comments:
You can buy a reasonable Glucomoeter and Strips from Amazon for cheap. A bottle of 70 strips is less than $30. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CF8C4VX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 As for Dexcom, yes it's far from perfect. But as someone who has been a T1D since 1987, I can tell you that having access to this technology today is a million times better than what being diabetic used to be. In terms of the issues you're having, there are some tricks and things to keep in mind in terms of application and maintenance: Choice of placement matters. Don't put the sensor in a place where you're likely to bump, rub or press. If you're a side-sleeper, dont' put it on the side of your arm, put it on the back. Also don't put it in an area where you're prone to growing hair, as that can impede adhesion. Calibrate as much as you need to. Dexcom reads from interstitial fluid, so it'll never be as accurate as blood, but you can still calibrate to a reasonable degree that can help you manage your glucose effectively. Avoid direct shower water in the area of your sensor. It's not a huge area of your body, so just try to avoid getting it wet, then clean the area around your patch with alcohol swabs. Keeping it dry will extend the life of your sensor's adhesive.