cool! yeah, I tore both my hip labrums practicing Muay Thai (overuse injury) and after surgery in 2008 I gained a bit of weight so started running and cycling which lead me to trying triathlon in 2009 and being bit by that bug - haven't looked back since!
funny - I was diagnosed 2 weeks before my 18th birthday, and will be 32 in June so it's been almost 14 years for me too! ha!
as far as real estate, I can rarely put the CGM in my abdomen - I have to use my backside, like the "love handle" area on the back of my hip? it's a bigger and deeper needle and I just find that the less scar tissue, the longer it lasts and the better the accuracy. I always used my belly or backs of arms to inject, but I use primarily my belly or maybe the backside area for my infusion sets. you can't stick them right next to each other since it will affect the CGM readings - should be on opposite sides.
it's funny, having more of a routine for me is the best way to keep my BGs under control... I also have a hell of a time when my schedule is crazy. right now I work full time, go to school part time (career change), was married a little over a year ago, and I train 6 days a week (swim, bike, run) so it's hard at times. my last A1c was 8.2% but that was also after sustaining a horrible injury in a bike crash and needing open reduction internal fixation surgery - got a titanium plate and 6 screws put into my shattered collarbone, not fun and my BGs were all over the place... but I'm hoping for a high 6% to low 7% in June when I get it tested again. I'm also just starting to think about having a kid, so I want to see how low I can get that number.
for me, when I began getting tighter control and exercising a lot, I started having seizures in my sleep from hypos. I'm a super deep sleeper so I don't wake up when I'm low. my poor husband has gotten very used to injecting me with glucagon or watching me seize... but they've gotten MUCH better in the nearly 6 years I've been on a CGM.
I started with Medtronic since the pump and CGM was integrated and I didn't want to carry around an extra device... that lasted a couple of years before I found out about Dexcom - less painful sensors, longer lasting sensors (7 days as opposed to 4 days, and you can usually get 9 or 10 days out of them), and better accuracy! So I switched in 2010 and have loved it. In 2011 I switched to the Animas pump because it was waterproof. I don't really swim with my pump, but it's REALLY nice to know you can run in the rain or sweat all over it, or even keep it by the pool without worrying. We honeymooned in Thailand and did a lot of snorkeling and kayaking and it was nice to have it connected the whole time. It's the only waterproof pump on the market.
So yeah, now I'm on the Animas OneTouch Ping pump, and the Dexcom Seven CGM - upgrading to the G4 Platinum (supposed to be even MORE accurate) in a couple of weeks
