Eve

I use the Libre2 Plus. Someone gave me the reader and some sensors that her husband didn't use any more and I loved it. As much as one can love a device like that. I'm kind of a gadget/data nerd. Eventually I persuaded my doctor's office to write me a prescription for the sensors. At first they were hesitant, like they thought I was going to sell them out of the trunk of my car to children on playgrounds or something. I pay for them myself. Medicare doesn't consider me "diabetic enough" to cover the cost. Whatever. I think each sensor is about $80. As you said, they now last for 15 days (just one day more than the old ones, so what's the big deal). Since I've been ultra-low-carb/carnivore, the low glucose alarm has gone off twice! The first time I didn't know what the sound was, because I'd never heard it before. You know how it is, you hear a beeping and you look around-- phone? air fryer? clock? is it someone on TV? Then I saw it was the Libre2 reader. (I use the reader, not my phone--my phone already has so much cr@p on it!) My FBG was 79! It hasn't been that low in 30+ years. And then again this evening it went off-- BG of 70. I had a salmon filet for lunch and about a dozen sweet potato fries. Nothing else. I endorse the use of a CGM. It really keeps you on top of what your BG is doing. Very important.

If your pancreas is not making enough (or any) insulin, is a pancreas transplant in the cards for you? (I almost wrote, "in the carbs for you" 😄.) My late husband (died 25 yrs ago) was a type 1 diabetic for decades before quick and easy glucometers were available, let alone CGMs. He had a kidney transplant in 1992, but of course, was still insulin dependent. Pancreas transplants were just beginning to be talked about. He did get an insulin pump, but it was probably pretty primitive compared to today's. I haven't kept up with medical news about that.

Pardon me while I fall on my face laughing... 😂 <wipes tears...> *** Pammy, your story is moving and inspiring! I think most things in life are a start-stop-backup-go forward-stop, etc. process. Hardly anything is straight up the hill with no pauses or detours. Sounds to me like you're doing fabulous. All you can do is start every day from where you are. I've only been doing this for a couple of weeks and already I can barely look at a piece of meat. But the excellent results I'm seeing on my glucometer are blowing me away! So that is what I'm keeping my eye on.

Woo-hoo! This rings the loudest for me--bravo! 👍 Most people can't relate to this number (lucky for them), but they can relate to the number on the scale.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. 🙂 The results are definitely self-reinforcing, both blood sugar numbers and weight.

Good morning, y'all. 🙂 I've been on the low carb/ultra low carb train before and have gotten good results in the past at bringing my blood sugar under control. Sooner or later I've fallen off the train. And been run over on the tracks. But here I am, back again. 🙄 Full disclosure: I will not be doing strictly 100% carnivore, but I came to this board because eating plenty of meat (and only a smidgen of dairy) is the foolproof way to bring my blood sugar down. And to lose weight. Those two things go hand in hand, although even if/when I lose 20-ish pounds, I will always have to watch carbs closely. (Mostly WATCH, as in stare longingly at without touching...). I'll be 77 a week from today and it's now or never. (Hmmm...how many times have I said "It's now or never" in the past? I don't have enough fingers to total that up.) I live in a senior retirement community (totally independent living) where meals are provided, but I have a full kitchen and cook mostly for myself. I like to cook, but frankly, I'm not looking forward to beef, pork, chicken, eggs, bacon, etc., all the time and forever. Some video that I watched said that if hamburger or a pork chop or some meat thing doesn't appeal, then you aren't hungry enough. I think waiting until I am seriously hungry will help. I have been guilty of just grazing and looking for something to eat (even a low carb snack) out of boredom and idleness. I became mesmerized by YouTube videos on the carnivore diet, especially the "steakandbuttergal." Is she for real? Watching her put several steaks and chickens into that slender figure is mind-blowing. I do believe she has straightened out her health with a carnivore diet. I also have skin problems and G.I. issues, not to mention the stuff that happens when you get...well... old. For the last week I've eaten only meat and eggs, and my blood sugar has gone from almost 200 most of the time to under 120 most of the time. This exactly tallies with my experience with ultra low carb eating in the past. (I haven't done an a1c test, because that is not revealing for three months.) People who say low-carb is fad or some kind of cult craze just need to get a glucometer and find out for themselves. That's a little sketch. Hoping to find inspiration in this community, especially from others who live alone and plan their own meals. Best, Eve