Laozik touchless blood glucose meter: experience?

[Mrs.Milo]

Anybody with experience for this new Laozik glucarex meter? I have a G7 Dexcom for continuous blood sugar monitoring. I need a 2nd check for when my alarm goes off as blood sugar being too low. I was going to get another kit that includes having to stab your finger, (lost my original) but saw an ad for this new Laozik that doesn’t require a “stick”. If it works, I want one! Thanks

 

[tvguy]

No idea but you don't trust the G7 Dexcom?

 

[kdonnel]

No idea but you don't trust the G7 Dexcom?

I don't use a CGM but have looked into them some.

In my research you still need to calibrate it using another method, typically finger stick, and should also confirm any highs or lows using another method.

From Dr. Google:
CGM readings should be confirmed with a blood glucose meter (fingerstick) for a few key reasons: CGMs measure glucose in interstitial fluid, which can lag behind actual blood glucose levels, especially during rapid changes. Additionally, various factors can affect the accuracy of CGM readings, including pressure on the sensor, extreme temperatures, and certain medications. Confirmed readings ensure accurate decision-making regarding insulin dosage or other treatment adjustments, especially if the CGM indicates a low or high blood sugar that doesn't match the individual's symptoms.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I have worn the G7 for over a year now, since I started insulin. In that time, I’ve had 3 or 4 low alarms go off during the middle of the night. Only 1 time was it an actual low where I had to have a quick carb to bring it up. The other times the G7 was wrong, proven with a finger stick. My Dr says could be that I was sleeping on my arm too hard with the G7 and that’s what threw off the number so yes always confirm. Dr suggested to use Ritz peanut butter minis for a quick snack. Anyway, it’s a little scare to be awaken by the alarm. But if the Laozik works that sounds like a quick answer instead of fumbling around with regular blood glucose meter.
I changed my G7 yesterday, and at bedtime it said 70 and was headed down. So I confirmed with a finger stick it was actually 140. After many years of finger sticks it’s a blessing to have a G7.

 

[tvguy]

Good information, thanks. I'm T2 so medication not insulin. Even my lows are too high but my Nephrologist has asked why my Primary hasn't prescribed a CGM. She makes no bones about believing people should use every medication and device out there if it can help even a little. She did back off that when I pointed out that the whole reason I was referred to her was because my Primary got a little too aggressive trying to lower my blood pressure "just a little more" so as to not damage my kidneys......and that extra medication ended up damaging my kidneys.

 

[kdonnel]

. She makes no bones about believing people should use every medication and device out there if it can help even a little.

As I said, I don’t have one but have done a great deal of reading to see if I would benefit.

Like everything else, there are two sides. One set of doctors argue that only the A1c should be used for many reasons but the one that stuck with me is how often patients lie to their doctors about their self tested numbers. It is much harder to lie about your A1c but even that is possible with regular blood donations.

Then there is the side that pushes the CGM. It is best for people that really want to optimally control their diabetes. In theory that is a big group of patients. In practice though the group is much smaller.

It is so much easier to eat what you want, not exercise, and be fat and that is where the majority of diabetics hang out the majority of the time, myself included. When closely monitored a CGM adds a layer of accountability, like a gym buddy or having to weight in each week at a weight watcher meeting.

My mother in law just got a CGM at her son’s insistence. I watched this weekend as my father in law stared at his phone for hours at a time watching her blood sugar rise and fall. Maybe it will change her eating habits, I doubt it as she only eats carbs. Instead I think it will just add anxiety to their life. She is in her early 80’s. Slightly better control of her already controlled diabetes is probably not going to make a meaningful impact to her length of life, but the added stress might shorten it.

 

[EACarlson]

I have worn the G7 for over a year now, since I started insulin. In that time, I’ve had 3 or 4 low alarms go off during the middle of the night. Only 1 time was it an actual low where I had to have a quick carb to bring it up. The other times the G7 was wrong, proven with a finger stick. My Dr says could be that I was sleeping on my arm too hard with the G7 and that’s what threw off the number so yes always confirm. Dr suggested to use Ritz peanut butter minis for a quick snack. Anyway, it’s a little scare to be awaken by the alarm. But if the Laozik works that sounds like a quick answer instead of fumbling around with regular blood glucose meter.
I changed my G7 yesterday, and at bedtime it said 70 and was headed down. So I confirmed with a finger stick it was actually 140. After many years of finger sticks it’s a blessing to have a G7.

Push harder on the G7 when applying it. I had this problem for quite a while with my Freestyle Libres until I discovered this. The filament can come out of the interstitial fluid when you don't push hard enough when applied. I didn't have any compression lows for 8 months until this weekend, well when I applied my last sensor, I was in a hurry and didn't follow the entire process I normally do.

 

[lanejudy]

Anybody with experience for this new Laozik glucarex meter?

I'm not familiar with the Laozik but we do have 2 in the household with CGMs. We've only had to finger prick for lows a couple of times (and it's frustrating to keep those supplies "unexpired") but like someone above, it has never been a "true" low. I've found the CGM tends to run approx. 10 points lower than a finger prick when down near low levels.

No idea but you don't trust the G7 Dexcom?

No, a CGM isn't perfect and it will even tell you to confir4m with a finger prick with highs and especially with lows.

my Nephrologist has asked why my Primary hasn't prescribed a CGM

I don't know about Medicare specifically but often insurance won't cover a CGM unless the individual is using insulin. We pay OOP for DD's because finger pricks just weren't working for her.

 

[china mom]

Good information, thanks. I'm T2 so medication not insulin. Even my lows are too high but my Nephrologist has asked why my Primary hasn't prescribed a CGM. She makes no bones about believing people should use every medication and device out there if it can help even a little. She did back off that when I pointed out that the whole reason I was referred to her was because my Primary got a little too aggressive trying to lower my blood pressure "just a little more" so as to not damage my kidneys......and that extra medication ended up damaging my kidneys.

FYI, Some (probably most) insurance will not cover a CGM unless on insulin.

 

[EACarlson]

I don't know about Medicare specifically but often insurance won't cover a CGM unless the individual is using insulin. We pay OOP for DD's because finger pricks just weren't working for her.

Medicare will cover a CGM without insulin if there is a history of hypoglycemic incidents requiring treatment. My FIL got his Freestyle approved after he told his doctor that he was having issues with going low and not being able to feel it.

 

[tvguy]

FYI, Some (probably most) insurance will not cover a CGM unless on insulin.

I am in the middle of my Cardiologist wanting me to use a specific cholesterol medicine that my insurance will not cover. My insurance suggests another medicine, which my Cardiologist says is not an acceptable substitute.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not familiar with the Laozik but we do have 2 in the household with CGMs. We've only had to finger prick for lows a couple of times (and it's frustrating to keep those supplies "unexpired") but like someone above, it has never been a "true" low. I've found the CGM tends to run approx. 10 points lower than a finger prick when down near low levels.


No, a CGM isn't perfect and it will even tell you to confir4m with a finger prick with highs and especially with lows.


I don't know about Medicare specifically but often insurance won't cover a CGM unless the individual is using insulin. We pay OOP for DD's because finger pricks just weren't working for her.

My issue would be finding a place to put the CGM where it wouldn't bother me while sleeping.

 

[china mom]

My issue would be finding a place to put the CGM where it wouldn't bother me while sleeping.

Chest

 

[EACarlson]

My issue would be finding a place to put the CGM where it wouldn't bother me while sleeping.

The only time it bothers me when sleeping is when I get a compression low. Otherwise I don't notice it.

 

[tvguy]

Chest

In the past few years I have worn three different Holter heart monitors.
One had leads on my chest and I had to wear a recorder, but that I only had to wear for 8 hours so easy.
Second had leads also, but was linked via Blue Tooth to a cell phone that continuously fed an EKG to a reporting location. Wore that for three weeks, the leads bothered me.
Third one had no leads. Looked a lot like a CGM, strapped to my chest. Wore that one for three weeks and sleeping was disrupted by me trying to get comfortable with it pulling on my skin.

 

[china mom]

In the past few years I have worn three different Holter heart monitors.
One had leads on my chest and I had to wear a recorder, but that I only had to wear for 8 hours so easy.
Second had leads also, but was linked via Blue Tooth to a cell phone that continuously fed an EKG to a reporting location. Wore that for three weeks, the leads bothered me.
Third one had no leads. Looked a lot like a CGM, strapped to my chest. Wore that one for three weeks and sleeping was disrupted by me trying to get comfortable with it pulling on my skin.

Other than chest hair being a probable issue, the CGM is no where near as cumbersome as anything you just described. And the dexcom is only 10 days so if you hate it there, you can always try another location on the next one (the libre is 14 days). The chest is not an approved applications location but that is only because they did not go through the FDA approval for that spot. Most people report similar accuracy to the back of the arm.

 

[EACarlson]

Other than chest hair being a probable issue, the CGM is no where near as cumbersome as anything you just described. And the dexcom is only 10 days so if you hate it there, you can always try another location on the next one (the libre is 14 days). The chest is not an approved applications location but that is only because they did not go through the FDA approval for that spot. Most people report similar accuracy to the back of the arm.

Libre 3+ is now 15 days. One of the reasons the 3 has been discontinued.

 

[Lewisc]

Anybody with experience for this new Laozik glucarex meter?

I can't find it on the FDAs site. It's probably a scam.

Some doctors think % in range, per CGM, is more useful then A1C. Lows can offset highs resulting in misleading A1C #s

Dexcom received FDA approval for a 15.day wear G7 sensor

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Speaking of where to wear a G7, I do wear it towards the back of my arm, alternating arms at the 10 day change. But that’s because when I first started wearing it on the side of my arm, I knocked a couple off going thru narrow doorways or reaching into the washer to move laundry.

 

[china mom]

Speaking of where to wear a G7, I do wear it towards the back of my arm, alternating arms at the 10 day change. But that’s because when I first started wearing it on the side of my arm, I knocked a couple off going thru narrow doorways or reaching into the washer to move laundry.

I probably knocked off a dozen of more before I moved it to my chest. That was back when I was on the Libre 14 day, which is a little bigger and more likely to be bumped.