. It's a lipid disease, mortals.

Advice from your not-so-friendly neighborhood nutri-student: Eat less saturated fat, dodge those sweet drinks, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll steer clear of the metabolic iceberg that diabetes really is.

Remember, when it comes to your health, sometimes the simplest advice is like Occam’s razor – cutting through the complexities to reveal a solution that’s, well, painfully obvious.

Stay healthy or, at the very least, try not to actively mess it up.

#health #health and wellness #diabetes #diabetic #prediabetic #type 2 diabetes #type 2 diabetic #food #chronic illness

[zurko48]

I am being so normal about realizing how disabled I truly am (lie)

#actually autistic #autistic #autism #type one diabetes #type one diabetic #actually diabetic #t1d #diabetes #diabetic #dysautonomia #inappropriate sinus tachycardia #health issues #actually chronically ill #chronic pain #chronic illness #long haul covid #covid 19 #long covid #actually ocd

[jonquilandlace]

The continuous bombardment and the ongoing genocide pose a significant threat to their well-being. What pains me even more is that due to the lack of medications in Gaza, my Mom, who is a type 2 Diabetis patiant and was scheduled for an urgent eye surgery, have had no access to insulin or any medical care for the past 3 months. Some of my family members sought refuge in the southernmost part of Gaza (Rafah) in tents. However, my parents, and sisters have no alternative place to stay, forced to remain in the Nusierat refugee camp, which is now the subject of continuous severe bombardment since christmas started.” Am on my knees requesting for your donations. Please help where possible.

I cannot express the sadness I have over literally everything I hear about Gaza. My grandmother is also type 2 diabetic who's required eye surgery; one of my closest friends is also insulin-dependent diabetic. As someone with a hodgepodge of medical issues, as well, I can only pray for peace and medical accessibility for your poor family. I'm far from the biggest blog you could have put this in the inbox of, but I will boost this as much as I can. This is genocide, and you deserve peace.

Please, reblog and donate, if you can! Here's the masterpost of ways to help.

Free Palestine. Free Gaza.

Alert: Someone informed me the account that sent me this ask was a scam. I was unaware to this point that anyone would even… dare? Running a scam off of Palestinian suffering? It is absolutely awful to be stealing stories from real survivors for cash. However, the link provided in this post is not a scam link; this is a real link of resources, so I thought it best the post stay up. So, please, still do what you can to free Palestine; even if this story was stolen, it is still someone’s story.

Here’s the real person’s gofundme, from @buttercuparry!

#free palestine #palestine #gaza #free gaza #freepalestine #palestine will be free #i stand with palestine #gaza genocide #genocide #gazaunderattack #palestine genocide #palestine gaza #medical mention #diabetes mention #health accessibility #healthcare #medicine #ask #the graphic is here just because I want people to see this fr