Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Type 2s: An Incredible Tool to Take Control of Your Diabetes

If you’re new to CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) or you care for someone who wears a continuous glucose monitor, this video is for you! Dr. Edelman and Dr. Boeder explain how CGMs work, and how they can be an invaluable tool for you and your healthcare team.

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22 Comments
  1. Love love the video but it’s yo long keep it <3 minutes

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      Thanks – we do try, but sometimes there’s so much good info to share. Thanks for hanging in there! 🙂

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    Hi🙂
    Love the video and don’t think it’s too long! I’m a 47 yr old type 2 on glucatrol and metformin. A few years back my A1c crept up to 8 and my Dr. said it might be time for insulin🙀 so I doubled down on my carb control and cardio and got my next A1c down to 7 where it has remained. I would love so very much to get my hands on a CGM b/c even thought I’m not suppose to have to change my pills, it is better to take less if I exercise longer and if I take half a glucatrol more I can eat a hole hamburger bun, not just one bun top or bottom! Anyways, knowing my sugars moment to moment would influence every micro decision I make about how much of what kind of food I eat and exercise I do, AND there’s the terrifying occasional night time lows that could kill me if didn’t wake up! Anyways, my Dr. said “No you don’t need it” and I have been trying to see about buying one w/o a proscription, looks like the FDA made it so you have to have a proscription. 😾 So looong story short, great video and concept, but short of changing Dr, not sure what us type 2s can do. Do you know of any studies going on that I could apply to be a part of and get paid and get free CGM? That’d be cool!😺 P.S. I work at UCSD So if you know any locals handing out CGMs lmk😉

    • Hi Heather,
      The FreeStyle Libre has a program where you can try it for free for 14 days. If you like it, I’ll be happy to write you a prescription.
      Do you go to Kaiser? Why aren’t you on an SGLT2 Inhibitor such as Jardiance or Farxiga, and/or a GLP-1 RA such as Trulicity or Ozempic?

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        Dr Edelman, I have heard you often at TCOYD conferences & appreciate your contributions & knowledge in the Diabetic field. So I have a question—I have Diabetes ll & been taking Kaiser Metformin 500 mg AM-PM over 15 years & recently with 1 Tradjenta 5mg(DDP4) & before that 1 Januvia for one year (DDP4) & 1 glipizide 10 mg & just suffered from arm pit Bullous Pemphigoid, skin disorder w blisters(14 days Doxycycline) Do you have any research source for that rare complication and should I consider dropping one of my medications. Would Farxiga & Trulicity be a good substitution (any BP with them?) My Primary doctor says she has run out of medication choices for me????

        • I am not 100% convinced that your current medication caused those issues, however, Farxiga and Trulicity are excellent medications that could be substituted.

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    Hi there and thank you so much for your reply. Yes I am on Kaiser. My Doctor said they will not cover a CGM for type 2s. I would love it if you would write me a proscription! 🙂 I didn’t know that would be possible. Are you accepting new patients? I would definitely try an SGLT2 inhibitor under the guidance of a responsive and diabetes savvy care provider such as yourself. My answer is kind of lame, it is just that I have been on Glucotrol and it basically works, and new medicine is scary! (like the unknown effects on lows, weird stomach cramps) Thanks again and please just let me know what I would need to provide to be able to get a proscription!:)
    Heather

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    Great video. I tried 4 non insulin meds but did not tolerate them. Finally got my PCP to do an endocrine referral. Went on insulin but the best thing was getting a CGM. It showed me what my BS was doing 24/7- it showed I was running a “steady” # w/ no real high spikes during meals which helped guide my insulin regimen. I only need a low dose long acting insulin & getting excellent BS management

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    How much is this.

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      It depends, but the Dexcom is typically about 10-20% more than the Libre. Contact each company for more info and also look around for deals.

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    Hi Steve,

    I love that you are getting the consumer excited about CGM. What are you all doing at TCOYD to support insurance companies offering CGM to people who have type 2 and to people with type 1 or 2 who do not check BGs frequently? It seems like surveys and quick studies on people who use CGM would support the value of CGM. Your points on basal insulin and oral medications are great. The value is definitely there for QOL and TIR. How do we get these products covered?
    As a healthcare provider, have you considered offering a letter for people to give to their doctors to send in to help them individually get covered? I have seen this really help in the past! Keep up the great work!!!

    Lisa

    • Thanks Lisa, and it’s a great idea. I typically write the letter and send it in, but why not share that letter with others who may be able to use it!

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        Hi Dr. E. Your conferences and videos have changed my life and how I look at my diabetes. Thank you! From one of your recent conferences and talks about the value of CGMs I asked my endocrine if she would write me a prescription and she did. I am on 2 oral meds and Ozempic. My insurance paid a little and CVS applied a coupon. It was affordable for me and I was thrilled! It has helped me so much and my endocrine loves having better information on my blood sugars. She told me to get another CGM and wear it to decide the next steps in my care in August. My A1C was 7.7. Need to get that back down some. Thanks again!

        • Thank you so much Lora. That’s very kind of you, and thank you for sharing your experience! CGMs are game-changers, and we’ll be speaking more about it at our August 7th conference as well. Keep up the good work!
          -Dr. Edelman & Dr. Boeder

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    This is all new to me. Just diagnosed with type 2 yesterday with a score of 9. I only have 1 functioning kidney but it does have 100% function. Prescribed 2000mg metformin ER (1000mg, twice daily), told to lose weight and schedule dietician appointment. Nothing was said about monitoring except a follow up in 3 months. Do you have any general advice or recommendations for me? I was also put on cholesterol med. Thank you.

    • Hi Pat,
      There’s a silver lining of your diagnosis in that it will help you lose weight and get your cholesterol levels under control. I personally would recommend getting the FreeStyle Libre 14 day sensor. It will give you a tremendous amount of information about your diabetes and how it relates to exercise and what you eat. Saying that, you will probably have to purchase it on your own. But check out their website for a free one-month trial. Also go to our video vault (https://tcoyd.org/video-vault/) and look in the type 2 section for other lectures on managing type 2 diabetes – in particular “Making Type 2 Diabetes a Breeze”.

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    Hello Dr. E:
    I understand that the data collected by CGM can be valuable for insulin dependent diabetics monitoring highs and lows but for T2DM patients or even pre-diabetics does CGM need to be used or would it be more beneficial for patients to use CGM periodically throughout the year and subsidize by daily BGM monitoring? What would your recommendation for an easy to use BGM be?

    • All of the above. It really depends on personal choice. Intermittent use is a good idea for some, and for others, 24/7 is important to keep them on track.

  9. Dr. E: I am a 66 year old Male, with Type 2 Diabetes. I don’t see how I could see an Endocronologist when I am POOR, on Medi/Medi Health coverage. Most doctors, let alone a specialist like you, would not want to take on a person like me. Is it my fault that the Job Market for Electronics Technicians “cratered” in 2004? I have struggled to get going financially ever since! Of what value is an old gray haired man like me? How much time of life do I have left? It says in the Bible that the days of our lives are but 70 years, but in some cases 80 years can be occurring. How can I live a life in which my ONLY pleasures are Foods that I can’t eat anymore? I am not sure if I can take this Diabetes lifestyle. It severely Crimps me and my former lifestyle!

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    Thanks for you video and reiterating the value of CGM even for non-insulin / oral only patients.

    i have been struggling with my sugar levels for 4-5 years (I am 47 now). My A1C in 2018 was 6.5, so I went on a “rampage”, cut carbs, started hitting the gym, cycling… 6 months later and 10 pounds lighter, my A1C was 5.7. Then winter came (I live in the Chicago area) and I started getting less regular, keeping to a strict low carb diet got tiresome… found all the pounds I’d lost and A1C was up to 6.9! Covid came, things got worse, 7.2. Metformin 500… 6 months later 8.2. Metformin 1000 + oh shit!

    I got hold of a CGM to really see the missing story between my finger pricks and was surprised by the insights I got. Effect of food, relation between spikes and carbs (or lack there of, my favorite Lindt Dark chocolate didn’t cause a spike, now I needn’t feel so scared of that 1 sq.in.!). I can also see what combinations are not so good.

    It’s been 18 days (not too long) but I can see my trends tightening and the daily averages dropping to between 105 and 115. I am still discovering more every day. Like spikes and lows due to working out at different times of the day and different intensity levels.

    The bottom line is that I have been able to take a lot of guess work out of my glucose control and am far less stressed about it. I also have a better understanding of the disease and can have an informed conversation with my doc. I am pretty confident that my A1C should be in the 5.7 – 6.2 range when I gave it checked in a couple of months.

    GCM is an invaluable tool for self managing T2DM any a any stage, I just hope that more doctors see it your way and so do the insurance folks, it will save them a boat load of money if the progression of the disease can slowed, better still reversed if tackled when one is pre-diabetic.

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      We couldn’t agree more, Kunaal. Thank you for sharing your experience. CGMs are truly invaluable tools for everyone with diabetes!

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