My Honeymoon with a Continuous Glucose Monitor

Comment

Comment by Olaf R Saugen on October 10, 2009 at 1:32pm

Manny: I am happy to welcome you to the CGM users! If you haven't done so yet, spend some time with the new software which gives you an enormous amount of useful information to fine-tune your control. For exasmple: The relationship between the Estimated Standard Deviation and the low on any given day is getting a lot of attention (ESD less than 3 times the daily low) is by many considered a useful yardstick. When you work with upwards of CSG's 280-plus measurements a day the glucometer software seems irrelevant. I am looking forward to the day when CGM accuracy reaches a level where glucometers (and their expensive test strips) become superfluous.

Comment by Danny on October 10, 2009 at 10:00am

When I went on the Insulin pump ( 7 years ago) I had enough positive feedback to finally sway me into investing in one. I still am not geting that same positive feedback with the CGM (The positive does not out way the negatives for me yet).

I am so on the fence with the technology of the CGM...hmm. I guess the Bottom line is, if it is helping the person manage their Diabetes better, I am completely for it.

Well, then again, I guess the technology has come a long way from 2001's FDA approved Glucowatch.

Comment by Sarah on October 10, 2009 at 9:30am

Oh yes I confirmed it... I was never low, never dropping.. no idea what happened with the sensor. I re-calibrated it and it seemed to be okay for a while, but that sensor started giving me nothing but ??? a few hours later... I'm actually about to call Dexcom about it and get this one replaced too - they just replaced one yesterday, this one had only been on me for about 6 or 7 hours.

It's great when it works.. super frustrating when it just won't :(

Comment by Danny on October 10, 2009 at 8:53am

I am happy to hear the CGM has helped with the late night lows for you (and Andreina). I wish you many nights to come of perfect (104 mg/dl) blood sugar reading....please keep us posted on your status.

Sarah, so you ended up checking your blood sugar via finger prick (again) to confirm which reading was right?..hmm

Comment by Sarah on October 9, 2009 at 11:23pm

I hope you're having better results with yours than I have with mine....

Now, I realize technology isn't perfect, and my main aim of wearing this is to see trends of what is happening for me at night, but I could do without these sorts of little "inconveniences" :) I don't expect perfection... it just needs to perform slightly better than a random number generator...

Comment by Patricia on October 9, 2009 at 11:16am

Great post, Manny:) You summarized the pro's and con's very well. I am at the end of 1 month w/ CGMS...it has been invaluable AND frustrating. I suspect that I will be happier w/ a more accurate device...I am trying at least 1 other type (DEX) before making a decision. I have insurance...just not complete coverage and actually tried the MM on my own.

Comment by Lorraine on October 9, 2009 at 10:35am

Making the loop go full circle :)...

http://tudiabetes.com/profiles/blogs/taking-the-cgm-plunge

Comment by Lorraine on October 9, 2009 at 10:34am

Sounds familiar in many ways....even the use of the word "plunge". I hadn't realized you started just weeks before Caleb. I hope to be posting more soon about our experiences. We had a good use of it today at school. It helped avoid a lot of extra finger sticks (and anxiety). Looking forward to hearing more from you as well :).