Is your CGM really helping or hurting your diabetes management?
In no way am I trying to tell you to rip off your device. I don’t think I have gone overnight without it in months. Whenever I am without data, I panic. Trust me, I get it.
AND-I didn’t always used to be like this. We as humans develop habits and build neurological pathways in our brains signaling our bodies to perform tasks like eating sugar when we feel a learned symptom of a low, or change a pump site when we hear a certain beep rhythm indicating a near-empty reservoir, etc.
When we were first diagnosed with diabetes it was all new, all of it. Forced into trying to understand a million different tasks at once, we simply were overwhelmed with so many different pathways to learn for ourselves, I want to remind us that the CGM is simply a tool, a guide, an indication of what “could” happen with our blood sugar, NOT a guaranteed anxiety alarm.
Over the last several weeks in almost all of my sessions I listened to parents share their concerns about CGM follow, remote monitoring, and yes we all want the best for our children.
AND I guarantee that if there is a signal loss, or “temporary error” or if the device is ripped off at recess, that your child will likely still be safe.
My biggest advice for you as an adult with T1D or a parent, is to continue to listen to your body, and your symptoms, ask your kiddo questions like “What was it like to feel low today” What is something you can say to your teacher or friends to let them know you feel icky.
Sometimes when we rely SO heavily on the arrows or the rate of change we don’t necessarily give ourselves or our kiddos a chance to think critically about what’s actually happening in their bodies or self-advocate for their own needs-this is the biggest life skill in my opinion.
We often see a 150 ?? and think-I must intervene now or else.
- Pause, prioritize – say to yourself…right now at 150 I am safe, my child is safe.
- Arrows don’t always = action. Take a step back, do I really need to do anything with this information?
- Am I using the CGM correctly? Is it helping me overall, or is it causing me to take more action than I did prior to having it?
- What is my overall goal with the CGM? Increase time in range? Focus on one chunk of time during the day, and celebrate the little shifts and victories. Always!
Still need more support? Free mental consults are always available.
Book your FREE consultation with me today!
Email anna@integrateddiabetes.com
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One Response
Thank you, Anna. Wise and practical advice.