Speaker: Megan Ervin
Could you describe your experience with diabetes technology? What technologies have you used throughout your diagnosis (CGM, pumps, etc.)?
Megan Ervin: I'm so grateful for all diabetes technology for me specifically, it would have to be my dex calm as a medical student. I really heavily rely on my decks come to have good A one C numbers and successfully manage my Type one diabetes while I'm in a pretty high stress environment. So I'm very, very grateful to have the decks come. I'm also very thankful for insulin pumps. Um, they work wonderfully and I'm so glad people, people like them. For me personally, it's not how I choose to manage my type one. I did have a tandem tandem pump for about two years and I'm so grateful for for what they're able to do for other people. But of course, it just shows how individualized diabetes care is. So one piece of technology might work for someone else but might not work so well for me. Um, but for me specifically, I don't know where I'd be without my decks. Com. So C. G. M. S are very important.
How has the use of diabetes technology impacted your life?
Megan Ervin: Diabetes technology specifically. Again, the decks. Com is honestly what's allowed me to be so successful in medical school. I don't think I'd be able to have such good numbers or get good test scores in medical school without it because the way that it's able to track my number, um, when I'm studying, when I'm asleep, giving me alerts that stuff I could not do as well if I was just finger pricking. So honestly, I owe a lot of my success in my management with Type one is pretty much to my decks. Com.
Why do you feel that incorporating diabetes technology into clinical practice is a priority for patients?
Megan Ervin: I think it is so imperative that we really try to incorporate the most modern diabetes technology into the lives of everyone with diabetes because those long term negative side effects of diabetes, we're not really seeing them that much that they're not that prevalent anymore. And a large part that has to do with just how far and advanced our our new C. G. M. S. Are the new insulin pumps are they're able to get someone living with diabetes their numbers down to such a narrow range um where we're not really seeing those negative effects of you know amputations or high hyperglycemia effects really as much anymore. And I think just so you're able to manage your condition better. That's the main reason why it's just so important for people to have these these devices. So I think we need to work together and overcome some barriers so that we can all rejoice in these wonderful devices and live longer happier, healthier lives.
What is the best piece of advice you have for someone who is a new user to diabetes technology?
Megan Ervin: I would say that, you know, these are great devices that are here to help you and you're going to rely on them heavily but don't be too frustrated if, you know things go wrong, they're not perfect yet. They're always advancing and you're definitely going to run into times where you're frustrated and that's totally okay and it's definitely a learning curve. So I think the best piece of advice is, yes, these are such great devices that are gonna be in your life and they're gonna help you so much, but it's also okay to acknowledge that they aren't perfect. So that way when you're having one of those bad days, it's okay to feel a bit frustrated but know that there's also just so much support um, with the diabetes technology and people join a support group because that issue that you're facing someone else has probably already faced it and you guys can, you know, communicate and work work through together and it's a learning curve and the more obstacles you face, the better you're gonna be with the technology. Um, but I would, I would enjoy the ride and look forward to the new updates and hopefully one day we'll get pieces of technology that have barely any problems with them. I think we're almost there. So
