March 6, 2023
Garmin ambassador and Dexcom warrior Tiana Cooks pairs her Dexcom G6 along with her Garmin Venu 2S to intently monitor her glucose ranges whereas she trains.
For folks with diabetes, having the ability to rapidly view glucose ranges will not be solely handy — it’s crucial.
“I must maintain my glucose in a sure vary to really feel like my finest self and to have the ability to keep alive,” says Garmin ambassador Tiana Cooks, who was recognized with Kind 1 diabetes in 2014. Cooks makes use of a Dexcom G6 Steady Glucose Monitor (CGM) that pairs with the Dexcom app on her Garmin smartwatch1 to have the ability to monitor her ranges just by glancing at her wrist. This integration makes the robust days simpler, says Cooks, however you don’t need to take our phrase for it. Beneath, Cooks solutions a number of questions on how the pairing of her Garmin smartwatch along with her glucose monitor has modified her life.
Which Garmin smartwatch do you will have? What are your favourite options?
I take advantage of the Venu® 2S! I like this watch. Battery life, coronary heart price monitoring2 and Physique Battery™ power monitoring are a number of of my favourite options. As a result of I’m consistently charging my insulin pump, cellphone and different gadgets, it’s good to have one much less merchandise to fret about. I can sleep with the watch on without having to take it off for charging, which is a win.
What does it imply for you to have the ability to test your glucose ranges with only a look at your wrist? What was the method for checking them beforehand?
Residing with diabetes signifies that I must know the place my glucose ranges are all day on daily basis. It means I must maintain my glucose in a sure vary to really feel like my finest self and to have the ability to keep alive. The best vary for me is anyplace from 80 to 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). After I was first recognized, I used to prick my finger seven to 9 instances every day to check my blood glucose. Now that I’ve the Dexcom G6, I’m able to monitor my glucose without having to prick my finger. The Dexcom G6 is a steady glucose monitor; it makes use of BLUETOOTH® to ship the readings to my cellphone and my watch. At any time when I must test my glucose, it is so simple as trying down at my wrist. I’m so grateful for my Garmin! Gaining access to expertise is one thing I’ll by no means take without any consideration.
Do you monitor your glucose ranges intently throughout an exercise? What different metrics do you prefer to pay shut consideration to?
Throughout an exercise is once I discover my glucose is probably the most unpredictable and quickly altering. With a view to train, I want to concentrate to what number of carbs I’m consuming, how a lot insulin I consumption and the depth of the exercise. These items all have the flexibility to affect my exercise and my glucose ranges. With my Garmin smartwatch, I’m able to see how a lot power I’m exerting throughout an exercise, which is useful in predicting the place my glucose ranges would possibly go.
Why is it vital to have the ability to see the pattern path of your glucose ranges in addition to the 3-hour historical past?
Having the ability to see the pattern and path of the place my glucose is heading has enabled me to spend extra days laughing, exploring and being lively with out having to cease and deal with my glucose after it’s too late. Correcting my glucose earlier than my physique begins to really feel horrible has saved me a number of stress and supplied me a number of freedom.
Are you able to communicate to what it was like coaching for a marathon and having diabetes? How did your watch and the Dexcom integration affect your coaching?
Coaching for a marathon is hard. Coaching for a marathon with diabetes is even harder. My physique burns glucose when I’m lively, inflicting my glucose to pattern on the decrease aspect. With the Dexcom and Garmin integration, I’m able to monitor and devour carbs as wanted whereas not needing to cease coaching to test my numbers. There are days when diabetes will get difficult and giving up looks like the most suitable choice, however the integration makes these robust days simpler.
Concerned about studying extra about Tiana Cooks? Observe her Instagram account right here. Able to get arrange together with your Dexcom by yourself Garmin smartwatch? Study extra right here.
1The Dexcom apps on Join IQ™ are just for secondary show of information from the Dexcom CGM System and are for passive monitoring functions solely. The Dexcom apps on Join IQ aren’t meant to interchange the Dexcom CGM System, nor exchange self-monitoring practices as suggested by a doctor. All therapeutic choices, together with these relating to calculating insulin or different drug doses, shouldn’t be based mostly on information displayed within the Dexcom apps on Join IQ.
2See Garmin.com/ataccuracy
Dexcom G6 and Dexcom G5 Cell are registered emblems of Dexcom, Inc. within the U.S., and could also be registered in different international locations.
The Bluetooth phrase mark and logos are registered emblems owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is underneath license.