Most days I'm the one who grabs the mail before coming in the house. Most days I'm the one who sorts through and throws the bills in a pile and the junk in the trash. Most days I ignore pretty much anything from an insurance company.
Which is exactly what happened the day before yesterday. I didn't notice the envelope from my insurance company until this morning while I was battling with No. 2 to get dressed/eat breakfast/quit fussing/stop acting like a brat.
The envelope was thick--unlike an explanation of benefits envelope--and I knew it was the explanation of the denial of my CGMS. It was addressed to my endo, with me as a CC. My claim was apparently reviewed by a "medical policy administration medical director, board certified in hematology and internal medicine." Their official stance is that they consider the long-term use of continuous glucose monitoring devices for home self-monitoring of blood glucose to be experimental and investigational. I think "experimental" and "investigational" is a load of hooey, but I don't make the rules.
I don't like to give up and I really don't feel like I've been beaten since I still have an outlet with another appeal. It's just that I feel pretty happy with the way things are going now. The CGMS was a little distracting, time consuming, not always right and frankly a slight hassle.
I've decided not to appeal. Yes, I've had some pretty low lows (two in the 30s) that I didn't have symptoms for, and there are times when I go over 200 and don't have symptoms, but I think what will actually be better for me is to pay more attention to my body's signals and what I'm eating.
I've decided not to appeal mainly because I'm not 100% sure that the device would do me much good on a daily basis. And I'm sort of happy with having only one gizmo attached to me right now.
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November 20th, 2009
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03-13-2008 11:47 AM EDT by Michelle Kowalski
Categories: Type 1 Insulin & Pumps Emotions Real Life
Tags: CGMS
Views: 1202
Categories: Type 1 Insulin & Pumps Emotions Real Life
Tags: CGMS
Views: 1202
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Michelle Kowalski
Michelle Kowalski, a writer, editor and photography hobbiest living in Phoenix, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in February 2005. In January 2008, as part of her quest to start on an insulin pump, Michelle learned that she actually has type 1 diabetes.
(Read More)
Michelle Kowalski, a writer, editor and photography hobbiest living in Phoenix, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in February 2005. In January 2008, as part of her quest to start on an insulin pump, Michelle learned that she actually has type 1 diabetes.
(Read More)Kim Doty
Kim is a computer systems administrator for a major food manufacturer
and lives in Colorado with her husband, Steve, and their children. She
currently battles the bulge and tries to develop an exercise habit to
better manage her blood sugars.
(Read More)
Our Other Bloggers: Lindsey Guerin, Brenda Bell, Carey Potash, George Simmons, Nicole Purcell, Scott Marvel, Kerri Sparling, Julia, Kim is a computer systems administrator for a major food manufacturer
and lives in Colorado with her husband, Steve, and their children. She
currently battles the bulge and tries to develop an exercise habit to
better manage her blood sugars.
(Read More)
this is a test
Michelle,
If it's any comfort to you, my endo isn't real cracked up about the CGMS. She says that in a few years the technology will be a lot more accurate, but for now, we do best with our finger sticks. Once you and Toohey get it together, you will have more stable numbers and be able to tell those highs and lows quicker probably. I'm not appealing for one either, just happy with my pump.....coming soon!
Mousie
I'VE HAD DIABETES FOR 55 YEARS. SINCE I WAS 6 YRS. OLD.
MY ENDOCRENOLOGIST SAID I'D BE A PERFECT MATCH FOR A PUMP. WELL, BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND I, WE'VE DECIDED AGAINST ONE. NUMBER 1, I'M JUST SPOILED IN THE WAY I DO THINGS NOW, AND I FIND THAT A CHANGE LIKE THAT WOULD BE TOO FRUSTRATING FOR ME.
I'M HAPPY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUCH GOOD LUCK WITH THE PUMPS, BUT FOR ME NO.
I've been at this thing for 42 years. My a1c is higher than my doctor wants. I chack 4 times a days. Still isn't where I want it. Don't give up. It's just a tricky thing. what works one day doesn't work the next day.
Listen to your body very quitely when you are low and maybe you will feel something that is different. Mine feels like a hair tickling my eye on the right eye lid only. Just for a second..
My insurance will not pay for a CGMS and I am not yet sure if I even want one. I find that that may be too much information for me at this time in my life. I tend to sometimes overcorrect when I see that my post prandial reading is rising from an insufficient bolus, or just run of the mill "unknown highs". I know I will probalbly want to do this with the CGMS as well. I really do not like to wait 2 1/2 hours fo rmy blood sugars to drop to my target range. My body tells me when i AM HIGH OR LOW:And since I do not have hypogycemia ( I know what the irritated crazy feeling i get at below 70 means, and I start getting drowsy and sleepy if I am over 200-220. i REALY DO NOT WANT TO BE HOOKED UP TO ANYTHING ELSE. JUST THE PUMP IS WONDERFUL FOR ME.