Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve R on January 25, 2008 at 5:26pm

hi Karen,

I've been using the Minimed system since April. I have been very frustrated with it sometimes. I've spent way too much time on the phone with Minimed Customer Support. One MM support person said that that the CGMS is just not right for everybody. Especially after I bought the thing, I didn't like hearing that. I very much want the thing to work. I have felt quite alright going for a some time without using it. I am using it today and it has seemed to get a lot easier to use over the months. I have seen that my blood sugars are a LOT better controlled when I use the CGMS I am definitely NOT a poster child for easy to control blood sugar. The CGMS has helped a LOT in preventingt trouble with lows. I do not know what to tell you to do, but I hope you stay with it.

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Permalink Reply by Steve R on January 25, 2008 at 5:46pm

It's funny, but I got that old Peter Gabriel song in my head about " don't give up, you know it's never has been easy." I really love that that song.

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Permalink Reply by Toni Crebbin on January 25, 2008 at 5:48pm

Did you notice it worked better when you wore it in one specific place? IE, worked better in the tummy than the hips?

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Permalink Reply by Karen on January 25, 2008 at 6:12pm

I have only done the tummy. My next try I was going to put it somewhere else, but I have not tried it again as yet.

Steve you made me smile. :)

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Permalink Reply by drrps3 on January 26, 2008 at 6:17am

I have been wearing Dexcom for about a year now, and I have to say that I really have not had many problems. My sensors get screwy toward the end of wear....10 - 21 days with the SEVEN sensors. I get a lot of flat lines that don't correspond to bg values at this point. That is when I know the sensor is shot.

I suggest you try another site. I wear my sensors on upper buttocks. It's hidden, and it seems to work for me as there is less movement than when I wore them on abdomen.

Positives for me: much better bg control in that you can treat the trend much faster. Finger sticks just don't do that. This is reflected in much better A1C's for me.

Negatives for me:
1) This is something attached to the body. Even though it is minimal, I do not like having something attached to me. That is why the pump is not for me.
2) You are CONSTANTLY reminded of diabetes. Sometimes you want a break from this. CGM's don't allow that, but that is why you can get the tight control with them.

My suggestion is to hang in there and try a different site. Good luck and let us know.

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Permalink Reply by Toni Crebbin on January 26, 2008 at 7:48am

I also have the Dexcom (in my second month) and haven't had the same problems described by others. Each "seven day" sensor has lasted 14. Typically on the last day or two I start noticing gaps in the readings also. My nephew tried the Minimed, but he was too lean and the sensor wouldn't work on him. The nurse that did my training at my doctor's office recommended he try the Dex, as it is not supposed to be so big going in.

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Permalink Reply by Katie I. on January 26, 2008 at 9:58am

I got Minimed's CGM/722 in July (I paid for it out of pocket-- my insurance wouldn't cover it) and I hated it. It is sitting on my dresser, unused since this summer. Basically, I had 2 main gripes: (1) the adhesive that kept the sensor in place was HORRIBLY itchy for me, to the point where I could not sleep or relax because it was constantly bothering me. I thought this was strange, because I have been on the pump since 1992 and never had a problem with adhesive for my infusion sites. And, (2) like you, I had big-time problems with calibrating the sensor. It was extremely inaccurate (the most accurate number I ever got was still 50 mg/dL off), and I felt like I either had to lie to the pump about what my bg was, or put the real number in and have it give me a "Cal Error" and ultimately a "Bad Sensor" alarm. I was so frustrated.
Also, I wore the sensor in my lower abdomen and I had to wait AT LEAST 8 HOURS before my pump could "find" it. Minimed says this is because my fluid must not circulate very much because I do not have very much fat under my skin on my stomach or something. They said I should aggressively massage my abdomen before and right after I insert the sensor, to get the fluid moving. I would prefer to just put it in my hip if that was the only problem, because I have plenty of fat there!! :) In any event, I am like Robert-- I refuse to use it until they improve its accuracy and use a different adhesive.
I also hated the calibration reminder alarms because I am very private about my T1 at work and they would occur at the worst possible times. Ugh.
I know a lot of people use the CGM and find it very helpful-- I'm sure I'm in the minority with my feelings about it. But that's my $0.02.
Good luck,
Katie

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Permalink Reply by Tracy on January 26, 2008 at 5:21pm

Karen,

Im sorry you are having such a hard time with your sensor . It is paid for so my advice is try to get another trainer . Were you told not to touch the end of the sensor ( the handle thing that you pull the needle out with ) That can break the wire and you will not get good readings . You should only pull it out , try not to touch it until then . Maybe try starting a new sensor before bed get connected but dont ask your pump to start new sensor until morning , then start your sensor you may have to wait 2 hrs to calibrate some time it makes me wait sometimes not, another thing is look at the isig number if it says 1.1 and your blood sugar is 200 its not going to be accurate ...wait until that isig number is close to your actual blood sugar (1.1) would be 100 or close ) . I hope that helps . I dont get accurate numbers all day every day but enought to help for me its worth it . I do take a break sometimes though after mine died yesterday I didnt start a new one I will probably start one tonight .

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Permalink Reply by Sara on January 29, 2008 at 10:23pm

HI Karen,
I definitely understand your frustration, but I think that if you stick with it things may get better (they did for me). The sensor definitely has it periods of inaccuracy but I've found over a few months I learned how to interpret the results and it's been a really useful tool. It's true that it does remind you of diabetes 24/7, and that can be hard. But for me there's a big comfort factor in being able to see the trends and I couldn't give it up. Although I do want to throw it against the wall a little bit sometimes. :)

Here are a few things that have helped me along the way:

If you are getting cal errors, you can make sure that you are safe to calibrate by doing a simple calculation (courtesy of MiniMed):
Divide your current meter BG by the ISIG value - anything under 20 and you're safe to calibrate. 20 or over and it's going to throw an error. If this happens with an ISIG under 10 I usually just unplug the transmitter and recharge, then restart the sensor. That usually helps.

You can "start new sensor" without disconnecting the transmitter, and this allows you to keep going almost immediately - mine usually prompts me for a calibration within a few seconds. You will need to recharge the transmitter if you restart the same sensor a 3rd time though.

I often have a lot of trouble with weak/lost signals when I first insert a sensor. I have found this is better if I leave the introducer needle in for a few minutes (that helps w/ bleeding too), if this happens I usually just turn the sensor off and try again a bit later.

I had a terrible time using stomach sites. I had a lot of success on my upper buttocks, and I recently discovered that my arms work best of all - I didn't think the sensors would work in leaner areas but I have actually found them to be especially accurate there, and hardly noticeable.

I hope you give it another try, i'm really glad that I did!

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Permalink Reply by Karen on January 30, 2008 at 3:42am

Sara,

Thanks for taking the time to write out all your helpful hints. I have yet to try the sensor again, but I will. I will give the arm a try.

I guess I thought this new tool would be easier and not have so many variables just to keep it running smoothly.

I did have a few days where it worked well, so yes I will try it again, especially since it is 100% covered for me and I do want to be able to try walking the golf course again with out worrying of hypo's and not knowing.

I have heard quite a few success stories and my endo did say to give it 6 months.

Any helpful hints of getting the sticky IV 3000 buildup off the transmitter?? ;)

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Permalink Reply by Sara on January 30, 2008 at 12:48pm

Alcohol swabs and a rough towel :)

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Permalink Reply by Karen on February 6, 2008 at 7:44pm

Well I alcoholed my transmitter and rough toweled off the sticky IV3000 and I tried the sensor again last night and today and numbers have been nearly right on all day with my meter. Rough day bgs wise today for me because the CGM does not fix that issue, but the matching the meter sticks and seeing what was going on bgs wise all day, can truly be helpful.

If this keeps up I can see the CGM being a useful tool.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

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