When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 17, continuous glucose monitors weren’t part of my everyday life.
My first experience with a Type 1 diabetes CGM came in 2018, when I got two free FreeStyle Libre samples and decided to try one. I wore the sensors for about 20 days in total, and it was my first experience seeing my glucose in a completely different way.
In 2020, I started using FreeStyle Libre 2 regularly. Then, in 2022, I switched to the Dexcom G6.
My CGM journey changed again in 2024, when I started using a Medtronic pump and switched to the Guardian 3 sensor that went with it.
Then, in 2025, I switched from Medtronic to Omnipod, which meant moving back to Dexcom. I started using the Dexcom G7, and in 2026, I switched to the newer 15-day version when it became available.
Looking back, it’s pretty amazing to see how much my diabetes technology has changed over the years.
This isn’t a comparison or a recommendation for one CGM over another. It’s simply my personal experience of using different sensors and how my diabetes technology has changed as my life and needs changed.
Why I Started Using a Type 1 Diabetes CGM
One of the things I liked most about using a CGM was finally being able to see what my blood sugar was doing throughout the day.
Before that, I checked my blood sugar at certain times and made decisions based on those individual numbers. But there were still parts of the day when I simply didn’t know what was happening.
Once I started using a CGM, I could look back at my glucose throughout the day and see patterns that I might have completely missed before.
I remember noticing a particular time of day when my blood sugar wasn’t responding the way I expected. I hadn’t been checking my blood sugar then, so I probably wouldn’t have noticed the pattern without the CGM.
That information ended up being useful enough that, at one point, I even talked with my doctor and switched the insulin I was using after seeing what was happening with my blood sugar.
That was one of the moments when I really understood the value of having that extra information. The CGM wasn’t just showing me a number; it was helping me see patterns in my own diabetes that I couldn’t see before.
Since then, I’ve really come to appreciate CGMs. For me, having a sensor that gives me a much clearer picture of my glucose throughout the day has been incredibly convenient and useful.
It’s one of those diabetes tools I genuinely love having in my everyday life.
Of course, everyone’s experience with CGMs is different, but for me, continuous glucose monitoring has become a very useful part of living with Type 1 diabetes.
For more information about continuous glucose monitoring and diabetes technology, the American Diabetes Association is a helpful resource.
My CGM Journey: From FreeStyle Libre to Dexcom
My First CGM Experience in 2018
I first tried CGM in 2018. I got two free FreeStyle Libre samples and decided to try them. I wore the two sensors for about 20 days in total.
It was my first time wearing a glucose sensor, and I remember really liking the experience. It was convenient, and I was fascinated to see what my blood sugar was doing throughout the day.
I didn’t start using a CGM continuously right away, but that first experience stayed with me.
Starting FreeStyle Libre 2 in 2020
In 2020, I started using FreeStyle Libre 2 regularly. By then, I already knew how useful a CGM could be from my first experience with Libre.
I really appreciated having continuous glucose information. It gave me a better understanding of what was happening between the times I would normally check my blood sugar.
This was when CGM really became part of my everyday diabetes management.
Switching to Dexcom G6 in 2022
In 2022, I switched from FreeStyle Libre 2 to the Dexcom G6.
One thing I really liked about Dexcom was that the glucose readings automatically updated on my phone. With Libre, I was used to scanning the sensor when I wanted to check my glucose. With Dexcom, I didn’t have to keep reaching for my phone and scanning the sensor to see my latest reading.
I could simply look at my phone and see my glucose information updating throughout the day.
That made CGM feel even more convenient for me. I liked being able to check my glucose without actively scanning the sensor every time.
After using CGM for a few years, I had become very attached to having that information available throughout the day. Dexcom made that part of my routine feel easier.
And this was only the next step in my CGM journey. A couple of years later, I would switch again, this time to the Guardian 3, when I started using a Medtronic pump.
Switching to the Dexcom G7 15 Day in 2026
By 2026, I had been wearing a CGM for years, and then another option became available to me: the Dexcom G7 15 Day.
I decided to make the switch, and it felt like a natural next step in a CGM journey that had already taken me through several different sensors.
Looking back at where I started with two free FreeStyle Libre samples in 2018, it’s pretty amazing to think about how much has changed.
I’ve gone from trying my first CGM out of curiosity to reaching a point where I genuinely can’t imagine managing Type 1 diabetes without one.
The technology has changed several times over the years, but what I appreciate most has stayed pretty simple: having a clearer picture of what my glucose is doing throughout the day.
For me, CGM has become one of those tools that makes living with Type 1 diabetes a little more convenient and gives me information I wouldn’t have had before.
Switching to Guardian 3 With Medtronic in 2024
In 2024, my CGM journey took another turn when I switched to a Medtronic insulin pump.
Since I was using a Medtronic pump, I also switched from Dexcom to the Guardian 3 sensor.
This was the first time I had used a CGM that was part of the same diabetes technology system as my insulin pump. After years of using insulin pens and then switching between CGM systems, it was another new experience for me.
I used the Guardian 3 during my time with Medtronic, and it became part of my daily routine.
But my time with Medtronic wouldn’t last forever. As my son became more active and my everyday life changed, I eventually realized that the tubing on my pump wasn’t working well for me anymore.
That led me to make another big change in 2025: switching from Medtronic to Omnipod.
And with that switch, I went back to Dexcom.
Going Back to Dexcom With Omnipod
In 2025, I switched from Medtronic to Omnipod, and that also meant going back to Dexcom for my CGM.
After using the Guardian 3 with Medtronic, I started using the Dexcom G7 again. By then, I had tried several CGM systems, so I had a pretty good idea of what I liked about continuous glucose monitoring.
Going back to Dexcom felt familiar, but the G7 was another step forward from the G6 I had used before.
What I continued to appreciate most was the convenience of having my glucose information available on my phone without needing to scan the sensor every time I wanted to check it.
At the same time, switching to Omnipod made the overall setup feel different. I no longer had the tubing I had dealt with while using Medtronic, and having a tubeless pump paired with the CGM felt much better suited to my life with a young, active child.
It was another reminder that diabetes technology isn’t necessarily about finding one system that you’ll use forever. Sometimes the right setup is simply the one that fits the life you’re living at that moment.
What Wearing a CGM Changed for Me
The biggest change for me was seeing the bigger picture instead of only individual blood sugar numbers.
With a CGM, I could look at what my glucose had been doing throughout the day and notice patterns I might have missed before. It helped me understand that my blood sugar wasn’t just about what I ate at that moment. Changes could be happening when I wasn’t checking at all.
One time, I noticed a pattern during a particular part of the day when my blood sugar wasn’t responding the way I expected. Before using a CGM, I hadn’t been checking during that period, so I didn’t realize it was happening.
Seeing that pattern gave me something to discuss with my doctor, and eventually I switched the insulin I was using.
That experience really showed me the value of having that information available. The CGM didn’t make the decision for me, but it helped me notice something that I otherwise might not have seen.
After wearing CGMs for several years, I’ve come to really appreciate how convenient they are. For me, having that continuous stream of glucose information has become a very useful part of everyday life with Type 1 diabetes.
It’s a small sensor, but it gives me a much bigger picture.
The Good, the Frustrating, and the Everyday Reality
I really like having a CGM, but wearing one isn’t always perfect.
There are the little things that come with having a sensor on your body all the time—remembering when it’s time for a new one, making sure it stays attached, dealing with occasional sensor issues, and simply getting used to having another device on you.
Sometimes I forget I’m wearing it. Other times, I become very aware of it.
And then there are the alerts. They can be incredibly useful, but they can also interrupt whatever I’m doing. Diabetes doesn’t always care whether I’m sleeping, working, spending time with my family, or just trying to have a quiet moment.
Still, when I think about the overall experience, the benefits have far outweighed the frustrations.
After years of wearing different CGMs, I’ve learned that no device will make diabetes disappear. But having useful information available throughout the day can make me feel more informed and prepared.
For me, the convenience is worth it.
Why I Keep Wearing a CGM
After all these years and all the different sensors I’ve tried, I still choose to wear a CGM.
For me, it has become part of my normal routine, just like carrying insulin or making sure I have what I need before leaving the house.
I like having that information available throughout the day. I like being able to look at my phone and see where my glucose is and how it has been changing. I also like being able to look back and notice patterns that I might not have noticed from occasional checks alone.
My CGM journey has gone from trying two free sensors in 2018 to using different systems alongside different insulin delivery methods over the years.
FreeStyle Libre. Dexcom. Guardian. Dexcom again.
Each one became part of a different chapter of my life.
And that’s probably what I’ve learned most from all of these changes: diabetes technology doesn’t have to be a permanent decision. What works for you can change as your life changes.
For me, a CGM has become one of the most convenient and useful tools I have for living with Type 1 diabetes.
I don’t wear one because it makes diabetes easy.
I wear it because having more information makes me feel better equipped to live my everyday life.
Technology Has Changed, but I’m Still Me
When I look back at my CGM journey, I’m amazed by how much diabetes technology has changed.
I started with two free FreeStyle Libre samples in 2018. Then came FreeStyle Libre 2, Dexcom G6, Guardian 3 with Medtronic, and eventually Dexcom G7 and the 15-day version.
Each change happened during a different chapter of my life, and sometimes the technology changed because my life changed.
Nearly two decades after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I’m grateful that I have more tools than I did when I was 17.
But underneath all the sensors, apps, pumps, and numbers, I’m still just me—living my life, raising my son, working on my health, and figuring things out one day at a time.
The technology has changed a lot. My life has changed even more. And my CGM has simply become one of the tools that helps me along the way.
A Note From Lady Clay
Everything shared on Lady Clay is based on my personal experiences with Type 1 diabetes and using continuous glucose monitoring. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice or a recommendation for any specific CGM, insulin pump, medication, or treatment.
Diabetes technology, insurance coverage, and individual needs can vary from person to person. What works for me may not work for someone else. Please speak with your doctor or diabetes care team about your own diabetes management and which technology may be appropriate for you.