The trashiest folks.
With pump infusion usually lasting three days, and my CGM sensor lasting seven days, it’s rare that the moon and the stars align and I have a day where I’m switching both of them out at the same time. But when it does happen it’s 1.) awesome and 2.) mildly horrifying. Let’s start with awesome.
There’s a term in the diabetes world that you may be familiar with if you’re a device user: the free shower. A free shower means you can take a shower completely device-free because you’re between site/sensor changes. And while this might not seem like a big deal, it is. If you’re like me, and your pump and CGM seem like part of your body, not wearing them even for a few minutes feels strange and liberating. It’s got a feeling to it like you’re playing hooky from school: you know you’re gonna have to go back, but right this second you don’t and it feels so good. We develop an awareness about our devices and where they are on our body so that we don’t waste expensive equipment. When a CGM sensor is on your leg, you pull pants on and off a little more slowly. When you put a pump site on your arm, you remember to stretch your shirt a little extra on that side as you pull it over your head. A device-free shower means you can forget out one of the thousand things we have to remember with diabetes for just a few minutes.
Now, on to mildly horrifying. Here’s a photo a why a double change day can be a little depressing:
We just generate so much expensive/high tech trash. The old pod from my pump contains a tiny little motor and batteries. The CGM sensor was hand-made in a lab, dipped in a platinum glucose-sensing solution, and packaged in a sterile environment, just for me. My insurance paid out the ying-yang for both. Then you add in packaging, adhesive solutions, adhesive backings, and everything else involved in getting these amazing products delivered to my doorstep, and it makes for one trashy scene.
But oh, how that trash is worth it for the moment after the shower when you can towel off without bumping off a site. It’s the little things!
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Free showers are the diabetic equivalent of a blue moon on Friday the 13th without the bad luck.