The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
Body control is an integral part of any athlete's game. The same holds true for 74-year-old Arnold Choy, an avid golfer, bowler and line dancer. Whether it's honing his precise swing on the course, lining up for a strike or staying in rhythm on the dance floor, he's in control and nothing will stop him. Not even hip and shoulder replacement surgeries have slowed down this Dexcom Warrior, whose motto is "Work hard, play hard."
So, when he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 56, he was determined to regain command of his health. And he ultimately turned to Dexcom G7 as a powerful tool in his diabetes management journey.
Bombshell diagnosis
The San Francisco native retired at age 60 after a career as a self-described “numbers guy” mainly in IT administration, budgeting and finance, and he now lives half the year in Indio, California, and the other half in Flagstaff, Arizona. A lifelong athlete, he still looks the part at 6 feet tall and 155 pounds. That’s why his prediabetes diagnosis came as a shock to those who know him.
"They all said, 'There's no way you could be diabetic,' and I wasn't feeling like a sick person," Arnold said. "l wasn't really a believer, like, 'No, I'm not diabetic,' or maybe I was hiding the truth. When I spoke to my mom about it, she said I probably got it from my grandfather then dropped the bombshell that She had it too. Later, my two brothers were diagnosed with diabetes."
Subsequent blood testing revealed he had Type 2 diabetes. Already active, he modified his diet, weaning himself off sweets, including his beloved three scoops of ice cream every night, and frequent steak dinners. He also started taking Metformin, but he still couldn't control his numbers the way he wanted. In 2021 with his A1C hovering around 8, he began insulin injections, which he described as an "eye-opener," and he disliked the fingerpricks he had to do several times a day for years.
He also tried a combination of different diabetes medications, however they all worked to a small degree. Along with little improvement, the side effects were discouraging for Arnold.
Truth in numbers
As a numbers guy, Arnold needed more actionable data to help him analyze and adjust his routine. So, he created a spreadsheet to manually track his numbers from his blood glucose meter before and after meals, several times in between, and when waking up and going to bed.
"I was really surprised I could go to sleep at 200 and wake up at 80 or 90,” he said. “I continued fingerpricking to get a one-look picture rather than using my glucose meter to figure out the patterns. That turned out to be instrumental.”
He showed his doctor his months of detailed spreadsheet data, and she was surprised.
Using his data, she spotted a pattern and changed his insulin regimen before meals (insulin units at an escalating scale) as well as long-acting before going to sleep. Though that helped, he still craved better, more accurate and realtime data. In 2023, some friends who used the Dexcom G6 shared their success stories and passion for the product. But his insurance at the time didn’t cover it. After switching insurance providers, he got his first Dexcom G6 and instantly loved it.
"You just pop that baby on there, hit the button, sync it to your phone, and you get real-time information,” Arnold said.
"I love it, the smaller size and how it fits better, and I look forward to what’s next!” he said. “It makes my life much easier. It s so comforting to know within seconds where you re at with your glucose levels, especially when I'm on the golf course four or five hours. I always bring a sandwich, my glucose pills and insulin pen. My phone beeps and I get the early warning, so I can do what's necessary to keep that glucose level.”
Control unlocked
He still keeps his detailed spreadsheets, but now he also monitors the Dexcom Clarity function on his Dexcom G7 to track its three-, seven-, 14-, 30- and 90-day data for even better control. And the results speak for themselves—his best-ever A1C was 6.9%† at his last checkup after a year of using a Dexcom CGM.
“Dexcom CGM has just given me a lot more confidence and peace of mind in managing living with diabetes, and with fewer fingerpricks,‡” Arnold said. "I'm a control guy, hence all my spreadsheets, and the Dexcom G7 gives me more control over my glucose monitoring. I had had anxiety attacks like, 'Oh my gosh, is this the way I have to live for the rest of my life?’ Kind of a bleak attitude, if you will. But now, I'm back in control of things. My A1C numbers continue to drop, and I'm very happy about that. I just wish I’d had Dexcom 10 years ago or even five years ago!“
‡If your glucose alerts and readings from Dexcom CGM do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
Arnold now looks forward to wintering in Flagstaff and a trip to Boston and Nova Scotia in time to see the beautiful autumn foliage. And, of course, golfing, bowling and line dancing.
"It's like my mother always told me, 'You know, you've had so many surgeries—hand, knee, shoulder, hip, you name it. If you’d just quit playing sports, you'll be fine!’”
Not likely. He’s already closer to fine thanks in part to Dexcom.
Get started on Dexcom G7
If you live with diabetes and do not use CGM, talk to your doctor about Dexcom G7. We can help you get started with a free benefits check. Click the button below to send us some basic information.
*Compatible smart devices sold separately. To view a list of compatible devices, visit dexcom.com/compatibility. †Individual results may vary.
BRIEF SAFETY STATEMENT: Failure to use the Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and its components according to the instructions for use provided with your device and available at https://www.dexcom.com/safety-information and to properly consider all indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and cautions in those instructions for use may result in you missing a severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) or hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) occurrence and/or making a treatment decision that may result in injury. If your glucose alerts and readings from the Dexcom CGM do not match symptoms, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions. Seek medical advice and attention when appropriate, including for any medical emergency.
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