What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports was Medtronic thinking?
I am increasingly frustrated with my CGMS from Medtronic. Here's why:
#1. Having to turn off the wireless interface between my Onetouch Ultralink meter and my MM 722 pump. The reason? Because the CGMS interprets every single test performed as a calibration reading. Too many calibrations "confuse" the CGMS, resulting in bad readings. That whole last statement really doesn't pass the smell test with me, but anyway.
Why is this frustrating you ask? Here's why: It is one more damn thing I have to do. Instead of my reading showing automagically on the bolus wizard, now I have to enter it manually. Then I get a screen asking me if I want to use that as a calibration reading.
I now have to upload my pump AND my meter to the Carelink software I use instead of just the pump, so there is another damn thing.
Oh, and if I have to do a correction bolus? I'm already irritated that I have to correct and now I have to do another damn thing and manually enter a number, probably a large one, into the meter, just irritating me more?
Did I mention the damn cable I had to buy for my meter and now keep track of? Holy cow that's another damn thing.
Seriously, how did this even get on the market? Didn't you do any type of usability testing where these issues came up?
It should work like this: Leave wireless on. When a reading is sent from meter to pump, pop up the screen then, not in the bolus wizard (or even both), asking if it is a calibration reading. If I pull out my pump and hit yes, it is. If I don't pull out the pump, the screen times out and it isn't considered one.
Lesson here: Make things that actually make life easier for the folks who actually have to do it day in and day out.
#2. Accuracy. When this thing is on, it is dead on. When it is not? Who knows? I still test 8-10 damn times a day to make sure the CGMS is accurate. Yea, that's damn convenient. Oh, when it starts alaming that I'm at 50 in the middle of the nite and my meter says I'm at 90, that makes me damn happy. Training says that I should set the alarm level at 75, I have it set at 60. It is either that or keep the damn thing turned off. The low glucose alarm is a damn good idea that didn't live up to it's damn potential for me. And they now have a pump that will shut off the insulin flow based on these numbers?
#3. Sensor life. I can usually get about 6 days out of a sensor. What kills me tho is the sensor will start to be way off about 2.5 days in. If I simply restart it as a new sensor, I can get another 2.5 days out of it before it starts to drift again? WTF?? To me, that is not a sensor issue, it is a software issue. To me it seems that there are issues with their calibration algorithms between that and the "too many calibrations" line. Again, how the hell did this even get on the market? And yes I know that they are only supposed to be in for 3 days. I also know that Medtronic has applied to get them approved for 5-day usage. That will be interesting to watch.
Now that I've vented, I can't deny that the CGMS has helped get my basal rates adjusted better to avoid some of the lows that I used to get, especially in the middle of the nite. I just can't see using it continuously as I have been since May. I probably will not buy any more sensors when these are gone, or perhaps just a box now and then to check my patterns 2 or 3 times a year. But I'm still supposed to buy a new transmitter annually and it only comes with a 6 month warranty. It just seems too costly for the return I'm getting from it.
That is all,
Scott
Today's snarky comment: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear, does it make a noise? Of course it does! It's a damn tree!
#1. Having to turn off the wireless interface between my Onetouch Ultralink meter and my MM 722 pump. The reason? Because the CGMS interprets every single test performed as a calibration reading. Too many calibrations "confuse" the CGMS, resulting in bad readings. That whole last statement really doesn't pass the smell test with me, but anyway.
Why is this frustrating you ask? Here's why: It is one more damn thing I have to do. Instead of my reading showing automagically on the bolus wizard, now I have to enter it manually. Then I get a screen asking me if I want to use that as a calibration reading.
I now have to upload my pump AND my meter to the Carelink software I use instead of just the pump, so there is another damn thing.
Oh, and if I have to do a correction bolus? I'm already irritated that I have to correct and now I have to do another damn thing and manually enter a number, probably a large one, into the meter, just irritating me more?
Did I mention the damn cable I had to buy for my meter and now keep track of? Holy cow that's another damn thing.
Seriously, how did this even get on the market? Didn't you do any type of usability testing where these issues came up?
It should work like this: Leave wireless on. When a reading is sent from meter to pump, pop up the screen then, not in the bolus wizard (or even both), asking if it is a calibration reading. If I pull out my pump and hit yes, it is. If I don't pull out the pump, the screen times out and it isn't considered one.
Lesson here: Make things that actually make life easier for the folks who actually have to do it day in and day out.
#2. Accuracy. When this thing is on, it is dead on. When it is not? Who knows? I still test 8-10 damn times a day to make sure the CGMS is accurate. Yea, that's damn convenient. Oh, when it starts alaming that I'm at 50 in the middle of the nite and my meter says I'm at 90, that makes me damn happy. Training says that I should set the alarm level at 75, I have it set at 60. It is either that or keep the damn thing turned off. The low glucose alarm is a damn good idea that didn't live up to it's damn potential for me. And they now have a pump that will shut off the insulin flow based on these numbers?
#3. Sensor life. I can usually get about 6 days out of a sensor. What kills me tho is the sensor will start to be way off about 2.5 days in. If I simply restart it as a new sensor, I can get another 2.5 days out of it before it starts to drift again? WTF?? To me, that is not a sensor issue, it is a software issue. To me it seems that there are issues with their calibration algorithms between that and the "too many calibrations" line. Again, how the hell did this even get on the market? And yes I know that they are only supposed to be in for 3 days. I also know that Medtronic has applied to get them approved for 5-day usage. That will be interesting to watch.
Now that I've vented, I can't deny that the CGMS has helped get my basal rates adjusted better to avoid some of the lows that I used to get, especially in the middle of the nite. I just can't see using it continuously as I have been since May. I probably will not buy any more sensors when these are gone, or perhaps just a box now and then to check my patterns 2 or 3 times a year. But I'm still supposed to buy a new transmitter annually and it only comes with a 6 month warranty. It just seems too costly for the return I'm getting from it.
That is all,
Scott
Today's snarky comment: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear, does it make a noise? Of course it does! It's a damn tree!
Comment
-
Comment by Mommy and the monkeys on December 31, 2009 at 3:59pm - That's great, after I posted here, I started to have MM problems. They just replaced my transmitter, but I too have things in the works for Dexcom.
-
Comment by Scott on December 31, 2009 at 10:39am - Well a final update to this little saga... I just got a call from Edgepark and they were able to get everything thru my insurance company in time for a 2009 claim. My cost will be the $149 of the max-out-of-pocket that I had left for this year.
-
Comment by Mommy and the monkeys on December 15, 2009 at 11:59am
- please let me know how it goes with dexcom! I wish I could go with them, however the amount of adhesive that would touch my skin is too much. I can cut the sticky part off the MM and have to, due to my allergy. :)
-
Comment by Scott on December 15, 2009 at 11:20am
-
A slight update. I called Dexcom and have things in the works. That was the same day I inserted my latest sensor. This has been the first sensor EVER to have been accurate at the end of three days. I restarted it and it is the first sensor EVER to be accurate for me at the end of six days. So I experimented. Recharged the transmitter, started it again and it it still accurate at 8 days. If this had been happening since I started in May, my feelings might be different.
However, it didn't happen. I just think it heard me talking to Dexcom and thought "oh, crap.. he's serious!"
-
Comment by Scott on December 9, 2009 at 7:52am
- Yea, I'm out of dollars for the year, I budget mine pretty closely and went about $100 over this year. If insurance would cover it, I'd get it this year if possible since I'm almost at my out-of-pocket cap, otherwise it will be after the first... guess we'll see what happens! Yet another insurance journey to share!
-
Comment by Shannon on December 9, 2009 at 7:42am -
When I made the switch to Dex, I had already had my MM CGM for 1.5 years (and I paid for it out-of-pocket). Aetna was covering my sensors, though. Same deal with my pump (although it was initially paid for by another insurance company, Aetna was paying for supplies).
I contacted DexCom, and they did most of the legwork for me. I completed their forms (authorization form and patient history, I think.) and faxed them back. From there, the Dex folks contacted my insurance company (for verification of benefits) and my doctor (for the letter of medical necessity). One BIG issue was the diagnosis code that your doctor provides. For Aetna to approve it, it had to be 280.83 (Diabetes with other specified manifestations, type 1[juvenile type], uncontrolled). Other insurance companies might have different requirements.
Once everything was confirmed (benefits, Rx, etc.), my system was shipped out, and I got started as soon as it arrived (I didn't need the training since I'd already used the MM for so long).
I guess the best course of action is to contact DexCom first and let them see what your insurance will cover (even if they don't cover the device, they'll probably pay for sensors - it shouldn't matter to them which company you go through). Look at it this way: you've got nothing to lose by trying!
Oh, and the $999 price is REALLY good for the DexCom system. If you have any leftover flex spending $$, it would be a good way to spend it!
-
Comment by Scott on December 9, 2009 at 7:09am
- That'd be great Shannon. I imagine there might be some other folks interested as well. I have an insurance authorization until the first of May on my MM. I need to contact my insurance and see if they will cover my swapping or if I'll have to cover the initial cost. I should be able to get them to at least let me switch to the Dexcom sensors. I emailed Dexcom and got a quick response back (pleasant surprise) from a nice lady that told me that if I bought it myself it would run $999. I'm really hoping my insurance covers it... lol
-
Comment by Shannon on December 9, 2009 at 7:03am
- Scott - I just went through the process of switching from MM to DexCom (and now from MM to Omnipod for my pump). I'd be happy to explain the process I went through.
-
Comment by Scott on December 8, 2009 at 9:37pm
- I certainly hope so, Casey. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of getting a Dexcom
-
Comment by Casey Washington on December 8, 2009 at 8:28am
- Scott, thanks for an honest review. I so want to use CGM this next year. I wish I heard more positive things about MM. I got this meter over animas striclty because of the CGM capability. Makes me sad. :( It can only get better though, right??
Spread the word
Our Programs
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Groups
-
Canada Diabetes
283 members
-
Omnipod Users
596 members
-
Pennsylvania Diabetics
39 members
-
Dexcom Users
230 members
-
Type1 for 30 Plus Years
37 members
-
Animas Insulin Pump Users
395 members
-
Minimed Paradigm Insulin…
616 members
-
parents of kids with Typ…
540 members
-
Weight loss help..Daily…
19 members
-
Continuous Glucose Monit…
561 members
Diabetes Resources
TuDiabetes Team
 Manny Hernandez |
 Andreina Davila |
 Kristin |
 Lorraine |
 Scott |
 Teena |
 MelissaBL |
Other Volunteers
Follow @tudiabetes
© 2010 Created by Diabetes Hands Foundation, P.O. Box 9421, Berkeley, CA 94709.
Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations to DHF are eligible to be deducted.
Disclaimer
The contents of TuDiabetes is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, including without limitation diabetes. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on TuDiabetes.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. The Diabetes Hands Foundation does not endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, services, procedures, opinions, or other information that are advertised or mentioned on the web site.
TuDiabetes®, TuDiabetes.org®, Word in Your Hand™, Drawing Diabetes™, Diabetes Supplies Art™ and No-Sugar Added Poetry™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
You need to be a member of TuDiabetes to add comments!
Join TuDiabetes