Hi, I’m new here. Fifty six years diabetic. Many stories.
I’m sure tired of finger pricking. How wonderful it would be to avoid. After researching, I now learn that with a CGM I’ll still have to prick my fingers.
I suspect what the manufacture recommends and what is really necessary might be different. I tend to get highs, +200, and lows, -50, for unexplained reasons. Very irritating, to say the least.
Been drawn towards the Freestyle CGM because of it being the newest, it should be better.
Does Medicare pay for all this?
Please comment on some or all of this.
Jim
actually from what the manufacturer recommends is about right and sometimes a little more. CGMS does NOT replace a blood glucose monitor. at this time it can show you trends and advise whether you’re on an upswing or downswing. do not think that it will replace finger sticks. newest is not always best, just what has finally gotten FDA approval. please find out via the CGMS representatives which would work for you.
My cgms has not replace the finger sticks. However, it has helped me to identify trends with much more specific data (downloaded from my pump) than my previous non-cgms pump. By making adjustments for those trends, I’ve managed to shave a few points of my a1c1.
So you’re still stuck with the finger sticks if you go cgms. But it will give you the data and tools you can work with to reduce those highs and lows and get better control.
I can’t recommend one cgms over another. I use Minimed’s cgms and am quite happy with it.
Did you get my remarks? No send here. I clicked upload files, now I’ll try ADD REPLY.
Jim
I use the Freestyle Navigator. No, you shouldn’t use a CGM as a replacement for finger sticks. I still check my blood glucose before I take any insulin dosage and when my blood sugar is quickly fluctuating. Medication dosages, insulin or otherwise, are based on blood glucose values - not interstitial glucose values. Many times the values match, but only when your sugar levels are stable. If my alarms tell me that my sugar is rising rapidly, I could already be significantly higher than the CM reading. But it alarms me to let me know. A CGM is a helpful trending tool to let you see which direction your sugars are headed. And you have to calibrate the sensors to a blood glucose value 5 or more times during the course of wearing each sensor, too.
I think I do BG checks about as often most days as I did pre-CGM. CGM is a great tool, but as the others have said, it is no replacement for fingersticks. Combining data from fingersticks and the CGM has helped me get the best control of my BG’s I’ve ever had.
Thank you
Before I started researching the CGM, I assumed it would replace finger sticking. I am disappointed. Sticking myself 5 times per day would be nice to put behind me.
My last A1H was 5.9 so I’m in control without the CGM. I might arrive at this good result due to my high glucose levels being made up for with low glucose levels. Not sure if it can work this way.
The condition I’d like to end is my occassional hypo. event while I’m sleeping. I have a great wife and one of the great things she does is bring my glucose back to normal. She does this as well as anyone.
The event, however, is upsetting to her and this troubles me.
I still have not learned whether Medicare pays for this, nor do I know what it would cost me if they don’t.
Have you heard of anything down the road which will accomplish my original CGM beliefs?
Any idea how far off this might be?
Any thoughts on this would be great.
Does this note go out to all, I hope, or you only.
Thanks
Jim
Hi Jim, I,m 70 on Medicare and CGM since 9/4/08. No, Medicare does not cover any part of it ! The minimed starter kit costs $999. I dont know how much the Freestyle system, you mention costs ! In my case my supplemential insurance, United healthcare completely covers it. Minimed sends a claim to Medicare, they deny the claim then it goes to UHC and they pay it. I did have to file several appeals to UHC to obtain coverage which took about 5 months. But, hey, I have lots of time for paperwork . Hope this helps,Dan
great info. Dan,thanks.
Medicare doesn’t pay but supplemental insurance would have a hard time denying after appeal based on your lows. Your excellent A1c without CGM is not likely to help you get it paid for. Your lows with unawareness at night will.
I use Dexcom which became more accurate the more I learned from it exactly what was happening after different foods. I have learned to reduce my carbs so that I do not have those highs and when BG is stable, the monitor is accurate and requires calibration twice daily. I make those calibration times before a meal. I am doing finger sticks 3x daily. However, I keep a full record of the times all grams of CHO go into me and the units of both Lantus and Humalog that I take. I’ve learned a huge amount from the monitor’s swings after certain foods in my diet.
Medicare has came out with billing and diagnostic codes for the CGMS. They are supposed to start covering the CGMS as of Jan 1. What the process is yet to get one through Medicare I do not know. I am in the process of fighting Medicare for coverage for mine.
CMS Issues Billing Codes for CGM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they are issuing billing codes for continuous glucose monitoring technology. The billing codes will be used by public and private health plans to facilitate claims processing and payment for CGM technology. The codes issued by CMS for this technology are: A9276 for the sensor, A9277 for the transmitter, and A9278 for the receiver. The codes are available for use beginning on January 1, 2008. JDRF strongly advocated for billing codes for continuous glucose monitoring technology and wrote letters in support of issuing the billing codes in 2006 and 2007.
This was posted on JDRF’s website.
Thanks Leona, I do have Blue Cross Advantage with my Medicare. Haven’t had Med. but for a very few months and the whole thing is still confusing. I will have to learn how to appeal, but now know how to present my appeal.
Appreciate your comment.
Jim
Hi Jim,
I was just hooked to my Navigator on Saturday. I am still doing finger sticks for meal boluses and any correcting. Sometimes for my 2 hr. after, I have just put in what the Navigator has told me because they have been within 5 points of what my pump said. I am definitely still trying to get it down, so I don’t know if it is helpful to you, but good luck anyway!!
Thanks Heather
Jim
JIm:
I have been using my CGM for about two years now and frankly I do more testing than before i used the CGM. I imagine most folks will say about the same, the issue is that you really cannot rely on it 100%. So blousing and highs and lows are still a carp shoot even with a CGM.
Rick
Hi Jim,
I’ve been using the Dexcom for almost a year now. It has been so helpful. My A1C went from 7.8 to 6.6. I was especially interested in the CGM because of night time lows. There are times when I am low for who know how long before I wake up drenched in sweat. Nothing like a low bloodsugar hang over all the next day. Now my Dexcom wakes me up. I’m quite pleased with this new technology. I test to calibrate but I was testing 10-12 times a day before and am not testing as much now.
Thanks Dena, I’m constantly grateful to my wife who has brought me out of low sugars by using a glucagon injection ocassionaly and many more times with wht. grape juice,etc.
I had the soaking wet experience just the other night. Sure would have been great to have an alarm wake me long before it got so low.
Ten to twelve times per day sure sounds like a lot. I ■■■■■ about four times per day.
This week I’m going to start finding out about insurance and what I can do if they are not on board as yet.
Thanks again for your note and have a happy and healthy new year.
Jim
Hmm…, doesn’t sound nearly as good as I hoped. Please tell me, how much of a hassle is the changeing of the insert so frequently? Does it fall out, for example?
Heard anything about a vastly superior ,“all you need”, type of product on the horison?
Thanks for your note, Rick.
Jim
Jim:
I use a Minimed CGM and I change it with my pump site about every three - four days. It is no hassle to change at all and it is easy to wear. What it really does not do however is reduce testing. My A1C’s were already int he low 6’s and they have stayed there. I think it just makes me more conscious of taking care of myself. It has been a good thing and I have suggested it to others.
Rick