Cgms

[mph]

What cgms do you use?
Are you happy with it?
Why or why not?

Can the sensor be safely attatched to the bum? :o
What sites work well other than abdomen? (ds is very thin and needle phobic in abdomen)

TIA

[piratelight]

Right now we are doing a trial with the Dexcom CGMS and have been very happy with it for the most part. We are using Hunter's belly for the sensors. We could also use his bottom, possibly his arms but there isn't a whole lot of meat there and the trainer wasn't sure there was enough meat on his belly but so far so good - 3 weeks into it. We love the charts etc that you can do with the data and being able to see how things go all night is great. My biggest complaint is that the trial model that we have is one of the older models and you have to calibrate using the One Touch Meter. That's great except it is not the meter that we use so getting test strips is an issue. The newer ones can be calibrated with any meter - that would be nice.

Overall we are thrilled and more committed than ever to fighting with our insurance to get coverage for one.

[momtojess]

We did a trial with the Guardian a few weeks ago.. I mailed it back on a monday, and called 3 hours later to order it. All the paperwork is in, MM called this evening. They took my deoit card info and we should have it Tuesday!!!

The info we saw during the guardian trial was so eye opening. I can't wait to start using it again .

[vettechmomof2]

we use the dexcom 7 and love it.
we use belly, butt and arms. our trainer did not think we could use the arms due to small size but they have worked just fine.
we have dropped A1c from 7.7-6.4 in 4 months since using it. Wonderful viewing for getting highs and catching lows beofre they are bad.
Allene

[mph]

Wonderful viewing for getting highs and catching lows beofre they are bad.

Exactly what we are after!!!!!!! ;)

Have you been able to use it for the full 7 days each time?

Does your child seem "bothered" by wearing it? Does it get "in the way"?

[Caydens_Mommy]

So I know nothing on this subject, so I am going to ask a question and you guys will prolly think I'm nuts but here we go..

From what I have read I am under the impression that you still have to use a meter with the CGMS? I thought you no longer had to do finger pricks if you used this..

[vettechmomof2]

Exactly what we are after!!!!!!! ;)

Have you been able to use it for the full 7 days each time?

Does your child seem "bothered" by wearing it? Does it get "in the way"?

doesn't faze her in the slightest. Doesn't get in the way most of the times. she either wears a small purse to carry the unit around or wears cargo pants with pockets. we normally get 9-12 days from a sensor but if we get less then 7 then the company is great about sending a replacement one.
Good luck,
Allene

[Thoover]

We did a trial with the Guardian a few weeks ago.. I mailed it back on a monday, and called 3 hours later to order it. All the paperwork is in, MM called this evening. They took my deoit card info and we should have it Tuesday!!!

The info we saw during the guardian trial was so eye opening. I can't wait to start using it again .


How do you go about doing a trial with it?? Do you just contact a rep or the actual company? I would love to try one for the daughter instead of buying one first.

[hawkeyegirl]

From what I have read I am under the impression that you still have to use a meter with the CGMS? I thought you no longer had to do finger pricks if you used this..

Yes, you still have to do finger pricks. You need them to calibrate the CGMS, and you also need them when it's crucial that the sugar reading be absolutely accurate (for instance when you're correcting a high or low). From reading this board, it appears that some people get down to 3 or 4 finger sticks a day with the CGMS, and some people don't decrease their finger sticks at all.

[Mama2H]

What cgms do you use?
Are you happy with it?
Why or why not?

We use the MM realtime cgms minlink. We are more than happy with it! I would mortgage our house if we lost insurance coverage. If we HAD to choose between keeping the pump or the cgms we would chose the cgms hands down. It has allowed us the peace of mind to finally let diabetes take a bit of the back burner. No more wondering what her bg is doing. No wondering at a bg test, for example before cgms Hailey would test and the number would be 180, 15 minutes I would notice that she was white faced and clammy, retest and she would be 32. With the cgms we can look at the graph, do a finger poke, see there are 2 down arrows and prevent the low before it happens. For example graph will say 150 with 2 down arrows, finger poke will say 130, and sure enough retest 5 minutes later and she will be in the 70's. Once you get through the learning curve and figure out the lag time I believe the system is priceless.

For those starting out, please remember that it can take a month or 2 to get a true idea of what you can do with the cgms. We had terrible luck in the begining because sensors were awful in Hailey's bottom and belly and the trainer told us not to use the arm. Once I went against them and tried it we found the cgms to be AMAZING. We now exclusively use the arm for her cgms and rotate her pump sites everywhere else.

[Mama2H]

So I know nothing on this subject, so I am going to ask a question and you guys will prolly think I'm nuts but here we go..

From what I have read I am under the impression that you still have to use a meter with the CGMS? I thought you no longer had to do finger pricks if you used this..

Yes, you still need blood finger pokes to get an "at the moment" number. We have reduced the number of finger pokes a day from 14 to around 8, to us that is huge. The cgms is not a replacement for finger pokes, it allows you to see the WHOLE picture of what is going on with blood sugars so you can prevent problems BEFORE they happen. We always do a finger poke for insulin dosages, calibration, and treating lows.

[vettechmomof2]

for example. Last night before blood check was 140. cgms read 138. great. 20 minutes later I heard an alarm and it showed she was low and dropping fast. Monitor already showed 64. I checked blood again to verify and she was at 117. Okay. not too low so I did a small reduced temp basal. Well, in less then 45 minutes she was 57. Yes, I checked after another alarm. So, another temp basal and some milk. However, the trending is really where the info really helps. I knew I should have trusted the cgms but I held off cause I was still awake and figured it would be fine with the minimal temp basal. A lot of it is connecting all of the data in your brain and figuring out when to treat and help.
It really has been a big help fro us. Minus nights I ignore it.:(
Allene

[Caydens_Mommy]

Yes, you still need blood finger pokes to get an "at the moment" number. We have reduced the number of finger pokes a day from 14 to around 8, to us that is huge. The cgms is not a replacement for finger pokes, it allows you to see the WHOLE picture of what is going on with blood sugars so you can prevent problems BEFORE they happen. We always do a finger poke for insulin dosages, calibration, and treating lows.


Hmm, you learn something new everyday.. I was under the impression that these were used to eliminate the finger pokes and always gave you a current reading.. Boy what an idiot I am.. Well.. Thanks for sharing the info..

[Caydens_Mommy]

for example. Last night before blood check was 140. cgms read 138. great. 20 minutes later I heard an alarm and it showed she was low and dropping fast. Monitor already showed 64. I checked blood again to verify and she was at 117. Okay. not too low so I did a small reduced temp basal. Well, in less then 45 minutes she was 57. Yes, I checked after another alarm. So, another temp basal and some milk. However, the trending is really where the info really helps. I knew I should have trusted the cgms but I held off cause I was still awake and figured it would be fine with the minimal temp basal. A lot of it is connecting all of the data in your brain and figuring out when to treat and help.
It really has been a big help fro us. Minus nights I ignore it.:(
Allene

So does it tell you the rate they are dropping at or how does that work?

[vettechmomof2]

So does it tell you the rate they are dropping at or how does that work?

THe dexcom does not tell you an actual rate but shows an hourly graph with the readings as dots. You can summarize pretty well what is happening or going to happen with the graphing. again as with what mama2H said checking with the finger sticks then to compare really help and it would have been a time that I would not have checked her for hours.
Allene

[Caydens_Mommy]

Well that's really cool.. Sorry for being kinda ignorant.. That was good information though.. I feel a little smarter.. I'm not sure I am advanced enough yet for this or the pump.. Seems a little overwheleming..

[Thoover]

As to the other posts if your child was 138 and 20 min later dropped into the 60's was it because you are correcting highs alot or trying to keep it between 80-120. Do you think you are giving more insulin and Basal rates are higher or lower?? Sorry for the questions but the CGMS is hard to understand for me that is. Its an amazing piece of equiptment that I would love to learn about and maybe do a trial on for Brittney.

[vettechmomof2]

As to the other posts if your child was 138 and 20 min later dropped into the 60's was it because you are correcting highs alot or trying to keep it between 80-120. Do you think you are giving more insulin and Basal rates are higher or lower?? Sorry for the questions but the CGMS is hard to understand for me that is. Its an amazing piece of equiptment that I would love to learn about and maybe do a trial on for Brittney.

exercise drop. she had 3 hours of karate and did not want a snack after classes and because her "blood sugar numbers" were reading okay I let it go.

I am also able to really fune tune basal rates by comparing trends and catch these food spikes beofre going high and watching closely.

Allene

[mph]

OK, I just checked out mm522 with real-time. Now they have a OneTouch UltraLink meter to send the readings to the pump......


A totally integrated wireless system simplifies your life

Data from the insulin pump, including BG results, can be uploaded wirelessly to your PC with CareLink™ USB Upload Device 3 (http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/components/onetouchultralink/#3)
OneTouch® UltraLink™ Meter readings are wirelessly sent to the MiniMed Paradigm insulin pump, making diabetes management simple and more convenient.
Learn more about CareLink™ Personal Software and CareLink™ USB Upload Device (http://carelink.minimed.com/)


Question: Would this be "desirable" if we did go with a pump with real-time???????

I didn't see offhand how many days you can wear the sensors.

We are "musing" about trying out a cgms (Dexcom) or going all the way with mmed (even if I have to beg, bribe, or pull rank ;)).

TIA! :)

[vettechmomof2]

OK, I just checked out mm522 with real-time. Now they have a OneTouch UltraLink meter to send the readings to the pump......


A totally integrated wireless system simplifies your life

Data from the insulin pump, including BG results, can be uploaded wirelessly to your PC with CareLink™ USB Upload Device 3 (http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/components/onetouchultralink/#3)
OneTouch® UltraLink™ Meter readings are wirelessly sent to the MiniMed Paradigm insulin pump, making diabetes management simple and more convenient.
Learn more about CareLink™ Personal Software and CareLink™ USB Upload Device (http://carelink.minimed.com/)


Question: Would this be "desirable" if we did go with a pump with real-time???????

I didn't see offhand how many days you can wear the sensors.

We are "musing" about trying out a cgms (Dexcom) or going all the way with mmed (even if I have to beg, bribe, or pull rank ;)).

TIA! :)

Pros for the all in one would be: it is FDA approved for 7 and up.
only 1 device to carry/wear but still 2 sites.
cons: big needle

We have the dexcom so I cannot give more info on the minimed lines. Others certainly can. Any questions you might have on the dexcom let us know.
Allene

[Thoover]

exercise drop. she had 3 hours of karate and did not want a snack after classes and because her "blood sugar numbers" were reading okay I let it go.

I am also able to really fune tune basal rates by comparing trends and catch these food spikes beofre going high and watching closely.

Allene


I was just on the Guardian and now Dexcom website to learn about it so I don't come off stupid at all. Just very curious about this as well. Not sure how DD would like have two sets hooked up to her. Something to discuss since her A1C's aren't the greatest.

So basically you are changing basal rates on her pump to catch the highs and the bolus - Like with Pizza Britt can spike up 3-4 hours after pizza so she plugs in a combo there for her pizza bolus to hit with in the 3 1/2 hour range.

How long did it take you to figure out all the basal rates to get her normal range..

But that sensor will beep and let you know if you are out of range. Did you do a trial also?? If so who do you contact the company directly or do they have Reps like the Pump Reps..

[momtojess]

How do you go about doing a trial with it?? Do you just contact a rep or the actual company? I would love to try one for the daughter instead of buying one first.

At first we were going through the endo.. They had to send off stuff to insurance to make sure the would cover the trial (which is like $600 for 6 days, vs $1350 for buying it).. Finally I got tired of Insurance not responding, so I called the local MM rep (who i had never talked to before since we have animas). He was happy to do it.. I had to fax a script from the endo to him and then about a week and half later the MM educator came to our house, hooked us up, and we mailed it back to her 6 days later.

[vettechmomof2]

We checked with mimimed and was told that when we wanted to hook up with a real pump then we should call them. He would not even discuss the cgms with me once he found out we already had a pump. SO that was answered for me.
I called the 1-800 Dex number and they gave me the names of the sales reps. THe sales rep nurse came to the house and showed us everything we needed and voila; We are hooked up.
We are still appealing everything with insurance so it is all out of pocket still but we feel it is worth it.
We use the high and low alarms a lot for moments that are creeping up or down and set up temp basals and during activity mostly we will watch the trending to decide if we need a snack or can continue with activity or we need to check NOW with a blood sample sort of thing.
We love it.
Allene

[momtojess]

We checked with mimimed and was told that when we wanted to hook up with a real pump then we should call them. He would not even discuss the cgms with me once he found out we already had a pump. SO that was answered for me.

That would have answered my questions too.
I called the 1-800 Dex number and they gave me the names of the sales reps. THe sales rep nurse came to the house and showed us everything we needed and voila; We are hooked up.
We are still appealing everything with insurance so it is all out of pocket still but we feel it is worth it.
We use the high and low alarms a lot for moments that are creeping up or down and set up temp basals and during activity mostly we will watch the trending to decide if we need a snack or can continue with activity or we need to check NOW with a blood sample sort of thing.
We love it.
Allene

When I told the endo we were going with the guardian, she emailed me back and said that it was a fine choice, but wanted to make sure I didnt want to sample the Dex also.. She said that most of their patients that dont have a MM pump go wtih Dex.. I wonder if that is because of the attitudes from the people like you talked to.

[vettechmomof2]

I am truly not sure. Our endo had never even heard of the Dex( or at least his office didn't ):( so we had some issues there and ended up getting a script from our family doc for it.
We feel it was really worth the trouble. If you can try them both and at the same time, I would recommend that but do to personality conflicts there was NO WAY :p I was going with the minimed.
GOod luck,
Allene

[Mama Belle]

We're awaiting peds approval on the Navigator and then we'll pursue getting one. I love the fact that it has a meter integrated into the receiver, so you don't have to carry an extra meter. Although I really hope they work on making a smaller sensor/transmitter.