My son Jordan doesn’t have a problem when it’s time to remove his devices. Some people have a hard time getting them to stay on, others have a hard time getting them to come off. Some people don’t have either of those problems. Jordan is in the third group.

When I asked him if he had any advice for people who have a hard time removing their devices, he said, “Tell them to just scream while they think of butterflies.”

On a more serious note, he says it hurts less if you put pressure on one side of the site, and quickly rip it from the other end.

But, if you’re looking for something a little more substantial than “just rip off the bandaid”, here are some tips on reducing the pain and anxiety when you remove your diabetes devices.

Goodbyes are so hard. Especially when your diabetes device decides to say “sayonara” earlier than expected. Your CGM and insulin pump are expensive. Replacing sensors and adding site changes can get pricey. Besides, who wants an extra poke for no reason? Whether you’re in camp Libre, Guardian, or Dexcom, regardless of which insulin pump you use, here are 10 tried and true ways to get your CGM and insulin pump to stick around.

As a type 1 diabetic, one of the things you have to do every day, multiple times a day, is check your blood sugar. It gives you much-needed information that you’ll use to manage your diabetes. It will tell you if you need insulin or glucose and approximately how much you might need. But what do you do if your meter says “HI” instead of displaying a number?

No, not that d-bag. In the world of T1D, a “d-bag” is your diabetes supply bag. It’s kind of like a go-bag for diabetes. Because, well, your pancreas isn’t pulling its weight. You need to bring supplies with you everywhere to make up for it. But, which things should you pack? Are you packing too much? Too little? Are you missing something important? Do you really need all that stuff whenever you go anywhere? And what the heck are you supposed to use to carry it all?

Urgent low alert!! Thanks Dexter. It’s always great to wake up to beeping and red dots and the dreaded LOW on my phone. As I crawl out of bed yet again, to check on a low that is probably not even real, I can’t help but wonder why no one told me about compression lows when we started using a CGM.  [Read more…]

Type 1 diabetes is an interesting disease. Different people have different targets and ranges for their blood glucose numbers. An A1C of 7 might be fantastic for one person while it’s disappointing for another. People sharing and talking about their “wins” and difficulties can cause feelings of superiority or failure in others. That’s why comparing your T1D journey with someone else’s can be a dangerous game to play.