Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brooklyn on September 30, 2011 at 7:09am

I get mine next week. That is a scary difference. How was the insertion of the sensor... did it hurt a lot?

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on September 30, 2011 at 11:42am

Hurt - in comparison to a Quick set insertion - yes - it hurts more. But, I have found when I squeeze the tissue up prior to inserting, it distracts me away from the insertion needle pain and I can't feel it anymore. I routinely use my thighs for my CGM, and while not FDA approved there, it is the area where I get my best correlation. The abdomen had major discrepecies for me.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on September 30, 2011 at 11:39am

Here is my advice - it is not FDA approved - I have learned through trial and error - on sensor end (after 7 days for me) that I insert the sensor and connect the charged transmitter and leave the sensor function off overnight. This gives time for the sensor to "marinate" in my interstitial fluid overnight. I then turn on the sensor function in the morning when I wake up. I do not calibrate at this time. I wait until I am up and about for about two hours for the interstitial fluid to circulate and calibrate prior to breakfast. Doing this has helped me to get a mroe accurate sensor reading from the start. It does take a day to a day and half for the sensor "to settle" for me. I have learned never to calibrate when raising or falling. And the one thing I still do that they tell you not to do is over calibrate - meaning calibrating more than 3-4 times per day. Do not give up - you will make it work for you. I can not live without my CGM. It works so well for me now. Perfect -no. No CGM will ever be perfect. But it has saved my butt so many times. Keep in mind there is about a 20 min lag time from BG to sensor glucose. It takes time to catch up. I love the predictive alamrs though and they have prompted me to test when I wouldn't have, catching a low before it got too bad.

Permalink Reply by Ruthie on October 2, 2011 at 6:34pm

How do you get a 7 day time for CGM? Mine ends automatically after 72 hours. So I was disappointed, thinking I could go maybe 4 or 5 days.

And I really appreciate your encouragement -- I will try your overnight idea.

Ruthie

Permalink Reply by Scott E on October 2, 2011 at 6:51pm

I've heard the warnings about "over-calibrating", but don't understand them.... when the discrepancies between my meter and my CGM are high, I try to calibrate often to bring it back in line. (It doesn't work). Why?

Ruthie -- at Sensor End, you can go to "Start New Sensor" without changing it, and though it tells you about the 2-hour wait time, it gives the chance to calibrate immediately with the old sensor. Medtronic (or the FDA) can't back up the results you get after 3 days, but many people find them to be just as, if not more, accurate. The downfall is that you only know your sensor is dead when the CGM readings tend to either flatline or plummet.

Permalink Reply by Ruthie on October 2, 2011 at 7:22pm

Scott,
Do you mean that when I get the message "sensor ended" I can ignore it and it continues to monitor?

Permalink Reply by Scott E on October 2, 2011 at 8:01pm

No, but you can go through the steps to start a new sensor without actually changing sensors. Just keep the transmitter plugged in, and you won't even need to wait 2 hours to give it the "first" calibration.

Permalink Reply by Kelly Collins on December 13, 2011 at 6:23pm

This is what I did when I had the CGM a few years ago, it works great. Thanks for reminding me of this, getting a new CGM tomorrow :)

Permalink Reply by Marypat on October 1, 2011 at 7:18am

Ruthie- I started my CGM in August. I, too, over-calibrated and the low alarm was constantly waking me up at night. The BG was not low, but I did not want to stop the CGM. In desperation I talked to my nutritionist and she suggested that I eat 1 oz. of protein before I go to bed. It is not exactly appetizing to eat chicken at bedtime, but it works. Sometimes I eat 1/2 c. Greek yogurt. That works too. I get fewer false alarms now and I am sleeping well with good overnight BGs.

There certainly is a time delay between the BG and the ISIG readings. Sometimes I get a "low predicted" well after I just ate. I found out that it could be very dangerous to treat a low based on a CGM reading. Sometimes I get low symptoms before the CGM sends an alarm.

The tape on the CGM bothers me sometimes, but I am glad I have the CGM.

I get my A1C checked next week. Hope it will be good news.

M.P.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on October 1, 2011 at 12:39pm

I never treat a low or bolus for a high or a meal based on a CGM reading.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on October 1, 2011 at 12:40pm

I find that because there is less intersitial fluid movement around the sensor at night, I will have a low # on the GGM but not necessarily correlates with the BG. I have my CGM alrams lowered at night for this reason. YDMV of course.

Permalink Reply by Ruthie on October 2, 2011 at 6:31pm

Thanks for your comments -- I'll act accordingly; the protein sounds like a good idea.

Ruthie

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