My mom is going to try Dexcom!!!

[BrendaK]

I'm so excited for my mom. She's had type 1 for almost 40 years and has hypoglycemic unawareness pretty bad. She's in very good control usually, uses Humalog and Lantus, but she does have a lot of lows. She's going tomorrow to a Dexcom meeting and she's pretty sure the rep said that they can have a free trial for a week and she can be hooked up to it tomorrow. I'm so excited for her -- this is a HUGE deal!!! She doesn't want a pump because she doesn't want to be hooked up to something, so for her to be hooked up to a Dexcom is great!! I'm sure it makes a difference that she won't have any tubing or anything.

We're going to visit them for spring break next week so we'll get to see the Dexcom in action, I hope.

I think it's so great that we hopefully will be getting the Minimed CGMS at the same time she gets the Dexcom.

Just had to share :)

[EmmasMom]

Very Cool! :)

My husband is starting to think about getting a minilink now too. After watching Emma's in action for awhile he can see how huge the benefits are, and now that it's so small, wearing isn't really an issue. He doesn't have trouble with lows, but basal adjustments and activity can still be difficult.

I really think that in a few more years cgms will be almost as common as glucometers and everyone will have better control as a result! Very exciting!:D

[gsmom]

How exciting for your whole family!!! I just have one small question, what is Dexcom? Sorry, I just have never heard of it before & I feel totally DUH... right now, but I'm curious. Is it another type of CBGM?

Thanks for putting up with my idiocy!!! :)

[BrendaK]

Yes, it's the only other approved CGMS (that I know of) besides the Minimed CGMS. It's not connected to a pump or anything -- you just wear the transmitter and have the receiver hooked on your belt or something.

They're running a 1/2 price special or something like that for the start up package.

[gsmom]

THANK YOU!!! I think I've got it now! LOL!!! Isn't that amazing that for something that could be so life enhancing they don't offer it at the lowest possible price all the time?!?

[rickst29]

If she EVER does her shots in her abdomen, then the frontal abs will NOT be a good location--- even though the user guide says to use only that place.

Much better results can be obtained from the love handles-- on either side, go straight down from the armpit to about an inch above the belt, put it in there.

People also get good results from upper butt cheeks. There's lots of good advice about Dexcom usage here and on the yahoo board,
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetescgms/

Following it (instead of the manual) might save lots of frustration and $$$.
- - - - -
BTW, I've been a Dexcom user since shortly after it came out (nearly a year now.) I average right around 18 days from each Sensor. :D Their belt clip is HORRIBLE, it's better to just keep the receiver/display unit in a pocket.