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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

A1C Results Are In--10 Percent Decrease!!

Howdy Folks!

I just got my A1C results and I saw a nearly 10 percent decrease in my A1C since the beginning of the Freestyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitor Trial. When I started I was at a shocking 8.3 and my results were 7.5 after three months. As I have mentioned, it took me a good while to get the swing of how tightly I could control my diabetes with the flood of continuous readings. I also discovered how drastically my hormones affected my blood sugars at minimum of seven days PMS. I ran around 200 for well over a week each month of the trial only to get my alternate basal pattern adjusted to hopefully a good range for next month. So I can only imagine how nicely it would have come down if I had the CGM for another few months.

I've been talking with my Minimed Rep and I really want the Minilink. It appears you can wear the sensor for as long as 15 days (although 7 is recommended), but that changes the affordability factor considerably. Initial investment will be $399 to upgrade my 712 to the 722 pump, then $1,000 for the transmitter, which includes 10 sensors. I am going to work to get insurance to cover this thing and use my own statistics to show its benefit. I am sure they have lots of stats from their own study to show impact on blood sugars and A1C results too.

I have to say, it has been really hard to get motivated to take my blood sugars regularly. My motivation over last weekend was largely fueled by my enthusiasm at the end of the study, but before this study I was not looking after myself like I should(duh, 8.3 my highest A1C reading in 10 years or more). It is so easy for me to turn my attention to my child's diabetes and I almost feel justified in neglecting my own health. It isn't a sadistic thing, I am a mom and we tend to look after everyone before ourselves anyway; with a child with type one it is especially strong draw to forget about yourself.

Anyway, my blood sugars have been really tight when I check, but I trend toward low and don't have a lot of awareness. So, I'll keep drawing blood until I can afford to jump into the CGM with Minimed.

6 comments:

Kevin said...

Congrats on the A1c reduction!
And I wish you the best of luck convincing your insurance company to cover the CGMS. Folks like you will lead the way!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Lyrehca said...

Congrats on the lowering A1c. Just found your blog and noticed your note about moms and type 1. I'm not in Texas, but am (knock wood) about to become a mom with type 1 and would love to hear more about your groups. Couldn't find your email address on your blog, but contact me through mine--look forward to hearing from you.

LORI said...

Wow, that's great! I'm hoping to get a CGMS, but when I first looked into it when I got my insulin pump, my insurance deemed the CGMS an unnecessary form of treatment... spoil sports. But, whether I convince my insurance to cover it or I save up to buy one on my own, I'm working on getting it because I know it'll make a difference. Hearing your success convinces me of that!

Good luck. :)

Chrissie in Belgium said...

I agree that Mom's tend to prioritate other family issues rather than their own diabetes. I did the same - but think twice, our kids need and want a healthy Mom. I understand what you are saying but I just wonders sometimes how we set prioities! Given the choices I made, I NEVERTHELESS managed fine. One wonders how much is fate /luck?!

Wendy Morgan said...

Thanks for all the well wishes! Chrissie, I have found that a lot of what we deal with emotionally in terms of diabetes has a great impact on our control. The more stressed out or fearful I get, the harder it is to control my blood sugars.

That is the point of my Making Babies post. When I let go of that need to make everything perfect and had faith in myself, everything worked out fine. I don't attribute it to luck per se, but to a greater faith that who we are and what we do is "just right" and "enough."

Bernard said...

Good for you Wendy.

And thanks for the useful information about upgrade options.

I'm hoping that insurance companies start to cover this. I wish there was a better way to put pressure on them.

Keep up the good work.