Mounting CGM receiver on bike?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin on October 5, 2009 at 4:07pm

I hear ya. Been thinking the same thing. I thought the skins might protect it from a light rain but not sure about a downpour. Just not sure how to attach it securely to the handlebar so all I had to do would be to push the button. Now I carry it in my jersey pocket and every so often I pull it out to check my BS level.

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Permalink Reply by miketosh on October 5, 2009 at 5:45pm

does the dexcom have an audible alert for high and low like the medtronic?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on October 5, 2009 at 8:15pm

Yes, but it's not the first alarm... the first one only vibrates. I am not so much interested in knowing if I hit my alarm targets (which isn't terribly useful with the delay in interstitial readings), but just seeing if I am heading up or down or holding steady. My BG does stupid crazy things when I am on the bike, so knowing where it's going (before it gets there) can be really helpful. The low alarm on the Dexcom can't be set any higher than 90.. but by the time it would alarm at 90, I am sure I could easily be 50 or lower.

I had the dexcom in my stem bad on today's ride and that worked okay.. but I was quite worried that I'd drop it every time I checked it!

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Permalink Reply by Andy on October 5, 2009 at 11:04pm

Is it not better to listen to your body and when you feel 'wrong' to then pull it out and check the reading?
Some people think that having a computer on the bike effects the way you ride and you become a slave to the readings.
A CGM might be even worse than a normal cycling computer.
I am lucky in that I don't need one yet. I test before and after my commute but I 'know' when I am wrong and carry an emergency gel at all times. Being T2 must make it easier in many ways over T1 though.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on October 6, 2009 at 2:41pm

Not when you have zero hypo awareness... and I have, quite literally, none. Any hypo awareness I did have seems to be completely gone with switching to Apidra (I don't really have another option there - Novolog and Humalog cause extreme skin irritation, so if I want the benefits of pumping, I use Apidra). I can be very low and feel completely fine.. very low as in upper 30's and I'll have no idea. I had a 41 last night.. didn't feel "off" at all... and I had no hypo symptoms. If it weren't for the Dexcom alarming I probably would never have known, or tested... and there are multiple instances like that for me every day. I can test before/after meals and my #'s look great, but there's a lot going on in-between that is a little scary.

If it's different for you as a T2, as I expect it is, and you can feel your hypos, that's great, but please don't be judgemental about someone's choice to use a piece of technology if it may help them to manage their diabetes better. I am managing a different disease than you are, in a completely different way (because I have no other choice, I *have* to take insulin as a T1), and I already test regularly when I'm out on my bike (I'd probably have passed out on the road if I were only testing before/after.. I average about every 20 minutes or 5-7 miles), but there's a LOT going on in-between fingersticks that I would be oblivious to without a CGM... do I expect to be fully reliant on it, absolutely not, but you can't suggest that it's "worse" to have that information easily available. The CGM can also be useful in seeing just how much I can reduce my insulin usage by while on the bike.. as well as how well I am balancing my need for carbs.

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Permalink Reply by Andy on October 6, 2009 at 11:14pm

Sarah,
Not being judgemental at all. Just offering my thoughts.
But, from reading your reply I can understand the NEED for it on your bars, and that surpasses any necessary want for more information. You NEED it.
Does the manufacturer provide any sort of mounts?
If you contact them and explain your need for a mount for your bike, they might actually be interested as cycling is really on the up and up. Exercise is so important to our disease ( both yours and mine :-) ) and of course they know this and your contact might spark them into life?
A plastic bracket would not be hard to manufacturer - a quick release type.
In the short term there will probably be something that can be cobbled together using a QR bracket for a light.
What is the exact model and make so I can Google for images over here please?
Also, we might have a bracket in Europe that you do not in the US.
Failing that, I have a drawer in my shed full of old brackets from lights - the lights failed or wore out but the brackets are fine so I may be able to send you something.

I am lucky in that my Metformin SR does not allow me to hypo. I slow down and feel like death warmed up but I do not go into a coma.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony DiPalma on October 6, 2009 at 8:37pm

Hi Sarah, Tony here. While I was at DTC in Eugene they hooked me up to the Medtronic pump but I used it as a CGM. About three weeks ago I got my Medtronic Guardian CGM. As you may know they come with a clip so you can clip it to your belt like a pager or cell phone. I use a velcro strap through that clip to mount it to my bars. I don't know if the dexcom comes with a clip or not. I have not yet worked out the rain protection issue.
I do like having the Guardian on my bar to see what is happening as I ride. I like seeing the trends. I like having that extra information that might tell me I had better take on some fuel before I start that climb.
I'll keep my eyes and ears open to what others are doing and let you know what I find out. Hope your riding is going well. I have been off the bike for a few weeks because I got hit by a car and have been recovering. Nothing was broken just bad road rash on my left side. Still going to the gym everyday for light workouts. Hope to see you at the next camp!

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Permalink Reply by Tony Elmquist on October 8, 2009 at 7:09am

YES YES YES! I just started riding to work and back (24 miles each way, it's a haul) and I would LOVE to have a way to mount my dexcom on the bars - right now I keep it in my shorts pocket, but fumbling with gloves on, I'm worried I'm going to drop it in the street and have it get run over by a car.

Love having it, though - really makes me less nervous about the ride, knowing I can see a bad trend before I start to feel it. Today my BG stayed between 105 and 90 the whole ride - I was thrilled.

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