Anyone using a CGM have very low BGLs?

[Geezy56]

I hear you, it makes no sense.
So after a cardiac ablation my doctor prescribed a blood thinner. Pharmacy said it would cost $400 or so. I said I’ll just have to take my chances with dying. I called the doctor up and told him I couldn’t afford his prescription and he says no problem, come to my office and I’ll give you a months supply.

[PST]

Thanks Marion. I think I’ll start a new thread, as you suggest. By the way, we also need a prescription here to buy a CGM. Not sure why that should be necessary for harmless, all but noninvasive, metering equipment. It’s like requiring a prescription for a thermometer or blood pressure cuff.

[anon38787346]

Yes it is a mad system that charges people (who are motivated to get information to control their blood glucose levels) more than those who just take pills and become increasingly ill…but silent!

I didn’t realize you need a doctor’s letter/script in the US too. I can’t buy a CGM in a pharmacy here in Oz, without type 1 diabetes. Doctor has to write to Abbott to certify that I (with type 2) have been informed of the “risks”. I took the mailed out CGM bought online into my doctors office and bullied the nurse into attaching it to my arm…I am too decrepit currently to try to do it myself, shoulder dislocates at the drop of a hat.

I am interested to read the replies to your query about “Atkins style maintenance”…I am still carnivore due to fear of getting worse diverticular disease and losing my new remission of my type 2.

I envy you the lentil soup you are fantasizing about. I have goats cheese fantasies currently.

I think I am still a long way off lentil soup… but at least I am not afraid of my low BGL late at night anymore…its not a problem when we are in ketosis…I take that as a win…

Best wishes to you and I will be reading your new thread for answers, your questions are important.

[OldDoug]

The price for a 90-day supply using my Part D Medicare policy and its preferred mail-order pharmacy is $199. The price from Amazon Pharmacy, without insurance , is $23, and I can even get it for slightly less at some local brick-and-mortar pharmacies using a Good Rx card. You need an MBA here to minimize medical expenses.

PST, this type of stuff is so prevalent…

I’m now retired, but when I was on my employer’s insurance, the plan would only cover 30 day supplies of medications at a time. There was at least a $10 copay for me on everything. While not ruinous at all, it still made sense for me to just pay for 90 day supplies of some drugs myself. Rather than paying $30 over three months in copays, with the right provider and deal I’d get a 90 day supply for $12.30, for example.

[PST]

I envy you the lentil soup you are fantasizing about.

I envy you being on the happy side of the equator this solstice day. The grass is still green and the flowers are still blooming here in Chicago, but as man and dog sniff the morning air we sense the cold approaching.

[ctviggen]

Have you had the test you mention, an oral glucose tolerance test with insulin levels and glucagon? I

I did a short Kraft test (2 hours) with insulin and glucose. I scored about normally for both insulin and glucose.

I’ve only had glucagon tested once, and it was high. The reference interval as 13-159, and mine was 218. That is in pg/ml.

There’s an insulin/glucagon ratio, and my insulin was 11 uU/ml. That gives me about 1/3 for insulin to glucagon ratio, if I did the conversion between units correct. Unfortunately, that’s not on the charts in here:

Insulin Glucagon Ratio Explained - Siim Land Blog

It looks to me as if I have high glucagon (relative to insulin), which is probably why my blood sugar is at or over 100 even eating keto. Whereas your blood sugar is low, meaning you (might) have a low glucagon (relative to insulin).

Unfortunately, I don’t know how to correct either of these.

[anon38787346]

My blood glucose is low at around 3am only.

I was looking for info on whether this is dangerous…but have since clarified with my keto dietician that it isn’t a problem for me (because I am in ketosis). I do not have a fixed low BGL and I do understand that the body in ketosis doesn’t need to keep a high or constant level of glucose, it is more efficient to drop glucose levels when they aren’t needed…

How to correct metabolic disorders in people with GI problems is I believe, (according to Paul Mason,) carnivore diet. Worked to reverse my type 2 diabetes and get my insulin and BGL into normal range when previously it was only fasting that would do it…strict keto didn’t do it for me without days of fasting.