Overall, I like the Dex. I like looking at a nice, steady line first thing in the morning that confirms my overnight basals are set right. I like watching a pretty, pregnant rise and fall on the Dex showing that I've dosed appropriately for a meal. I like being able to push one button quickly while I'm working to see if I'm rising, falling or holding steady — I'm spending less time testing. I like that most of the time Dex is pretty close to my OneTouch.
 

I like that I found out I may be experiencing dawn phenomenon based on one morning's unexplainable rise from the 90s upon waking to the 150s before breakfast. Which reminds me that I'm not doing anything wrong before bed and that I may need to adjust my early morning basals slightly.
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Walking around this morning while getting dressed for work Toohey flopped around on my left hip and Dex was flopping on the right.
 

The Mr. laughed. "You look like a gunslinger," he said.
 

Night one with Dex was good and bad. I clip Toohey to my underwear or pants when I sleep, but I left Dex on the nightstand last night. As I turned my back to the nightstand, though, I wondered if Dex would still be able to pick up the signal from my abdomen. Obviously it would, I thought as I drifted off, otherwise it wouldn't be an effective tool.
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I get a lot of questions about how I like my CGMS. And sometimes, I just don't know how to answer. I love the IDEA of my CGMS. I love that there is something out there that shows me a constant stream of blood sugar information. I love that it will alarm me before I get a crashing low or start soaring high.

But in the execution of it all, I really don't like it. Yes, I'm very grateful that I have access to this technology. Insurance pays for it, which makes it less burden and more blessing. But overall, it isn't as great as everyone thinks it is.

Let me just outline my most recent use of the CGMS so you can see and decide for yourself if it's worth the hassle:

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For the past two weeks or so, my blood sugars have been running high. I had lowered my basals when I came back to school because I was having too many lows with my new schedule. I'm guessing that the basals need to be raised again since I've slowly adjusted to the schedule and I'm hitting exam times so my stress is increased.

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I have to say that I was a little stunned last week when I found out that my insurance company had changed its policy regarding continuous glucose monitors. While I don't know exactly what that means yet, it's likely that the change will be in my favor (i.e., no more of this "disposable coverage" BS). At least, I hope.
 

One of the benefits my company offers is the use of a health company that advocates on our behalf for things like figuring out what you may owe after a hospital stay or what gets applied to your deductible. Basically, these people are in the health-care trenches and can help you sort out any issues or problems you're having.
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I'm mad. I'm so mad I'm numb.

You know when you've been waiting and waiting for something (i.e., a package to arrive) that you stop looking for it because you know it won't be there?

Well, when my DexCom starter kit didn't show up on Saturday (which I kind of knew would happen because I'm sure Saturday deliveries cost extra) I was positive I could expect it today since I was explicitly told I'd have it no later than Monday.

But, since I had been waiting two weeks for it, I had almost forgotten about it. Almost. I had actually been thinking about it most of the day, thinking about forgoeing the house work I have tonight to read the user's manual and watch the clock during the minimum three-hour charge time for the receiver.

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