I wrote last month about my diabetes diagnosis this year and my difficult choice to wear a proprietary device (called a CGM) on my arm 24/7 to continuously monitor my glucose levels. Like my friend and colleague, Karen M. Sandler — who previously made a much higher-stakes choice to receive a proprietary implanted defibrillator to keep her safe given her genetic heart condition — I reluctantly chose to attach proprietary hardware and software to my body.
  • Lemminary@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    24 minutes ago

    (Foreigner here) Could this be related to DOGE’s defunding of the three-letter acronym agencies and all that? It seems like proper testing and reporting weren’t being carried out. They say this has been happening since the 80s, but seven deaths is a little too much.

  • jj4211@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    6 hours ago

    Had a relative with a toddler that almost died due to his GCM overreporting his levels.

    My mom had one and learned immediately not to trust it.

    I’m shocked that both people I know personally had those devices turn out to be uselessly inaccurate…

    • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      3 hours ago

      Abbott claims they’re good for 14 days of use but my experience is that they’re worthless after 5 to 10 days. The first 5 days of use they’re about as accurate as the Dexcom units (typically +/- 10%). Beyond that they start to read increasingly low (-50% to -80%) with readings often failing entirely by day 10 or 11. It wouldn’t be a problem if you could replace them after 5 days, but if you do that insurance pitches a fit and refuses to cover more of them because “they’re good for 14 days”.

    • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      3 hours ago

      Unfortunately I am severely allergic to the adhesive Dexcom uses that they claim is hypoallergenic.