Why Perfectly Healthy People Are Using Diabetes Monitors

(Carol E. ) #1

I would use it if I didn’t need a prescription :confused:

(Michelle) #2

Oh man, I would use this in a heartbeat!! Only a matter of time before someone in the Keto/Diet community comes up with a knock off. Technology moves too fast to keep this to a Rx only!!

(Barbara Greenwood) #3

The picture is of an Abbott Freestyle Libre (not technically a continuous glucose monitor, because you have to scan it to get a reading) - which is available without prescription in a number of countries, though not yet the USA.

I use it :slight_smile:

Not cheap, but really helpful.

(Gloria) #4

I used to work for big pharma/medical devices until retiring in 2015. I think I have had a mental block about such topics since then. But this post triggered some questions for me. Medical devices such as blood glucose meters are regulated in the USA by the FDA just as strictly as pharmaceuticals are. Even devices manufactured outside of the US have to file submission for them to be sold here.

This got me thinking about the Ketonix (which is apparently from Sweden). I would have thought that it would have to be registered to be sold here in the US, but I did a search on the FDA website and didn’t find it. Does anyone know more on this?

(Tom) #5

Am I jaded for immediately thinking that not being diagnosed with a disease does not equal “perfectly healthy” even before I read the article?

That aside, I’d totally use one. Had a hyperbaric patient who we let in the chamber after a lengthy go-round with the cgm manufacturer to make sure it fell under the allowable voltage (normally electronics in a monoplace chamber are not allowed). Quite interesting to watch his sugars as the massive dump of oxygen set in.

(joe churchill ) #6

Curious… What happened to his sugars? Do you recall?

(Tom) #7

A typical diabetic blood sugar will from between 30 and 50 points during a treatment. Most of the time his did just that, but other times he went up due to dietary intake. To prevent a hypoglycemic event while in-chamber, we make sure a diabetic’s* blood glucose is above 120 before going in. A typical glucometry reading can tell me if they are or not, but can tell me if they’re trending up or down. This person’s meter enabled me to see how he was trending, which was pretty cool.

*diabetic who is being treated with insulin, a sulfonamide, or any other medication that can actually cause a precipitous drop in blood glucose. Metformin alone is fine, and doesn’t appear to have the ability to drop sugars to an abnormally low level. If that’s all they are on, hypoglycemic events aren’t really an issue so far as hyperbaric treatments go.

(Carol E. ) #8

I would like to know why rationale behind the Libre requiring a presciption. It can be paid for by insurance IF prescribed by a doctor BUT why not have the option to pay cash for one? Just curious.

(Gloria) #9

Carol,

Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your question. It may have to do with the sensor which has a fiber that goes into the skin.

I did a bit of googling, but didn’t find a rationale. You might try the FDA website. Their FAQ about devices was not very helpful, but there might be something on another page.
https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/HomeUseDevices/ucm204898.htm#6

(Carol E. ) #10

I appreciate your response @GloriaJ

Maybe it will become over-the-counter. They could make a mint from n=1 keto peeps :slight_smile:

(Gloria) #11

Maybe they are looking longer term. If too many people find out they don’t need diabetes drugs, the industry could be shooting itself in the foot.

(Aimee Moisa) #12

Ug, conspiracy theories. But why does this sound so plausible in this day and age? Same thing goes for the conspiracy theories about Big Sugar. Going against the science for the sake of the almighty dollar is clear proof that we’re not just a bunch of nuts claiming these companies have it in for us. I hate that we can’t trust our government.

(Gloria) #13

I’m not sure that it is as complicated as a deliberate conspiracy theory. Just an example of survival of the fittest in the business arena.

Diabetes and associated diseases are not seen as an aggregate. Just like people don’t seem to worry that there are more overall fatalities in car crashes than airline crashes. Air plane crashes get more outrage because of spectacularly bad press coverage.