Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alison Finney on November 16, 2009 at 8:44am

Great news, thanks Rosemary. I was speaking to an Animas pump rep on Saturday who reckoned they'd be launching a new pump integrated with Dexcom CGMS in the UK next year. I use Medtronic CGMS and pump at the moment, but it's always nice to have some competition in the market.

Alison
Blogging about diabetes @ www.shootuporputup.co.uk

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Humby on November 16, 2009 at 10:45am

Hello Alison

Yes, I heard about this too but decided I couldn't wait. Curiously, I'm finding that having a separate receiver for the CGMS suits me quite well - it's nice and easy to read, as it's bigger than a pump screen, and I can just pull it out of a pocket for a squint. I thought it would really annoy me having an extra bit of kit, but not yet at least. I couldn't get on with the Medtronic CGMS but I'm glad it's working for you.

Rosemary

Permalink Reply by Donna Fletcher on November 23, 2009 at 1:55pm

I bought mine on holiday in the States last year and its the best thing I've ever bought. My repeat perscription ran out last week but I have 2 months worth of sensors left so I will ask if I can use the UK sensors with the USA receiver. If you have unexplained blood sugars, investing in one of these Dexcom or others cgms is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Permalink Reply by Chris Taylor on November 23, 2009 at 6:45pm

Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. I got an email from a friend called Jayne at the weekend about this. Apparently you have mentioned this on the diabetesecgms site already.

Jayne said that the sensors are £54 each, which isn't bad, but £500 for the new transmitter worries me. My Seven Plus is only 6-months old, so hope to get another year out of my transmitter before the battery dies, but I hope to get a new transmitter for less than this. I wonder what they cost in the States.

During the Summer, I rang Dexcom up and asked them if I could pay by Visa and if they couldn't post a Seven Plus system out to me in the UK, could they send a system out to a friend in Florida who could send it on to me. They said yes and asked for my name. I told them and as it turned out, an American diabetic already registered with them had the same name as me. They never twigged that I was a different person and they never carried out any security checks either!!!

I later found out that I was not meant to have a system without a US perscription and that they had confused me with someone else, but by then it was too late and the Dexcom was with me in the UK. I discovered the mix up when I tried to order new sensors. The lady on the phone asked for my date of birth and that's when we all realised what had happened.
In a way I got lucky, but in another way I wasn't. I had spent a lot of money on a system that now wasn't covered by any warranty and my receiver did develop a fault, which later cleared, I couldn't buy any future sensors and if any of the sensors failed that came with the system, I could not obtain a free replacement! The news that I can now buy sensors in the UK is very welcome as I'm now running low.

That said, I love my Dexcom and had I ran out of sensors, I would have bought a Navigator, which is freely available in the UK.

Oh by the way, my NHS diabetic consultant/ doctor is not a big fan of CGMS! This makes me mad as it has improved my control 100%. I am about to switch diabetic doctors because of his anti-CGMS views!

Permalink Reply by Dee on November 24, 2009 at 9:00am

Hi Chris,
Just checking that when you said a new transmitter cost £500 that this is a cost that applies after you have already paid £975 for the initial Dexcom device? I was told that the actual machine costs £975.

I am worried that apart from the sensor costs there are other costs that I am unaware of to come... although I realise that the Dexcom device won't last forever.

Thanks,
Dee

Permalink Reply by Chris Taylor on November 24, 2009 at 6:01pm

Hi Dee,
I paid $599 for all the kit. Receiver, transmitter, case, charger, software, cables etc. but I accept that they had a special deal going on at the time.

£500 for just the transmitter is already $825 at the current exchange rate of 1.65, so are they saying that the transmitter costs 84% of the whole package or could it be that the UK division (advancedtherapeuticsuk) is making a big profit out of this?

Anyone know what Dexcom USA charge for replacement transmitters?

Permalink Reply by Dee on November 24, 2009 at 8:52am

Hi Rosemary,
Thanks a lot for this. I just got off the phone from John Hughes at Advanced Theraputics and he was incredibly helpful and informative. I have been waiting for ages for Dexcom to distribute in the UK as they are so much cheaper. ( I reckon half the price per year -based on sensor usage- if you can't get funding like most.)
Dee

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Humby on November 24, 2009 at 9:16am

Hi Dee

Glad you're getting it sorted out.

I'm delighted with my DexCom. It's superb. What a difference it's making to me just in the short period of time I've had it. I got it for its accuracy really, but if it ends up cheaper as well that's obviously great. Chris - your consultant does need replacing I agree!!!

Rosemary

Permalink Reply by Dee on December 2, 2009 at 9:10am

Does the unit available in the UK have mmol/l rather than the US units?
Thanks
Dee

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Humby on December 2, 2009 at 9:22am

Yes, it does.

Rosemary

Permalink Reply by Dee on December 9, 2009 at 2:43am

Hi
I am seriously considering one of these as I have a fear of hypos, a HbA1c of 10.4, and I think it could help me.

I'm just trying to get a grasp of the actual costs as i would be funding it myself. Someone mentioned sensors are £54!! Is that for one? So its £50 every 7 days? Seems a lot.

How long does a transmitter last?

What is the initial cost for the whole kit?

Where should I go for more info apart from here, should I ring Advanced Therapeutics?

Thanks in advance
Dee

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Humby on December 9, 2009 at 5:06am

Hi Dee

I don't have much doubt that it would help you. I'm finding it amazing. On the total cost you need to contact Advanced Therapeutics and ask to speak to John Hughes. Apart from the initial outlay for the receiver etc, the main issue is the cost of the sensors - although they look expensive they last longer than their official 7 day period. If one fails (ie not your fault etc) before 7 days my understanding is that they normally get replaced - after 7 days that's unlikely to happen. However, the sensors tend to last 11-14 days, from my own experience and that of others who use the system. So it isn't as bad as it looks.

I can't afford the system very easily, so I had to think hard before buying it. I don't regret that decision. Personally, I'd rather have my DexCom than an annual holiday, as it makes a big difference to my quality of life. TBH, it would be well worth the money if it enables you to lower your HbA1c.

HTH

Rosemary

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