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Comment by jwhite_nc | Hacker News Reader

My A1c was awful before I started finger pricking and continued to be so until I started using a CGM. I have dropped to pre-diabetic levels now. I think the problem is the method. I can see why the study came to this conclusion using finger-pricking but having an easier method of checking would probably change the outcome of the study.

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Concur. I was diagnosed with T2 about 3 weeks ago. I’ve been on a CGM for about two weeks. It’s been invaluable. Also much less uncomfortable since I’m not tearing my fingertips up.

May I ask what you guys are using?

I've seen the freestyle libre but it still seems like a costly option that most probably couldn't afford.

I started out with a Dexcom but this insurance year they decided they weren't going to cover it because T2D doesn't have a benefit (allegedly). Maybe as a result of this study? I switched over to the Libre and I'm paying $85 out of pocket every month which is worth the ROI. The Dexcom is way more expensive.

Alas, the Dexcom is more accurate and has better calibration, but the Libre if far better covered by insurance options. Self-hackers have to pony up.

Where's the evidence of this statement? It's well known that blood glucose monitors get a wide latitude for accuracy from the FDA anyways so real accuracy would be very difficult to determine.

Why would real accuracy be difficult to determine? Clinicians get to test these on their patient populations and validate against other high accuracy methods (point-in-time serum draws). For instance, Dr. Peter Attia says he gets a useful fraction of his clinic to use CGMs (as well as personal use), and over years sees a strong signal.

There are many other Drs that have gone on record.

Anecdotally - I helped a T1 diabetic friend set up Loop using a Dexcom G5 and then a G6. Over the course of many months of use, the G6 has proved MUCH more reliable and accurate than the G5, which resulted in far better Looping. The Loop community as a group seem to confirm this increased accuracy.

The Libre.

It is somewhat costly ($38 every 2 weeks) but for me it's worth it.

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