A couple days earlier we had talked about the continuous glucose monitor. His eyes lit up when I explained it to him. For an obsessively compulsive control freak like Charlie, I was describing the Holy Grail.
Charlie would control time and space if the powers of nature would allow it. And with his telemarketer-like persistence, he just may some day. As it is now, he’s a walking, talking Timex. With a glance downward to his pump, he is quick to remind me when I’m three minutes late for just about everything.
To know what his blood sugar is all the time? To use the pump screen as leverage when making a case for a snack? Charlie saw endless possibilities.
"As you can clearly see in exhibit A. (i.e. the continuous glucose monitor), I need you to feed me at least 20 carbs; preferably a small bag of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies. I rest my case."
I was lying with Ben, trying to get him to go to sleep when Charlie popped his head up from his bed.
Charlie does most of his out-loud thinking when I’m trying to get his little brother to sleep.
"Dad, when am I going to get the pump that shows my blood sugar all the time?"
"I’m not sure," I whispered back to Charlie. "We need to look into it."
"Because I feel kinda low right now but I’m not really sure."
He paused.
"It’s just that it’s a lot of work to put the light on and then clean my finger with an alcohol wipe and then put the test strip in the meter and then clean the blood and then go downstairs to get a juice box," he said, his voice rising and falling for emphasis.
"It would be easier to just look at the pump," he added.
When I was 8 I wanted a G.I. Joe.
When I was in the 4th grade, I was working on building my Nancy Drew collection. My 10-year-old daughter is really excited about the blue pump she's gonna (hopefully) be getting next month.
I can understand Charlie's pain. I went through most of sixth grade unable to read the blackboard -- and I knew it was me because my classmates didn't have the same difficulty. Despite my complaints, my parents would not take me to the eye doctor until they got a (post-standard-screening) note from school requiring it. (Note that back then, medical plans didn't cover routine vision care or corrective lenses. Money was an issue.)
I was just thinking the other day how much I hate that Riley is really excited about getting a new pump. We are looking at the Animas Ping and Riley loves that it comes with a remote. Seems like he should only be excited about a remote control car or something.
I love that Charlie is so involved in his care Trev's dr. keeps bring up a CGM - but I am not ready. Let me know how your research etc. goes. I am curious! Pennylane - we have the Ping and LOVE the remote.
Some advice. I have been using a Real-Time Guardian CGMS for 15 mos. My A1C has come down a full point, which is great. But you have to understand the reality. These devices read your interstitional fluid, not the actual blood, so the numbers can be off. You have to focus on the trends (ups and downs) more so than the numbers. YOU CAN NOT rely on the numbers for treatment. Finger sticks are still required. The arrows are your friends. Sometimes I feel like I am babysitting my CGMS because of the timing factor it demands. Your son is only 10. That's alot to put on a kid. I've been Type 1 for 45 yrs. I don't feel my lows, but otherwise have no major complications. God is good. Take Care
Hi Carey. I agree with Jan. I have been using a MM GGMS on and off for about 4 months. It does help to see the trends; and I can fore stall a rise or low( particularly when exercising) by looking at the graph on the pump. The Carelink software is awesome.. and the CGM just yesterday helped me to see how really long that tail of higher blood sugar is after a fat-laden buffet meal..
But IT is a LOT OF WORK.,., NOT LESS work than checking your blood sugars, which STILL MUST BE DONE to make treatment decisions.
I would suggest it for Charlie if he really needs it for hypo-unawareness.. but it sounds like he is not unaware, and neither am I after 42 years Type One.
I use it to keep my ranges tighter and to exercise more frequently without fears of lows. But it is a lot of work for a young kid and a lot of finagling( hope I spelled that one right) of the data.
God Bless,
Brunetta
As a child I dreamed of the day when I could look at my watch and see what my blood sugar was. 20 years later I got a CGM and while it drives me mad at times, I absolutely love it. It's not a magic cure and it has its faults, but it's a vast improvement on life without it. In case it helps, I wrote about the pros and cons of CGM here - http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2009/04/16/to-cgms-or-not-to-cgms/