New diabetic needs a tester. We heard there is a kind that doesn't require sticking your finger throughout the day. The Libre? You stick a sensor on your arm? I imagine it's quite cost to use? Anyone with experience? Seems like a good idea in the beginning because it's all so overwhelming and this simplifies things by using your phone and looking at your levels. Thanks!
What you’re asking about is called a “continuous glucose monitor” or CGM. Dexcom and Libre are the two most popular brands.They can cost anywhere from $0 to $200/month. You’ll still want a finger-stick monitor though as they are more accurate and are necessary from time to time.
Would you say that using Libre or Dex is a good starting point to learn quickly? I would pay it for him just for peace of mind.
Definitely. At least for a couple months so you can see broadly how your body reacts to different foods, exercise, meds, sleep, stress, alcohol, etc. I started with Libre and switched to Dexcom, which I prefer. But both are good. You don’t need to buy a reader if you have an iPhone or Android.
You will want a blood meter as well. I like my Accu- Check “Guide Me” and Softclix lancet. Use the CGM as your guide, but the finger-stick helps calibrate the meter and should be used to confirm really high or low CGM readings.
Finally, you can do your own A1c tests at home as well. I do those every 3 or 4 months in between my real bloodwork.
If you’re on any meds (other than metformin) ignore all my advice and ask your doctor instead.
Thanks for your specific advice!
Check with your physician as insurance may be able to cover most of the cost. I pay about $30 USD out of pocket for a months supply.
Oh thank you!
I get it now. Thanks. All this info is helping me tremendously so he doesn't have to think of all these questions. He seems to have brain fog...for lack of a better term and I am motivated to helping him navigate this
I asked my doctor for a prescription for Libre3, shortly after I was diagnosed.
Some insurance will pay for them. Some require that you be on insulin to get them.
If your doctor prescribes them, and your insurance doesn't pay for them, you can pay for them yourself.
The probe is a tiny wire. I never feel it when applying the sensor.
It gives you minute by minute BG reading and a nice report for your doctor.
I now only wear one about 2 weeks out of 10. I know what I can't eat, how much I can eat. At first I wore one for about 3 months straight. One every 2 months isn't very costly.
I just wear one occasionally to check.
Thank you. That makes sense. Does the machine just work by paying for weeks at a time? Or is it monthly on and then if you don't pay it doesn't work?
You buy the sensors which last 2 weeks each.
It seems like a smart thing for my guy to use. It will simplify things in the beginning.
CGM is good to learn how your diet affects your glucose. Not sustainable long term as it can get costly. My GP gave me a box to try. I’ll start in Jan after all the festive feasting hehe
I was thinking that--you it for a few months to learn. But it's 200 a month?? Yikes.
Usually a CGM depends on your insurance company. You get what they cover.
Finger pricks are necessary though. Just not near as often. They are great tools, so much that im in remission and happily pay out of pocket for them still, but finger pricks should be done before any treatment.
They have a 20% margin of error.
Can you explain what "finger pricks should be done before any treatments"? What treatments? Thx.
Fixing a high or low. Don't give insulin, or carbs without a finger prick. If the cgm says 60mg and no symptoms. Finger prick to confirm first
Just so you know, you should still have a blood glucose monitor on hand because a cgm can have delayed reporting and the instant read of the finger prick will be more accurate.
Thank you for this advice. M
I love my Libre 3. Lasts 15 days and never falls off. Constant glucose readings to my cell phone show me how bad I'm doing when I eat junk food!
SO MUCH BETTER than stabbing my fingers 10 times acday! A pack of 7 costs me $115.00..
Those little stick things that you put your blood drop on coat that much? How much do you pay for Libre per month? Pls.
I don't put blood drops on my coat.
Cost per month for a package of Libre 3 devices costs me $115.00 divided by 3; approximately $38.00 a month
Is that $38 with or without insurance. I'm trying to present this idea to him,, along with everything else, and I know his finances are very tight. Thank you again.
That's using my Humana Medicare Advantage. Without that, my medical devices would be over $1,000 for 7!
Unreal!!!
If he's on insulin, glipizide, or a glp-1, insurance IS likely to cover the cost of a cgm.
The Libre is the most affordable if you're paying out of pocket. You can get a discount code straight from Abbot (the manufacturer) that makes a month's supply about $75, and if you're able to fill it at Costco I've heard of people getting a month's supply for $60.
A CGM does not completely replace the need to do finger sticks with a blood glucometer. CGMs have an accepted error range of about 20%, a good glucometer has an error range of 5-10% off of clinical blood tests. What that means it that before you make any treatment decisions based off what the CGM reads, you need to do a finger stick... everytime. Sometimes they error and you have to deal with a phone call to customer service to get a replacement that can take over a week to arrive (they require a call, it can't be done online).
That being said, they are totally worth it IF he will actually dive into the data and make changes as he learns how his body reacts to ingredients. They are a complete waste if he just wants to take meds and continue eating the same way he did before diagnosis.
Thanks. I will definitely show him this answer. I agree.