Hi, I know a lot of you have continuous glucose monitors - I'm getting one next week for just a week to get a better idea of what my glucose levels are doing. I've been trying to find out some information on the size of the needle that is used for it. I've got a bit of a needle phobia so am trying to inform myself with as much information about what to expect before next week. Can anyone clarify - is it a metal needle that is in your skin the whole time or is the needle used to insert a plastic softer sensor? How long is it? Any information describing what the procedure is like when you have one inserted would be greatly appreciated in order to alleviate my anxiety about it all!
Is it MM? The MM inserter needle is 21 guage metal needle that you take out, leaving the plastic/ teflon/ sensorium gizmo. It is about 2 1/2 CM long I think.
The inserter gizmo works pretty well and removes some of the "eeek" for me. If you are doing the one with your doc, they stuck it in for me which may remove some of the hair-raising aspects of it?
It depends on which one you are getting. I have heard people say that the MM one is big. The Dexcom is a very thin wire and you won't know it is there.
The part of the dexcom that stays in you is platinum wire wrapped with another metal wire, all together the thickness of about 2 hairs. I've always found insertion easy and not painful.
I've haven't had my dexcom long but I love it. I was a little overwhelmed when I saw the contraption to insert it but it's a piece of cake, not hard at all. You don't see the needle when you're inserting the sensor so don't worry about that.
I tried loaners of the MM and the dexcom but much preferred the dexcom. I found that for me the dexcom was more comfortable. I don't even feel it at all and forget I have it on (except for checking the receiver of course).
Good luck, you'll be wondering how you got along without one before long.
Polly, tell us which one you're getting and we can tell you more specifically as different makers have put in different components. It's nothing to get anxious about. You'll be relieved of anxiety with it in.
I'm afraid I don't know what brand it is so can't really provide any more information. I guess there must be many different types available - do they vary quite a bit?
With the Dexcom, you don't know it is there. Crossing my fingers that is the one you are getting. I looked and Dexcom was approved for Australia this summer. A lot of people that get the MM end up putting it in a drawer and don't use it.
the iPro2 from Medtronic ??? http://wwwp.medtronic.com/Newsroom/NewsReleaseDetails.do?itemId=127... My Brother was fitted with one , here in Canada ...never complained about discomfort . I wear Medtronic 's sensors . Last month at CDA's Conference and NAGM in Toronto I saw Medtronic's Enlite ...has not been passed through Health Canada yet ...but maybe, just maybe since it was shown at the Conference it maybe soon ... smaller everything, including the inserter ...one will not see the needle , I believe
Newer stuff back to 1921 , sharing with the world ! http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/image-gallery/ a $ 100,00 banknote depicting the discovery of insulin ...Lorraine posted the banknote , November 12 ...it has been made public on November 14 ...I should run off to my Bank and purchase one !!
Just wanted to thank you all again for your responses last week - I had the MM monitor put in this morning and I didn't feel a thing!! All going well so far :)
I'm now into my third month with CGM. I don't have enough data yet to give you my thoughts, but I will tell you I keep myself below 100 mg/deciliter and it wakes me up. The wife isn't getting much sleep either. I turn it off when I go to bed now. No problem with the insertion and I love the pump over MDI. I guess I'm not a great CGM pro yet. We'll see.
I dropped my "low warning" (I think that's what it's called?) to 70 and the high warning to 130 and can get through the night much of the time. I don't mind waking up at 70 as I'm in a stupor when I wake up anyway...
OMG lol that sounds like me in a stupor anyway when I wake up. I agree I dont really mind waking up in the 70's either. I start my CGM soon, my endo's offince didnt want to start me on both at the same time, info overload I guess, lol.
