I hope we are all enjoying the summer lol, UK seems a little bit up and down as always J
Has anyone seen the New SugarBEAT CGM which looks like a rival to the Abbott Freestyle Libre System and my initial thoughts are what another amazing looking device for us ? I have tried the Abbott Fresstyle Libre system which is very clever but for me it didn’t give accurate enough results and I found myself having far more lows & highs but in fairness this could just have been me. The cost of the Libre Sensors is a little bit frustrating as they are about £50 each and last 14 days so cost is quite high compared to finger sticks which are available on prescription, they also give more accurate results.
I am hoping to be able to try the SugarBEAT once it is released in the UK to give it a proper try and then can see just how good it is compared to the Abbott Freestyle Libre – watch this space.
There was also a New BG Meter System which I had spotted called the OneDrop Meter and the App is already available which you may or may not have used, it is certainly a smart looking device and the App seems very informative. Diabetes products are becoming so much more popular now to help us manage Diabetes – it is exciting times to see what is around the corner ?
If you do know of any New Diabetes Products that I may not have seen then please do let us know and I will do my best to share with everyone ?
One last thing to mention, given all the coverage on Theresa May I had not realised that Theresa May has Type 1 Diabetes which for us in the UK can only be a good thing and it will be great to hear how Theresa manages her Diabetes given what a manic schedule she must have. Reading on the web it looks as though Theresa only developed Type 1 Diabetes in 2013 which is not very common at all as it usually develops when you are younger (No offence J).
So the day has finally arrived Saturday the 28th November 4 p.m. after approximately 8 months on the waiting list I have received my Abbott Freestyle Libre (Hooray) blood glucose monitor starter kit which cost me about £135, this includes the Reader and two Sensors so should last me about 1 month. Additional Sensors cost about £45.00 each so it’s not cheap compared to using finger sticks as in the UK they are on Prescription – let’s hope the NHS can get the Libre Sensors on Prescription soon J
initial thoughts – nice box very easy to setup but where is the protective case and screen protector as the reader has a touch screen it’s just going to get scratched to bits when it’s stuck in my pocket, I wouldn’t even mind paying for them as long as they are not big and bulky ?
Firstly I took the sensor and inserter out of the box (Sorry but no I didn’t read the instructions – I am a man lol) but did have a look on YouTube for some basic tips which I must say did help a lot, you push the Inserter onto the Sensor until it clicks then remove and you are ready to apply to your skin. Its recommended to go on the back of your forearm which is very easy. I was a little hesitant when about to apply as when I have used a CGM in the past it can be slightly painful – not always but you do sometimes feel it – this was the opposite as I didn’t feel a thing.
The sensor took 60 minutes to settle then after this time you are good to go – it can take 24 hours to totally stabilise and I did find this was the case as first results were a little bit up and down compared to a BG test, so I would recommend to test you BG results while the sensor stabilises – this of course will be the case each time you insert a new sensor unless you do this 24 hours before the existing one finishes.
So I have now been wearing the sensor for almost 3 weeks and the results are far better than I expected, they can fluctuate a little bit when I have something sweet or excessive exercise as they a small lag but the fact I can see if my levels are rising or dropping really does help. If I am using the Abbott Freestyle Libre on a normal day it seems fairly accurate – I took a BG test after dinner which was rather high as 12.4 so then checked with the Libre and it was also 12.4. Having said that the next morning when I woke both the Libre and the BG meter were reading 7.4 so I had breakfast which was a Weetabix Breakfast Shake 25 carbs (Yummy) and I had 2.5 units of insulin, 1 hour later my reading on the BG meter was 11.8 but 14.2 on the Libre – confused ????
Another example, I went to bed 1.30pm with BG at 10.4 but woke up at 2:30 a.m. to a low blood sugar of 2.8 so I had a bit of a feast including glucose to eat and then when I woke up for work at 5.45am BG on my Libre system of 21.4 but did a blood glucose check and that was 18.2 – am I missing something ?
Using the reader is very easy and you can also perform a BG test as there is a test strip facility but I haven’t used this as yet, the software on the reader is quite simple to use and I am sure with time will get better. One thing coming soon is you will be able to use your Smart Phone (NFC I think) so will not need to carry around the reader – I cant wait for this WOW ?
Would I be confident enough to rely just on the Abbott Freestyle Libre and not use my BG meter – possibly not at the moment as I would always want the back up just to be 100% certain, not that this is a fault with the Libre but sometimes your body and blood sugars can behave erratically as we all know so the need for a blood glucose test in my opinion would be needed.
If you are using the Abbott Libre I am sure we would all like to know what you think – please leave your comments which will be a great help ?
Am I pleased with the purchase and will I continue – possibly but let’s see how things progress and if I can afford to keep buying the sensors J
Thanks for reading and please do comment with your experiences or if you have any questions/tips which would be appreciated ?
Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Hi, has anyone tried the Onetouch Select Plus yet – any other new BG Meters out there that I may have missed?
I have been looking at the iHealth Glucometers which look very good as well?
It was that time of the year where I have my yearly Diabetes Review Clinic and this year it was at Amersham Hospital which is a fairly large hospital and only about 10 miles from where I work. This appointment was slightly more exciting as I am now due for an Insulin Pump upgrade – yippee 🙂
So initial thoughts are which Insulin Pump do I choose from Roche, Omnipod, Medtronic or Animas – I am already using the Animas Vibe pump which has worked very well and the support has been great, saying that when I had a Medtronic Paradigm Pump the support was faultless. My initial thoughts are towards the new Medtronic Minimed 640G as I have been lucky enough to see it in the flesh so to speak – initial thoughts are wow, I am also trying to get CGM from my local PCT but as we all know in the UK this is virtually impossible. So with the research I have done I am looking at swapping over to the Medtronic 640G maybe with some sample CGM Sensors if I can speak nicely to the lovely people at Medtronic 🙂
I have looked at the Roche Accu-Chek Insight – however the only slight issue I would have is the separate handset as I already end up carrying two phones, BG Meter (Dario) and of course my Animas Pump on my belt so if it wasn’t for that I would go with an Accu-Chek Insight as it really does look amazing.
Anyway – sorry about that lets get back to my original story J
Arrived at Amersham Hospital for 1.30pm which was my appointment time with the Consultant, Nurse and DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse) and was called in to see the Nurse first of all – the Nurse downloaded all my BG Results from my Animas pump using the Diasend Software and gizmo for downloading the results. Next was to check my blood pressure which was fine, then my feet which had good pulses and no issues.
Next was in to see the DSN and Diabetes Consultant who has seen me for many years now, looking at my bg results I did seem to be running quite a few double figures so will need to tweak my basal rates but as the DSN mentioned I do get a couple of CGM Sensors in the Medtronic Minimed 640g so will make it easier to get an overview of exactly what my blood sugar levels have been doing. At the moment I do not have any dates to get my new pump or see the DSN but I will keep you updated.
Finally before leaving Amersham for home I was off for my Blood Test which I received my results this morning and my Hba1c was 56mmol or 7.3 in old language – however Cholesterol was 5.9 so may need to go back on Statin, I was very pleased with the Hba1c result 🙂
I have been using the Bayer Contour Next for a short while and just thought I would share my early thoughts on it before I next try the Bayer Contour Next USB which looks very compact J. I have used the Bayer products for a long time now and always been very happy with the design/technology and support they offer, I tend not to use the software to its full potential but moving forward the Bayer Contour Next USB it will be far easier and my ultimate goal is to get the Medtronic 640G Insulin Pump which works in conjunction with the very New Bayer Contour Next Link products so what this space.
The Bayer Contour Next now tests the blood sample 7 times before it reports the results.
Below is the Tech from Bayer :
800 test memory – store up to 3 months of your results, which is suitable if you need to maintain a record for the DVLA/DVA+
7, 14, 30, or 90 day averages
Reversible screen contrast to best suit individual needs
Easy to track your blood glucose pre-meal, post-meal and fasting
Set alarms to remind you to test
Uses the GLUCOFACTS DELUXE diabetes management software from Bayer, which helps track patterns and trends for more productive conversations during your visits with your healthcare professional
The meter is very easy to use as with most of the Bayer range and has a superb size screen for my personal needs, as always fast results and a huge memory. The Bayer Contour Next comes with a fairly good finger picker but moving forward it would be great to see some more technology from all the Diabetes Companies in relation to getting that frustrating droplet of blood from your finger, possibly like me you text many times per day and it really does take its toll on your fingertips – surely there is another answer out there ?
The only thing for me that lets down many of the BG Meters available to us is the size of the carry case which keeps your meter safe, they tend to be huge so fairly big to pop in your pocket and being a male I don’t fancy carrying a handbag or even manbag around with me lol J
The Bayer Contour Next also has a more in depth software program which I am still getting used to for editing your readings and doesn’t require that you download the Glucofacts software program which is a real plus so you can just plug it into your USB port.
Thanks for reading and I would certainly recommend giving this meter a try.
Uses CONTOUR® NEXT test strips for remarkable accuracy
The CONTOUR® NEXT range of meters all utilise the CONTOUR® NEXT test strip and have demonstrated they deliver exceptional accuracy for results you can rely on, to help you make better diabetes management decisions.
Available on prescription
Tiny sample size with easy Sip-In Sampling® helps you get the right amount of blood on your first try
Second-Chance™ sampling allows you to apply more blood if the first sample was insufficient, which helps to avoid the need for repeat finger pricking
Innovative Multipulse accuracy technology from Bayer, evaluates a single sample 7 times to ensure accurate glucose measurements, even when blood glucose levels are low. Accuracy is not affected by many common interfering substances*
No Coding technology removes the need to manually code the meter before testing, eliminating errors due to miscoding
As you may or may not know I have had many problems with my eye site over the past 10 years and I have had approx 10,000 laser burns in each eye to help correct Retinopathy and also a Vitrectomy Operation in each eye.
Please take the time if you can to look at my previous blogs relating to eye health and the importance of regular Diabetes Eye Check Up’s.
Over the years my night vision with all the treatments I have had my night vision has suffered to the point where I am unable to drive during the winter months as it tends to be dark at 4.00pm, it is so frustrating to have to rely on other people,public transport and cabs to get around as I like to think I am quite independent – my wife Gill is a huge help to me.
So what I tend to do is carry a large torch everywhere even during the summer as if I am out late (doesn’t happen much as I have three young children lol) I would be stuck or struggle a lot to find my way around even just using the torch on my phone which is pretty poor. I have tried lots of different options of torch ranging from very cheap small torches which are useless to expensive large torches which are too big.
I then cam across a company who manufacture a superb quality range of torches and head torches that I was hoping could help me.
The company is called Suprabeam and from the first enquiry I sent them I knew they could help as they certainly know their stuff, they seem to deal with people who run, ride and even climb who need a decent quality torch that they can rely on 100%. The reason I decided on a headtorch is purely because I don’t have to hold it and they are now very small and bright, especially compared to what I have used in the past. The Suprabeamheadtorches are very comfortable to wear, small but extremely bright – I can even use if I decided to cycle.
The Suprabeam head torch we decided on was the Suprabeam V3air Rechargeableas I didn’t want anything super bright but bright enough to light the path or road in front of me, this certainly does the job, I have been using this now for about 4 months and I am so pleased I bought one as it has given me so much confidence when being out during the evenings or night. It is very a small and just fits in my pocket ready for when I need it.
Personally if you are looking for a top quality Torch or even HeadTorch then have a look at Suprabeam as the products are very high quality and affordable, the staff are also very knowledgeable and not pushy at all so they will guide you to the product they think will best suit your requirements.
So here I am again for my yearly check up at the Western Eye Hospital nr Paddington London for my Diabetes Eye Check.
For me this is always a nervous time and can be a long day 😄
My appointment was for 9.40am so I left my home at about 7.30am to get the train to London which is always fun (not), it is incredible just how many people travel in and out of London expecially at rush hour. I was lucky enough to get a seat on the train that takes about 50 minutes to Paddington as I then have about a 15 minute walk to the Western Eye Hospital.
There are possibly closer places for me to have these checks but I have been going there for about 10 years now and also had laser treatment along with two Vitrectomy Operations about 8 years ago, I like the fact they can do everything there related to eyes.
Good to see a large TV which gives you an idea of the waiting time which can be quite lengthy sometimes, when I arrived it was approx 30-60 minutes to see the nurse for the eye check, photo’s of the back of your eye, lovely drops in your eye, scan the eye for any vessel leaks. This all went quite quickly and my eyes from the nurses perspective were okay and pressure good along with my actual eyesite. Really good news to hear my eyes are healthy and I am still okay to drive.
After seeing the nurse I then waited about another hour to see the Doctor who looks at your previous notes and then has a good look at the back of the eye, since my last appointment everything has remained stable which the Doctor said can be down to good blood sugar control which is not easy. I have had a lot of laser treatment previously to burn the tiny blood vessels to stop them bursting and leaking, fortunately I do not need any further laser at this time.
I did ask about my vision as I do get slightly paranoid that I can’t read a number plate but she confirmed I am well in the limits of this – great news.
So as you can imagine I am extremely happy and just proves that good control, healthy eating and basically looking after yourself does help make a difference.
I know it was a long time ago now but in some respects it is nice to get back to normality as my eating and drinking habits over Christmas & New Year have been very bad, far too much food and drink which has played havoc with my BG levels so I need to pull my finger out and get back on track 🙂
As you may or may not already be aware I have had numerous problems with my eyes and ensure I have regular eye checks to make sure nothing is missed, for my Diabetes Care I attend the Western Eye Hospital in London where I go each year – this is my last blog Western Eye Clinic.
I have also been to Specsavers for the past 5 years to basically check my vision where as the Western Eye Clinic is looking at issues with my eye health and any related Diabetes damage like Retinopathy etc. The reason I chose Specsavers is that the service I have received from Maidenhead Store has been superb and they give a great range of tests not just interested in selling you a new pair of glasses.
So I received my yearly reminder in the post and called to book my appointment at Maidenhead which as always is very easy and at a time to suit me. My appointment was on Saturday 3rd January and I was luck enough to be seen by the Branch Manager Lisa which at the time I was unaware of. Lisa went through the eye checks with me “s last pair of glasses to get an idea of how much her eyes have changed since her last eye test”, I also had a Visual Fields Test due to the amount of Laser I have had done previously for the treatment of Retinopathy – this basically involves resting your chin on the edge of a large round ball which the lights up small lights inside at different positions, you then push a button to tell the computer when you have seen each light. All these test went very well in my eyes “Sorry excuse the pun”
I was then taken in to see a very nice Optometrist called Helen who spoke to me first about my lifestyle and Medical history, Helen then went through various checks as follows and these details were taken from the Specsavers web site which is very helpful :
1. The Retinoscope
The optometrist may use an instrument called a retinoscope, which bounces a light beam off the back of your eye and back into the instrument. Different lenses focus the reflected light beam until it is steady, giving a close guide to the prescription you need.
The retinoscope is very accurate – it is used to test the sight of very small children, or people with communication difficulties who can’t easily describe how clearly they can see.
2. The test chart
The optometrist fine-tunes his findings by asking you to read the test chart through different strength lenses. The results for one eye often vary from those for the other, so each eye will be tested individually before both eyes are finally tested together.
The optometrist flips different lenses in front of your eyes that change how clearly you can see. Depending on your answers, the optometrist changes the lenses until you have the clearest, most comfortable vision possible.
3. Using the ophthalmoscope
The optometrist uses an ophthalmoscope to examine the retina at the back of the eye, including the blood vessels and the front of the optic nerve. This important test can detect changes which can indicate diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
The optometrist darkens the room and sits quite close to you, while they shine a bright light into each eye in turn using the ophthalmoscope. The light may leave shadows on your vision, but these soon fade.
4. The oxo box
You are also asked to focus on an oxo box, and say whether the illuminated lines are in line horizontally and vertically.
This indicates whether your eyes work well together – balanced and co-ordinated eyes are essential for clear comfortable vision.
5. Testing your focus
The optometrist may test your ability to focus at varying distances to decide if you need different prescriptions for distance and reading.
After this I sat down with Helen to go through her findings which for me was all okay, the only issue I have is sitting in front of a laptop all-day and having to strain to see the words clearly, we decided pair of specific VDU glasses could help. We then looked at the digital images of the backs of my eyes which are incredible to see as I could see all the scarring from the laser treatment I have had going back about 7 or 8 years – all this laser also affects my night vision massively but nothing I can do about this.
Finally, I was then introduced to Jamil who showed my lots of different frames some good and some not so good unless you are someone like Will I Am, we decided on two pairs of frames one for VDU work and one pair for normal day to day wear. I collected my glasses 1 week later and I was extremly pleased with the quality/price and service so I would highly recommend giving them a try.
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