Tag: nightscout

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#Nightscout | Harboring Autonomy #WeAreNotWaiting #CGMintheCloud

IMG_8890My number one reservation about starting Nightscout was the size and weight of the rig. It’s a definite price to pay. It’s not ideal, but Caleb’s been able to manage, and the benefits are currently worth the price.

My next concern was taking a step backward in the progress we had made in Caleb’s self-care.

Since he was in preschool, Caleb has always had some level of responsibility in his care, and it has advanced both organically and with careful planning each year. In third grade, we (his school nurse at the time, Caleb and I) started to take steps to prepare him for middle school. We targeted specific milestones for each of the next three years. Caleb was caring for himself as I expected a middle schooler would by the beginning of his last year in elementary school.

Given this success in autonomy, and on the verge of starting middle school, I didn’t want to compromise his progress. If I started watching his bgs, would the torch come back to me? That was absolutely not the goal. Why would we need remote access to his CGM data if he was now running the show? I didn’t have the answers to these questions, but I started seeing successes with the Nightscout Project, got over the hurdle of the rig size,  and figured with a limited financial investment, why not give it a try.

The role Nighscout played in Caleb’s autonomy was not one I anticipated. Knowing that he was no longer “alone” when I dropped him off somewhere, gave him security. This increased the opportunities to be places by himself because he was comfortable. The more he did this and saw that he could care for himself by himself, the more confidence he gained. Increased confidence added more security, which led to more confidence, and before we knew it, things had changed dramatically.

We had gone from discussing a careful plan of “what ifs” each time he was dropped somewhere, to no longer even thinking about it. This was a change in Caleb. Where he was once anxious, he was now assured. School days became easier as well. A middle school schedule is pretty hectic; he never seems to have a spare moment. He has greater flexibility to go throughout his day as he pleases, without being a slave to a diabetes care schedule. We probably would have gotten to that point because of Dexcom alone, but Nightscout got us there immediately upon starting school.

Does Caleb care for himself entirely independently? I’d say he does 90% of the work when he and I are apart. When he’s home, we’re definitely a team. He makes decisions, I make decisions, we make decisions together. When he’s at school or elsewhere, he’s in the driver’s seat. We consult throughout the day if needed. There are times when I see something on Nightscout that he hasn’t noticed yet and I will prompt him. I don’t feel like I’ve taken back control though. I feel like I’m helping him at a level that is appropriate for someone his age. He’s continued to move forward in his level of self-care. He hasn’t taken any steps back, which was my concern.

The biggest issue we were having when we starting using Nightscout, was Caleb’s self-confidence in his diabetes care. I knew he was capable, he wasn’t as sure. Nightscout propelled his confidence forward, the exact opposite outcome I had anticipated.

Related Posts:

Nightscout | Getting Started

Nightscout | The First Two Weeks

Nightscout | The New Rig

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#Nightscout | The New Rig #WeAreNotWaiting #CGMinTheCloud

IMG_7213The Grid-It works well for the “rig” (the dexcom and uploader combination that feeds the data to the cloud). It fits precisely in Cal’s CMC Urban Day pack. There is some vulnerability to the DexCom receiver’s usb port. To avoid damage, it’s important to keep the connection of the cable to the receiver immobile and intact. The Grid-It does that well.

There is a 3D printable case developed by two men who are members of the CGM in the Cloud Facebook group. The case holds the Moto G, the DexCom receiver and a special cable very snugly to limit any movement. You can either buy the case from them or download the file for free to print a case yourself, if you prefer. They also offer a DexCom only case which keeps the cable secure if you are using a different uploader but still want added strength to the DexCom usb connection.

Here is their video which shows how you put the DexCom/Moto rig together:

I got our case that you see pictured here through a local printer I found on 3D Hubs. The case was $24 and the cable was $26. IMG_7218Everything is snug. Very snug. I’m not sure I’ll ever be taking the receiver out of this case. I am getting used to taking the phone in and out of it to charge. It’s a tighter fit than what is shown on the video. Could be due to the printer, speed of printing or some other 3D print variable I’m not familiar with that results in variability in the product. It’s not l light. So although it can be worn as a lanyard with a case, it might be a little uncomfortable, but people are doing it.

The people contributing to this project are simply amazing. Such heart and soul are being given freely to make the lives of people with diabetes better. An update to the NightScout website, called Brownie, was rolled out yesterday. It allows for a Care Portal where care decisions can be documented and shared easily. We started using it this morning. I’ll post more about it soon!

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#Nightscout | The first two weeks #CGMinTheCloud #WeAreNotWaiting

I bought a Boost Mobile Moto G, a cable and a Grid it. With a good sale at Target, total cost was about $73. I spent a few hours following the Nightscout Project instructions, and we were up and running.

IMG_7040Initially, it’s like the first time you get CGM data. You can’t believe it’s right in front of your face and you keep looking at it (as if to confirm its reality) and soaking up the perpetual stream of easily accessed information. That novelty does wear off. We quickly got to an as-needed access basis.

With the rig packed in Caleb’s bag, I could watch his BG while at school using the school’s wifi. Then, Caleb had a Gymnastics lesson and with their free wifi, I could run my errands and keep mindful of his BG. It became clear that having access to this information when he’s at baseball practice and dance class (places without wifi) would certainly be beneficial. I added a data plan via Ting for about $9 a month and gained continuous access to Nightscout.

We aren’t really doing anything differently, but Nightscout has enhanced our ability to manage diabetes in some subtle, yet meaningful ways:

– Caleb’s middle school schedule is jam-packed. Clearcut breaks for daily BG checks don’t exist like they did in elementary school. He and I being connected during the day via Nightscout allows flexibility for him to check his blood sugar when it’s convenient for him. If I haven’t heard from him by 9:15 – when he changes periods – rather than strum my fingers in anticipation and wonder, I just take a peek at Nightscout and stop wondering. Caleb can focus a little more on school and a little less about when exactly he needs to check his bg.

IMG_7197– Caleb is active. Gymnastics, baseball, tap, jazz, ballet, swimming, trampoline – they all have different levels of intensity and each activity can vary in intensity from one day to the next. It’s often just a guess about how to compensate carbs or insulin to mitigate.. We don’t always (if ever) guess correctly, so there are adjustments along the way. By watching remotely, I can be prepared to help him. I know if I can take my time with my errands/chores/shuttle service. I know if I should come back prepared with a cupcake for the impending low that 45 minutes of intense tapping just caused, or whip out his PDM to nonchalantly infuse some insulin because they decided to sit and review the baseball rulebook rather than run bases at practice.

– When he checks in with me, I am more prepared and he doesn’t have to spend time giving me information. We are already on the same page and get right to business, so he’s spending less time away from whatever he’s doing.

Overall, there is an added peace. Caleb is less distracted because he knows someone else it watching. Rather than wondering if that light-headedness is because of playing flute for an hour or if his BG is dropping, he is more likely to just keep playing. He does not seem as preoccupied about what his blood sugar might be. Even though he has DexCom in his pocket with him to alert him, there’s something comforting about knowing the responsibility isn’t all on him. Knowing that there is a safety net lets us all relax our shoulders a bit and focus more on life and less on diabetes.

Pictured above : Nightscout on my phone’s home screen. I see Caleb’s numbers as easily as accessing any app. 

Related posts: Nightscout | Getting Started

More to come on Nightscout including: Impact on Self-Care Development, Nightscout at School, Bumps Along the Way, The New Rig, Pebble Watch.

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Nightscout | Getting Started #wearenotwaiting #cgminthecloud

This is a picture of Caleb’s real-time pre and post lunch CGM data as I write this post. He is at school. I am at home.

IMG_7186In April of 2013 (oh my goodness, I cannot believe it was that long ago) I mentioned DexCom Share with much enthusiasm. There’s a rumor going around that DexCom Share may be nearing FDA approval, but that is just a rumor with no substantiation. I hope we’ll hear something soon.

It seems awkward to have a cradle and to connect to this cradle wherever you go and presumably carry this cradle around. But the idea of being able to access the CGM data of a person who is nowhere near you made me giddy.

Getting this information in this way has become a reality for hundreds (is it thousands?) of people. It’s not through DexCom Share. It’s though Nightscout, created by a grassroots group of people who realized they had the ability to make this happen themselves. It is not FDA approved or regulated in any way. It is a DIY-at-your-own-risk-open-source situation. Many are making it work and enjoying the benefits despite the risks associated with it being non-regulated.

When I first heard of it, I was skeptical, and it had nothing to do with it not being FDA approved:

1. Adding anything additional to Caleb – who I’m sure already feels like a pack mule despite the nifty bags I find – is not appealing in any way. (That whole cradle issue I mention above with regard to DexCom Share). 

2. More devices/programs/databases means more opportunity for things to go wrong. We have so many variables and troubleshooting already. The thought of more is less than appealing.

3. Our goal is to encourage Caleb’s diabetes autonomy. Getting this nonstop flow of data seems like taking the reigns back into my hands, which is in direct opposition to our current goal.

4. This seems COMPLICATED! I don’t have time for complicated right now. No time at all.

The Nightscout RigThis remained on my todo list though. I wanted to learn more and when the summer and many of its activities started coming to a close, I had the opportunity to investigate. By then, people had come up with some clever ways to carry the rig – not as cumbersome as I originally thought. (Ours pictured here on the left). I was seeing people I personally knew putting it into action which made it seem more attainable. When I finally sat down and looked at it, the setup instructions were very well written and although I would still consider it complicated, is was not difficult to get set up, just required a lot of attention to detail.

It’s been less than two weeks and we are off to a good start. We got started with the bare essentials for $73 for the whole rig using wifi access. We’ve worked out several kinks, added a data plan for about $9 a month, and are getting this integrated into our regular routine.

If you are interested in getting started or just learning more, here is where you should start:

The Nightscout Project

CGM in the Cloud Facebook page

 

 

 

 

 

 

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