CGM Request

I also applied for the Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) with my pump.  I believe this is an important part of managing diabetes as it has can help with avoiding the roller coaster of highs and lows.  It has predictive alerts for when your blood glucose is dropping or raising faster than a predetermined rate.  Testing with your meter is still necessary but helping to maintain better control is what I want and not have to have those low or high times when I feel awful.

The first attempt I was denied by my insurance company as they stated I didn't have enough lows.  I was upset by this because they have particular standard on approval, which basically is a certain number of lows below 50 in a set period of time.  This is ridiculous because a CGM not only helps with the low blood glucose readings but also helps with the high blood glucose readings where effects can be just as detrimental to my health.

I appealed with the advice of my reps from Medtronic and wrote an appeal letter on why I should have a CGM.  First off I stay at my home and need to be in good health to be there for my kids.  There have been instances where I am getting low and don't realize it while I doing stuff for my kids and then the confusion sets in and makes it very difficult to know something is wrong.  In addition, the paramedics had to be called once as I crashed unexpectedly in the middle of the of the night.  My doctor had also written an appeal letter to the insurance company which helped as well.  With that the insurance company approved the CGM for me which made me very happy.

I begin my training and use of the CGM in about 3 weeks from now, as I have been told it is best to get used to the pump before starting the CGM, after all it is having to have a wireless transmitter connected to a sensor that is inserted in the skin which I will have to change every 3 days. So my ratio of injections to need sticks every three days will 12-15 injections to 2 needle sticks.  I will certainly take that ratio after 20 years of varying needle sizes multiple times a day.