Although I’ve been taking some breaks from wearing my Continuous Glucose Monitor now and then, I consider it non-negotiable when I'm traveling. I often don’t feel my lows until my blood sugar is well into the 40s, so I need that safety net when I’m traveling and sleeping alone. I strategically waited to insert a sensor until the very last minute before I left, hoping to make it last during the entire trip. I hate changing out the CGM when I’m away, but I believe in being prepared so I packed everything I’d need if I had to do a new CGM in D.C. Or so I thought.
I wear my sensor completely taped over with Tegaderm, and there are two reasons why I do this. First, if I don’t I tend to accidentally rip the sensor out in record time. And second, if any water gets under my sensor I end up with big, red welts. Unfortunately, I must not have done a good job with the Tegaderm this time, because it started to peel up. I awoke on Sunday with a red welt and I knew I’d have to pull the sensor and find a fresh spot to put a new one. No problem, right? Wrong! As I pulled out my supplies I realized I’d forgotten to pack one thing. The inserter.
Cue the panic!! Quite honestly, I still find the sensor’s needle to be a scary big-ass harpoon! When putting it on with the inserter it ranges from kinda-hurts to not-bad-at-all, with an occasional holy-shit-that-hurt thrown in there. I’ve heard of people inserting them manually, but it wasn’t something I ever wanted to try.
Of course, diabetes can throw a wrench into the best laid plans, and over the years I've just learned to adjust. I didn’t have my inserter but I knew I needed a functioning CGM, so the only thing to do was to suck it up. I took a few deep breaths. I told myself it wouldn’t be that bad. And I manually plunged the needle into me. Did it hurt? Yup. Did I wonder if I got it in properly? Yup. Did it give me accurate readings for the rest of my trip? Sure did - in fact the following morning the number on my CGM and the number on my meter were exactly the same.
Even after 33 years with diabetes, some situations and devices can seem scary. But the important thing is being safe and healthy, so sometimes I just have to suck it up. And when I do, I can't help feeling a little bit proud of myself.
** My Medtronic disclosure can be found here. **
Ouch. so glad you took the plunge though and stayed safe and informed.
ReplyDeleteBravery! I love it! Can't wait to hear about your trip.
ReplyDeleteI've always been one to shy away from inserters, but when it comes to that thing, I use it. Kudos to you for giving it a shot (and making it work!)
ReplyDeleteOh... I'm not sure I could do that...
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your reports!
You are brave. I don't know if I could have done that. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteWow! I don't think I could have done that, way to go!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has the DexcomG4 and the sensor and inserter are all one piece. One huge, giant scary-looking syringe-type thing. And even though she KNOWS that a sensor insertion does not hurt one bit (her words) she still gets a nervous feeling in her stomach when she sees that big ol' thing. I'm impressed you were able to look at that harpoon and still be able to jab it in to you!
ReplyDeleteHoly shit, Karen! That is some next-level bravery right there!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I was cringing while reading this :( I cover mine with Tegaderm, then use a skin prep wipe about an inch or less around the Tegaderm, then I put on Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Premium First Aid Tape around the Tegaderm. I have to use the skin prep otherwise I get welts from the tape, but it stays on forever this way. I remove it after a week, re-charge my transmitter and redo everything. I can go at least 2 weeks this way with no issues, and no pull outs!!
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