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It's worth mentioning that in Canada, you do not require a prescription to get a CGM. However only the Abbot Freestyle Libre series is available here. It cost

It's worth mentioning that in Canada, you do not require a prescription to get a CGM. However only the Abbot Freestyle Libre series is available here. It cost ~$100 and last 2 weeks. I've found it to be mostly accurate. Placing it on the back of the arm was always a problem for me, it was constantly getting knocked/pulled, and otherwise disturbed. I had to buy adhesive patches that covered the entire unit. I later discovered that another decent place to apply them in on my chest between my collar-bone and shoulder-joint but lower (towards the nipple). I always had decent reliability/accuracy there. It also hurt less (from the adhesive) then on the back of the arm. Having a CGM is amazing, and if you have medical coverage that will pay for it then you should get it.

elevaet 3y ago
Can you give the elevator pitch on why someone should get one?
- UI_at_80x24 3y ago
  With a CGM you always can know what your instantaneous, average and trending blood glucose readings are. With a test-strip you know your instantaneous reading are. With a test strip, a pad of paper, a calculator, a calendar, a watch, and a good enough memory to take reading 100+ times a day you can get the same results. With the test strips, I measured myself AT MOST, 7 times a day. Often just once or twice. THAT is what makes them worthwhile. It keeps measuring so you don't have to. One helpful thing that I don't worry about: Low blood sugar alarms. Hypoglycemia is a real concern, and just as serious as hyperglycemia. A CGM will alter you when your sugar gets too high OR too low. I'm poor. I can't afford a CGM anymore. So I have been going months now without measuring. Because I keep forgetting. A CGM doesn't have that limitation. I was really hoping that Apple was going to announce a CGM. I avoid the Apple ecosystem, but I would have invested in that.

elevaet 3y ago

Can you give the elevator pitch on why someone should get one?

UI_at_80x24 3y ago
With a CGM you always can know what your instantaneous, average and trending blood glucose readings are. With a test-strip you know your instantaneous reading are. With a test strip, a pad of paper, a calculator, a calendar, a watch, and a good enough memory to take reading 100+ times a day you can get the same results. With the test strips, I measured myself AT MOST, 7 times a day. Often just once or twice. THAT is what makes them worthwhile. It keeps measuring so you don't have to. One helpful thing that I don't worry about: Low blood sugar alarms. Hypoglycemia is a real concern, and just as serious as hyperglycemia. A CGM will alter you when your sugar gets too high OR too low. I'm poor. I can't afford a CGM anymore. So I have been going months now without measuring. Because I keep forgetting. A CGM doesn't have that limitation. I was really hoping that Apple was going to announce a CGM. I avoid the Apple ecosystem, but I would have invested in that.