Topic 1: 

It's like the CGMS people were in my space today. I sent a text message to my Dexcom rep this morning (because he seems to respond better to a text than a phone call) to see if he could give me some information about my insurance company's new policy regarding CGMS. I didn't hear from him (no surprise), but I did get an e-mail from the nurse who is working on my behalf to see what the *&%$ is up with this disposable coverage crap.

She said:
I called XXX Member Services and the representative checked the plan for Durable Medical Equipment. She said the exclusion is for disposable equipment unless it is necessary for the equipment to be effective. This makes sense but we need to have the company send a predetermination so we have record of an approval or a denial. The XXX representative said there is no record of a predetermination or a request for preauthorization.

So this is good news as far as I'm concerned because the disposable equipment is necessary for the equipment ot be effective. The nurse is calling the main Dexcom number and I also gave her the number for the people I worked with at the medical supply company.

Topic 2:

I had a sensor go bad on me last week. And it was such a bad diabetes day (see my last two posts) that I took Dex off for the whole weekend. And strangely felt OK without it, which made me nervous that I felt OK with out it. Anyway, the sensor going bad made me worry just a bit. I had one of those nasty highs that just wouldn't go away (stupid chocolate chip cookie from Paradise Bakery; oh, and a ton of stress). The line on Dex looked hideous as it climbed and climbed. It was like that cliff hanger game on The Price is Right. Made the same noise, too.

Well, Dex had me close to 400, but my OneTouch still had me in the mid-300s. I just wonder if the sensor failed because the high was relentless and/or because it went up so fast or because I had the sensor in a bad place on my belly. I had been having good luck with the sensor for a day or two and that high was the first super-high with that sensor.

Topic 3:

I still often feel heavy with Toohey and Dex hanging out on my pants pockets. I still sometimes wonder if I really "need" Dex. I still sometimes wonder if Dex is overkill (especially since I survived an entire weekend without it). But overall, the benefits it provides outweigh any doubts I have. (I downloaded Dex for the first time last week and the information it gathers is absolutely out of this world.)

Topic 4:

For the second time in 5 years, my sister and I will celebrate our birthday (no, we're not twins) on Super Bowl Sunday (Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004, was the last one). Talk about a double-trouble carb day. Thank heaven for Dex. Love you, E!