I would love to have a service dog that could tell if I were having issues - but I won’t have a dog as long as i am part of the online gaming community [seriously afraid of being swatted, and the first thing cops do when they hit a house is shoot the dogs.]
I actually now use the Freestyle Libre, 14 day sensors installed on the back of the arm. I can pretty much check my glucose constantly without sticking my fingers [owie, neuropathy in my hands make it torture] There are other sensors that instead of having to swipe a reader will send to your cell phone. Some people are biohacking the bluetooth enabled glucose monitors and the insulin pumps to make effectively an artificial pancreas.
My CGmonitor and insulin pump are connected by bluetooth tech. Ideally I don’t have to worry about my levels.
I still have glucose issues, not because I’m non-compliant. I follow my diet to the letter. Rarely do I eat outside of it. I drink the nasty protein drinks because I’m underweight and need calories.
My issues stem from my long-term kidney infection and its subsequent failure.
Until my surgery I’m managing the best I can. Bear, the best boy Siamese and his sister Meeko are on the case. Backing up technology is their specialty!
Bear should get treats from all of us for helping you, What a wonderful thing to do!
My Rocky (now gone) was my empathy cat, always near and concerned when I wasn’t feeling well. I am constantly amazed by how tuned into us our pets are. So how were the ribs?
Oh the ribs were great. Maybe a titch spicy for my taster. Son-of-a-wrek tends to be on the more is better philosophy.
I like the term 'Empathy ’ cat. If he wasn’t Siamese I’d describe Bear; ‘empathetic.’
I think he knows he’s ticked-off everyone else around here and if I go away he may not get his liver treat. You can never REALLY tell. (:))
Compliance is a funny thing … Back when I first got the older version of the libre, I had an absolute blast - my doc said to take a couple months and see what different foods did and to not worry over much if an occasional reading was a spike as long as in general I stayed inside the numbers we have me on [who know I could tank to 45 without showing any effects :eek:] so I determined that I could actually eat something ‘high glycemic and absolutely forbidden’ and barely a twitch, and something low carb, low calorie, low fat and pop a spike into the low 200s … I had been eating 1800 cal a day for so long I was dialed right into foods and portions that when I started losing tons of weight I figured it was medication adjustments catching up to me, after all my [pre libre finger sticks] testing showed me constantly hovering around 85. Turns out it was actually cancer going to town on the glucose and growing like wildfire. Now the cancer is dealt with, and I am stepped down from 4000+ calories a day I have stopped losing weight and started gaining til I titered back to 1800 cal a day and have stopped gaining or losing. However I have noticed that I can actually in the middle of the night eat a candy bar, and nothing, barely a wiggle … but as long as I maintain stasis, and no more cancer pops up, I am happy. THough I occasionally will play with my food to see what a portion does =)
I’ve been diabetic since i was an infant. If I’ve learned anything it’s that my disease is my disease. All diabetics are different. My hunger and food fetish stuff is from years of trying to maintain a balance and restrictive diets.
Until about 18mos ago, I was perfectly in compliance. I could feel my glucose rising or falling and was able to adjust on the fly. Can’t do that anymore.
My main doctor(endocrinologist) has talked to me about aging and how it’s gonna affect me going forward. My use-by date is passed. I’ve had very few complications up until now. So I feel pretty lucky. Evicting Pancho will put me back into a place where I can regain some normalcy. Both my doctor and the surgeon say there’s no reason I can’t achieve that. Fingers crossed.
FWIW Freestyle Libre has apps that allow you to read it with either iphone or Android (Freestyle Librelink) While it doesn’t automatically send it to your cell phone, it has other benefits such as being able to send results to your doctor or family members. I suspect automated monitoring will be coming where it will alarm you if your sugar is too high or too low.
