Three years ago, a doctor diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes after a blood test revealed an elevated HbA1c level. He prescribed me metformin and sent me on my way with no information or instructions. I left the office feeling alone, scared and confused.
After six months of taking the medication as prescribed, I felt sick all the time and had lost 20 pounds. I found a new doctor who told me to start testing my blood sugar, aka my blood sugar, several times a day. I was already a tech YouTuber reviewing gadgets on social media, so naturally I decided to start documenting this on TikTok. I posted videos talking about my diagnosis, using a glucose meter to test blood sugar and my results.
These videos started blowing up with comments telling me to get tested for type 1 diabetes and treat my diabetes with insulin. I was told to take a C-peptide test to check for autoantibodies and get a proper diagnosis, so I went and did that lab work.
TikTok was right
The results came back positive for an adult form of diabetes known as latent autoimmune disease in adults, or LADA, also known as type 1.5, a chronic condition managed similarly to type 1. Apparently, 60% of type 1 diagnoses occur with age. 20 years old, but awareness of this is very low. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that of the more than 38 million Americans with diabetes, 8.7 million of them are undiagnosed.
As I learned more about the disease and the technology used to manage it, I made more videos. After each visit from an endocrinologist or diabetes educator, I would hop on TikTok and share with people what I learned. This is how my channel, Diabetech, began, where I show people how I manage diabetes and the technologies that exist to help people live better lives. Two years later, my hobby would become a full-time career, posting videos weekly on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as a podcast.
Here are two devices that I carry and use that everyone should know about.
Continuous glucose monitors
Shortly after diagnosis, I started wearing a continuous glucose monitor. This wearable device measures blood sugar every five minutes and sends the information to my smartphone. CGMs can be as small as two pennies stacked and are applied to the skin using an applicator. The applicator inserts a sensor, about an inch or two in length and the thickness of three hairs, under the skin.
A CGM on the author’s arm.
Wearing a CGM has made life with diabetes much more manageable for several reasons. The sensor alerts me when I have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Anticipating low glucose levels can save lives; if left untreated, it can lead to fainting or, worse, a diabetic coma. Thanks to these alerts, I have avoided scary situations and am grateful to have been diagnosed at a time when it exists.
A screenshot of blood glucose levels in the Dexcom G7 CGM iPhone app.
Real-time blood sugar readings sent to my phone help me understand how the foods I eat and the doses of insulin I take affect me. If I notice high glucose levels after a meal, I may not have dosed enough insulin to cover the meal and I may change my approach the next time I eat the same thing.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of CGM readings is their use in combination with an insulin pump to automate insulin delivery.
Insulin pumps
Insulin pumps dose insulin throughout the day to help people with diabetes maintain their blood sugar levels at a target level. There is a common misconception that people with diabetes who use a pump “have it figured out,” but that is not true. Although today’s automated insulin pumps alleviate much of the burden of diabetes for users, the pumps still require user attention and interaction.
There are two types of insulin pumps on the market, tubed and tubeless. Tubing pumps are as small as a beeper or telephone and have a tube connecting the device to an infusion site on the user. I wear a tubeless pump called the Omnipod. It is a disposable, portable pump that sticks to the body every three days, stores and injects insulin.
As an active person, I love the mobility of this device. Infusion sites for all pumps are approved in a number of areas including the abdomen, arms, buttocks and more.
Insulin pumps, like the Omnipod tubeless pump shown here, can be paired with a CGM to help regulate insulin release.
Using CGMs, insulin pumps can get the information they need to automate insulin delivery based on the trajectory of glucose measurements. When people with diabetes eat, they should always alert the pump to the number of carbohydrates in a meal and “prebolize” their insulin about 10 to 15 minutes before a meal. Without these two steps, users will likely have difficulty managing ideal glucose levels.
Ultimately, I’d like to see manufacturers create a true “artificial pancreas” – pumps that remove all user interaction and can keep blood sugar levels within the target range. The industry is making progress with meal detection technology, and the open source community known as #WeAreNotWaiting is experimenting with algorithms that have dynamic parameters and require little to no interaction.
Know the basics of diabetes technology
Many people still have difficulty managing their diabetes or don’t even receive a diagnosis. By knowing about these life-saving technologies, you will be better equipped to provide for yourself and your loved ones.
News Source : www.cnet.com
Gn Health
