Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jgos on October 25, 2011 at 3:33pm

I agree AC - but as you said we have to make an argument for CGM from a cost side. 1 being day to day. 2 being long term

Permalink Reply by La on June 27, 2012 at 11:29am

I have used a CGM of a different make. The do occasional funding so I have one every few months and I am not going to lie, I hate every minute of having it. To onlookers, this is strange as I love my pump to the world. The CGM actually makes my control worse due to the fact that the calibration messes up. My CGM told me that I was 2.1 once and I had been having so much juice to get it up though my sugars didn't seem to be budging and I was feeling rather ill but I did a test and I was 17 or so. The CGM had told me I was low when I was seriously high. I find that my control is better on normal finger pricks if you test regularly. The NHS only sees fit to give out CGMs if you have bad sugar glucose which happens regularly when you are 12 due to growth and holidays so push your case at these points to your consultants as they are helpful when you have bad sugars. Normal times though, you can control it, if you know your patterns, with just your finger pricks.

Permalink Reply by Teo on September 6, 2012 at 3:17am

I suppose that it always depends on the quality of the particular make. Probably if a common glucose meter on finger pricks is a bad quality one, they can also make such drastic mistakes as the CGM you describe.

Permalink Reply by latvianchick on January 3, 2013 at 11:11pm

I have just received notice from the Northampton Hospital to say that I can have a CGM for 1 week only to see what is going on with my very erratic levels. We put the request in ub January 2011! Only just come. Apparently they have funding for two machines a year! Very unfair, but I must say, I am not surprised.

Permalink Reply by Nyadach on January 26, 2013 at 4:21pm

I am partially lucky enough to get one every so often...well the Medtronic one which is a mini harpoon if that's lucky :P and I only use it for trends as I don't think I've ever had an accurate reading out of one yet. Anyhow, getting a bit side tracked (as always) here. Been reading more and more on the Dexcom and it does sound pretty good accuracy wise, and I assume due to postcode lottery not a chance of getting one up here.

So am curious as to how much and how did those self funding one, how did you get hold of it and the sensors? Thanks.

Permalink Reply by latvianchick on January 26, 2013 at 9:55pm

What is a mini harpoon?

Does it hurt much to put in? And can you have a shower when you use one?

Permalink Reply by Nyadach on January 27, 2013 at 2:48am

Maybe over exaggerating a bit on the harpoon part, but they do feel rather more like something you want to go fishing with and personally I find they are rather irksome when inserted, and even more so when being inserted.

Removal wise they do come out all right with a lil tug, but they are much more attached than a normal infusion set, and a lot more painful than the normal cannula insertion etc. I find some just annoy all the time till it comes out and leave a bruise and a nice red mark for a few days.

Partly why I am interested in the Dexcom is that the sensor is from all comments a lot easier to insert and a lot more comfortable, also giving more variety of placement areas. I've tried the Medtronic sensor in a couple of places now but it really seems to only sit well in my mid section or flanks. Is generally too bulky and I keep knocking it, and generally niggles a bit to remind me it's there. Would love to be able to move it to my arms like many with the Dexcom users seem able to do. Think most of this is being a cyclist I have tiny little arms with nothing for the Medtronic sensor to get into.

Shower wise I think you are meant to disconnect the transmitter part which has the battery on it as well. Although a large waterproof sticky pad over it seems to work just as well.

Permalink Reply by Alison Finney on January 27, 2013 at 5:27am

Have you tried the Enlite sensors from Medtronic? They've got rid of the harpoon insertion that the old ones use, and go in vertically like a Quickset. The needle is much smaller and I rarely have one that hurts when it goes in now. I wear mine mostly on my lower back and I don't know its there once its in.

You don't need to disconnect the transmitter to shower. I wear a sticky over it all the time though as I find it stops it moving around and means I don't notice the sensor when I'm wearing it.

Permalink Reply by Nyadach on January 27, 2013 at 9:00am

That's the one with the blue inserter gadget like the quickset you press and zap in it goes? Sounds a lot like the one I've been using, to be honest haven't paid much attention to the name of it other than it being from Medtronic and it annoys me. Am due for another on Friday so I'll probably pay more attention this time around to what it's called.

Permalink Reply by Alison Finney on January 27, 2013 at 9:30am

If its the old ones you're using, they come with a long blue inserter and are put in at an angle. It really was like a harpoon. The new Enlites have a grey/dark blue inserter that fires in vertically. Pics here http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2011/04/let-there-be-enlite/

Permalink Reply by Nyadach on January 27, 2013 at 10:13am

Ahh, it's the Enlites than, although in a different colour scheme (blue with grey button) just to be awkward. Sadly still not had one with doesn't hurt yet though :(

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