r/YouShouldKnow • u/LtSoundwave • Jul 19 '20

Other YSK That many people with a disability consider their aides (wheelchair, etc.) an extension of themselves. You should ask before touching or moving them.

Read this article and was surprised to hear how many people struggle with this. Even if you are trying to help, you should ask first.

www.bbc.com/news/disability-49584591

42.1k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

916 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

14

u/The-Master-Mind Jul 19 '20

The dexcom is inserted with an inserter device, which is not reusable (new device for each sensor). The device basically stabs you with a needle, but then the needle retracts, leaving a thin flexible wire under your skin. This wire sends signals about the levels of glucose in the interstitial fluid, to the transmitter which is the gray oval thingy you see on the arm. Each sensor lasts 10 days. And no, the sensor has nothing to do with insulin delivery, you also have to either take insulin shots or use an insulin pump for that.

7

u/Kibeth_8 Jul 19 '20

That is so cool. Thank you for the explanation! Are you able to insert them yourself, or do you go to a doctor for that?

7

u/The-Master-Mind Jul 20 '20

You insert them yourself! It’s super easy, you just clean the skin, take the sticker backing off, remove the button guard, and push the button. It happens in one second and barely hurts, sometimes you don’t even feel it. Then you put the transmitter (gray oval thingy) onto the sensor and you’re good to go! It takes a couple hours to warm up and then displays readings every five minutes on your pump/phone/smart watch/receiver/etc.