What’s my blood sugar????
Busy with work, riding a bike, being in blissful denial, or simply being lazy – staying aware of my blood sugar throughout the day is one of my worst habits as a diabetic. Much of the day will go by and I haven't looked at my sensor readings at all which is counter-intuitive to the most important aspect needing our attention as T1Ds: our “time in range” which ultimately affects our A1C results.
“Time in Range” (TIR) is the percentage of time that a person spends with their blood glucose levels in a target range. The range will vary depending on the person, but general guidelines suggest starting with a range of 70 to 180 mg/dl. (Diatribe.org)
I prefer a range of 80-140 since the margin between 70 mg/dl and feeling like curling up in a ball wishing for the eternal dirt nap is way too slim for me.
Early studies suggest Time in Range can effectively predict long-term diabetes complications (e.g., Diabetes Care 2019, Diabetes Care 2018). In a re-analysis of a landmark study (DCCT), researchers found a strong relationship between different levels of Time in Range and diabetes complications: eye disease (retinopathy) and kidney disease (microalbuminuria). As Time in Range increased, complications decreased. (Diatribe.org)
Checking my current blood sugar is met with the obstacles of either not being able to conveniently get to my phone or being preoccupied by life and just not thinking about it. So, at the beginning of this year I began trying something new.
Jumping on the wearable tech trend, I decided to put my blood sugar right in front of my face (or on my wrist) where I can see it easily and conveniently.
NOTE: I am not affiliated with or paid by any of the companies or products I use or write about. I simply do my own research and try the best equipment and tech combinations I can to make my life easier and manage my diabetes better.
My current setup:
- Sensor/Transmitter: Dexcom G6
- Insulin Pump: Omnipod 5
- Monitor: Samsung S22 Android phone with the Dexcom App
· Watch/Watchface: Fitbit Versa 3 with the Glance App – interfaces with the Dexcom app on my phone designed to show my current blood sugar, trends, and graph in real time
So far, I have been using this setup and wearing the FitBit for 3 weeks now. I absolutely love being able to see my blood sugar immediately, especially when on a mountain bike ride or sitting though unbearably long work meetings. I spend almost every weekend working on SCUBA boats as a Divemaster/Deckhand which means my phone is not always to check my blood sugar levels.
I’ve found that having easily displayed and real-time readings on my wrist allows me to focus on my job and actually pay attention to what my sugar levels are doing throughout the day. Several times I have been able to catch rising or falling sugar levels and take action to equalize and level out. All in all, 10 out of 10 would recommend this or a similar setup, especially if you are active or have a demanding and busy lifestyle.
Here are the steps for my setup:
- On my S22 phone, where I am already using the Dexcom app to access my G6 transmitter/sensor, I downloaded the Fitbit app and followed the standard set up prompts, creating an account, connecting my new FitBit Versa 3, etc.
- On the same phone, I navigated to https://glancewatchface.com/ and followed the setup guide which included downloading the “stable” version of the Glance software. This can also be done within the FitBit app itself under Gallery and using the search function. (Here is a good video I found on that)
- During the download and setup process, I entered my Dexcom account log in credentials
Notes:
- Your phone will need to be connected to the FitBit via Bluetooth
- Your phone will need to be connected to wifi or a cellular network
I’d love to hear from other T1Ds out there, so please use the contact page to send me a message if you’d like more details or have any questions I can help with. Gratuitous Cozumel sunset photo below!
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It’s promising to see the advancements wearable technology is making, as well as independent developers, to support the diabetic community. I’m sure you’ve seen your share of options and offerings. Which have been the most beneficial?