#bubblan

The latest development here, in Shiny New-To-Me Diabetes Tech Land: full continuous glucose monitoring functionality achieved! 😎

And without paying for any aftermarket stuff, as I was kinda anticipating needing to do if I wanted that with the equipment I was given.

Though the Libre 2 does include one big improvement over the OG model, in that it does offer realtime alarms to warn you if your blood sugar is going potentially dangerously high or low? For whatever reason, the sensors still need manually scanned with a reader (or app on an NFC-capable phone) to download the actual reading data. 🤔 At least every 8 hours, or the sensor storage will fill up and stop adding more records.

Not sure exactly how or why it does work that way, but yeah that's why it's still the go-to cheaper "continuous" monitoring option. They're apparently changing this and going for full CGM capacity with the Libre 3, which is still basically in beta testing in Germany only for the time being.

But, in the meantime? There are several aftermarket add-on transmitters to work around the Libre's limitations compared to other tech currently on the market. One of these is the Bubble, apparently developed here in Sweden by T1 diabetics.

Their Diabox app is also open source, as an added draw.

Unlike with the official LibreLink app, Diabox's reported levels can be calibrated by entering some finger stick readings, which apparently really is a pretty big accuracy improvement. (With all the aftermarket Libre app options I've seen discussed, for that matter.)

But, it turns out that Diabox can also work around Abbott's funky Bluetooth implementation there, and connect directly with the Libre 2 sensors! 😁 No actual Bubble add-on device required.

I only got that set up and running this afternoon, but so far so good!

Still going to need to run some manual scans with the official app, so that data can get shared with the endo's office through Diasend like they want. Which is a bit of a bummer. (For now, at least? Planning to do that whenever I would normally test, plus right before bed.)

But, that's not too big a hassle. At least it doesn't involve poking myself with a lancet at least once, every single time I get the readings. And the full realtime info through Diabox should come in very handy indeed, trying to keep myself alive by filling in for my own poor pancreas full time!