My name is Tammy and this is my story. I was diagnosed with insulin diabetes when I was five. When I was 21 I got pregnant and in my 7’th month I developed retinopathy, a eye disease common with diabetes not in good control. I was sent to Ann Arbor to Kellogg Eye Clinic where they told me they could not regain my sight that I lost, even after many laser treatments.
So there I was young, blind and had a baby to care for.
Now it is 32 years later I have become insulin sensitive, this is when I can’t tell when my sugar is high or to low. I have Medicare and Medicare through Michigan and they will not cover the device that can tell me when my sugar drops or goes to high. The devices I’m looking at is called a DEXCOM G-4 or g-5 continuous blood sugar monitor. There monthly cost to what I need, there is a receiver, sensor and transmitter. The sensors will cost about $250.00 a month, the device all together will cost 1000 to 1500 to purchase.
You are probably wondering if I am blind how can I us this device, well there is parameters that the doctors at Ann Arbor Endocrinology will set the device at such as no lower than 100 for the low number is I go under this number the device will give me a tone that has a descending tone if I go to high the device will do a high pitch sound as my sugar goes over 200 at this point I would take some Insulin.
The last time I passed out I was in the backyard with my 9 year old granddaughter so she ran for my partner and they got me around after some time, it took juice which I would not unclench my jaw so I could drink it so my partner ran to the house and got my emergency glucose shot to get my sugar up so I would come around, at this point I had dropped so low I had no control of my legs so I could not walked until my bodies sugar level was up to a safe zone. This was about the third time in a year I was in this condition. So this is why my medical team at Ann Arbor insists that I get this device because without it the next time I might not be so lucky, I might be alone without any help.
So please help my cause and support my medical need for this device so I can keep enjoying my life with my family and friends, God Bless and thank you so much.
Tammy
So there I was young, blind and had a baby to care for.
Now it is 32 years later I have become insulin sensitive, this is when I can’t tell when my sugar is high or to low. I have Medicare and Medicare through Michigan and they will not cover the device that can tell me when my sugar drops or goes to high. The devices I’m looking at is called a DEXCOM G-4 or g-5 continuous blood sugar monitor. There monthly cost to what I need, there is a receiver, sensor and transmitter. The sensors will cost about $250.00 a month, the device all together will cost 1000 to 1500 to purchase.
You are probably wondering if I am blind how can I us this device, well there is parameters that the doctors at Ann Arbor Endocrinology will set the device at such as no lower than 100 for the low number is I go under this number the device will give me a tone that has a descending tone if I go to high the device will do a high pitch sound as my sugar goes over 200 at this point I would take some Insulin.
The last time I passed out I was in the backyard with my 9 year old granddaughter so she ran for my partner and they got me around after some time, it took juice which I would not unclench my jaw so I could drink it so my partner ran to the house and got my emergency glucose shot to get my sugar up so I would come around, at this point I had dropped so low I had no control of my legs so I could not walked until my bodies sugar level was up to a safe zone. This was about the third time in a year I was in this condition. So this is why my medical team at Ann Arbor insists that I get this device because without it the next time I might not be so lucky, I might be alone without any help.
So please help my cause and support my medical need for this device so I can keep enjoying my life with my family and friends, God Bless and thank you so much.
Tammy