Yesterday we gave ourselves and our loved ones a big pat on the back for one thing we are great at. Today let’s look at the flip-side. We probably all have one thing we could try to do better. Why not make today the day we start working on it. No judgments, no scolding, just sharing one small thing we can improve so the DOC can cheer us on!
Damn, is it just me, or is this topic hard?? I feel like there are so many things I could chose from. You’d think after over 32 years with Type 1 I’d have it all down and be perfect by now. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Something tells me I’ll always have some diabetes related task that I could improve on. And that was really what I had in mind when I wrote today’s topic. The aim IS NOT to beat ourselves up and make a huge list of things we need to fix. Instead, the aim is to head in the right direction by picking just one small thing to start working on TODAY. And with that in mind, here is just one thing I can (and will) improve:
I’ve developed a bad habit of procrastinating when it comes to my CGM low alarms. It might send up a “Low Predicted” flair and I’ll promptly clear it and go back to whatever I’m doing. If I’m especially engrossed in something, I tend to ignore the actual low alarms also. My CGM can tell me that my blood sugar is 48, and I might ignore it because I don’t feel low. The fact is, I have the CGM because I usually don’t feel my lows so telling myself that the CGM must be wrong because I don’t feel low is nothing short of idiotic.
So starting today, I will test each time a “Low Predicted” or “Low” alarm sounds. I rarely ignore the high alarms, but I’ll make sure I don’t backslide on those either.
What diabetes task do you feel you could improve?
Just found your blog! I'm also type 1! I do the same thing with ignoring CGM alarms and I need to work on that too. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a cgm but I can imagine how hearing the alarms enough would make it easy to ignore them. Awareness makes the difference so you've done that by writing about it and I'm sure you'll be able to get back to paying attention to those alarms :D
ReplyDeletewe don't have a cgm right now but I have heard this many times with people who do have one. Happy testing!!
ReplyDeleteI don't wear a CGM but do you test with a separate testing device after the CGM tells you that you are low? Is this to verify the accuracy of the CGM?
ReplyDeleteYes, Drew, that is exactly right. All CGM readings should be confirmed with a finger stick before treating. The technology is still pretty new and inaccuracies can happen.
DeleteInteresting! Thanks for clearing that up!
DeleteI try to ignore those alarms, but it's hard. I try to, by not look but feel, clear it when I feel the pump vibrate against my hip. I must get it wrong, because thirty seconds it's doing it again, trying to get my attention. I must've cleared - or tried to clear - alarms a thousand times without seeing what the alarm is really about. They sure are persistent, those Medtronic alarms. (Btw- I must've slept through four or five hours of METER BG NOW alarms last night after changing a sensor and going to bed)
ReplyDeleteit's like a new year's resolution up in here! nice! :)
ReplyDeleteI think Shannon is right - we are all making D-New Year's resolutions! I tend to ignore the alarms also if I don't feel low - the reason for having it in the first place is because I don't feel low!
ReplyDeleteI love today's prompt. Instead of making me feel bad about what I could do better, it gave me some incentive to improve! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that those alarms could get annoying after awhile. I'm glad you are going to pay better attention because I want you to take care of yourself!
We get so annoyed with Dex, but he is so persistent! Just thi I of him as a trouble child that needs extra attention.
ReplyDeleteGood luck. I hope it helps and encourages you to do it more and it won't seem like such a pain.
ReplyDeleteKaren, you're not alone! After this many years, I feel like we should be given some kind of "free pass" to mess up at least 1 thing!;) I give you kudos for recognizing what you could do better and acting on it! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen i get the low alarms I compare with my meter and more than half the time my meter indicates I do not need to treat. The Dex keeps giving me numbers that are lower than my meter. I got tired of that and set my Dex to alarm when my BG is 60. Now it alarms less frequently. That works for me since I have no problems when I am in the 60s.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one. I also tend to ignore the "Low Reservoir" waRNING until I'm running on empty - just "too busy" to stop and change my set. duh.
ReplyDeleteI should probably work on treating the lows a little sooner too. *sigh*
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