What I've learned about using the Navigator ...

[Mama Belle]

by Mama Belle


Sween cream is a must! We put it on both before and after sensor changes and it really helps.
The temp probe does not seem to bother Samantha at all. Hooray!
It is kinda hard for me to get a real clear look at what is going on BG-wise without the ability to upload the Nav to a computer.
Having a predicted low alarm that is set too high can be a pain in the butt at night when dealing with persistent lows.
When numbers are changing rapidly, accuracy goes right out the window.
When numbers are high (like above 200) accuracy goes right out the window.
When numbers are low/in range and fairly steady, accuracy is fantastic!
For some reason I am hesitant to calibrate when BG is high even if it is stable, despite what the CDE told us during training.
Just like the pump, starting the CGMS is a big adjustment. At first sensor changes are even more traumatic than set changes.
The sensor site hurts more after removal than it does after insertion. :confused:
Taping the transmitter down is a must, lest you lose the transmitter (and potentially the sensor) in the middle of a crowd of people! :eek:
If you forget to tape down the transmitter and it does come off, as long as the sensor is still seated properly in the sensor mount, you can simply reattach the transmitter and answer "no" to both alarms and data will resume. This is contrary to what we were told at training. Lame.
The CGMS should be used as a guide and finger sticks are still essential, beyond using them for calibration. We still test before every meal in addition to every treated low or high.


Please feel free to add on your own lists!

[Cyndi91373]

We just started the Navigator this past Thursday. We haven't used it for long but the experience we have had so far I agree with you. The lower the number the more accurate. The alarms will drive you crazy, too. I like the Navigator so far, but to be honest, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of setttings for the alarms and even the targets.

One question: What is sween cream?

[Mama Belle]

One question: What is sween cream?

Sween cream is this great skin cream that is perfect for red, sore, itchy skin and it will not prevent tape adhesion. We put the sween cream on samantha's skin before set and sensor changes and we have no problems with getting tape to stick and it helps prevent irritation. We also use it after a set/sensor change to help wit the irritation she has after removal. It helps. I was not able to find any retailer locally, but it can be purchased online (http://www.sweenstore.com/sweencream.html). I called up my local compounding pharmacy (thanks Marisa!) and they were able to special order it for me with next day delivery, I paid $9 for a ginormous tube!!!

[ecs1516]

Heidi,
I agree with your list. The only thing we may not do is recheck when it says he is low(depends how low). If it says 70s or 80s he just has a juice box and we keep checking for the arrow to level out and go back up. It has never been wrong for us on a low. If he does not come up as much as we want later I give a glucose tablet or two.
Have you tried downloading with Monica's link? I just used the Navigator part with my existing Copilot and it works like a charm.

I may have asked this before but do you put sween cream under the IV Prep wipe? Or you using skin tac?


I also agree it needs more alarms setting. I would like a day or night setting or by time of day.

[jules12]

Sween cream is this great skin cream that is perfect for red, sore, itchy skin and it will not prevent tape adhesion. We put the sween cream on samantha's skin before set and sensor changes and we have no problems with getting tape to stick and it helps prevent irritation. We also use it after a set/sensor change to help wit the irritation she has after removal. It helps. I was not able to find any retailer locally, but it can be purchased online (http://www.sweenstore.com/sweencream.html). I called up my local compounding pharmacy (thanks Marisa!) and they were able to special order it for me with next day delivery, I paid $9 for a ginormous tube!!!

We don't use the navigator but I have to chime in and say that Sween Creme is wonderful and really does help his arms after wearing his sensor/transmitter.

What is a local "compounding" pharmacy as opposed to just a "pharmacy"?

[Mama Belle]

Heidi,
I agree with your list. The only thing we may not do is recheck when it says he is low(depends how low). If it says 70s or 80s he just has a juice box and we keep checking for the arrow to level out and go back up. It has never been wrong for us on a low. If he does not come up as much as we want later I give a glucose tablet or two.
Have you tried downloading with Monica's link? I just used the Navigator part with my existing Copilot and it works like a charm.

I may have asked this before but do you put sween cream under the IV Prep wipe? Or you using skin tac?


First I do Sween Cream and let it soak in, then I do an alcohol swab. We do not use IV Prep for sensors. For infusion sets we do sween cream then IV Prep.

I am getting ready to try downloading the Nav right now ... cross your fingers!

[hold48398]

First I do Sween Cream and let it soak in, then I do an alcohol swab. We do not use IV Prep for sensors. For infusion sets we do sween cream then IV Prep.

I am getting ready to try downloading the Nav right now ... cross your fingers!

Heidi, I completely agree with the list..on all points!! As far as the sween cream goes, do you put it even where the sensor goes?? Do you use Skintac at all? We do the following for

site changes: alcohol, skintac, site insertion
sensor changes: alcohol, skintac (except for where sensor goes), sensor insertion, additional (opsite) tape


..you?

[Mama Belle]

Yes, I do sween cream even where the sensor goes. But ... we usually put it on about 10 minutes before insertion and rub it in really well, then right before insertion we clean the entire area with alcohol.

Here is what we do:

site changes: sween cream, IV Prep, site insertion
sensor changes: sween cream (wait a bit while removing old sensor and getting all the supplies ready), alcohol, sensor insertion, additional tape (opsite/tegaderm) around outside edges of sensor mount, tape transmitter down to sensor mount horizontally

I have toyed with the idea of trying IV prep everywhere but where the sensor goes, but have found that it is really super stuck to Samantha directly under the sensor mount (as opposed to the outside edges of the mount, which is where we have our sticking issues) and I'm afraid I'd never get it off if I made it more sticky.

[Diana]

The CGMS should be used as a guide and finger sticks are still essential, beyond using them for calibration. We still test before every meal in addition to every treated low or high.



We actually test more with the CGMS than we did before. We used to test 7-8 times and now we are more like 10-11 times. But we're testing at better, more meaningful times than before. Hopefully, if we conquer our nighttime issues that will decrease. But I'm not sure we'll get much below 6 times a day.

Like you, we do meals and snacks, and every treated high and low. And sometimes we do several re-tests after a low to make sure he's really coming up so that I can continue to ignore the low alarm which can't be muted!

I really thought we would test less, but the inaccuracy of our first Navigator has given me trust issues. Perhaps with more time and experience, I'll get over that a little.

[Mama Belle]

We don't use the navigator but I have to chime in and say that Sween Creme is wonderful and really does help his arms after wearing his sensor/transmitter.

What is a local "compounding" pharmacy as opposed to just a "pharmacy"?

Woops! I almost missed this post! Sorry!!! Okay I couldn't come up with a concise response to your question, so here is what Wikipedia said about a compounding pharmacy:

Compounding pharmacy is the process of mixing drugs by a pharmacist or physician to fit the unique needs of a patient. This may be done for medically necessary reasons, such as to change the form of the medication from a solid pill to a liquid, to avoid a non-essential ingredient that the patient is allergic to, or to obtain the exact dose needed. It may also be done for voluntary reasons, such as adding favorite flavors to a medication.

My mother used a compounding pharmacy in the past to help get the exact dosage right for hormone treatments, since she is super sensitive to synthetic drugs and the traditional hormone replacement drugs were causing major issues for her. Often they specialize in out of the ordinary medications that cannot be found at traditional pharmacies. They are typically located in medical plaza buildings or in conjunction with a hospital.