Does anyone know whether the new G5 system will have its own sensors that differ in some way from the G4 ones? I know most of us here get well over 7 days out of the average sensor, and if we’re lucky enough to have good insurance coverage we’ve got quite a stock of extra sensors. I know right now I’ve probably got 4-5 extra boxes.
It would really be a bummer if those boxes went to waste when I get the G5. I was wondering if anyone has brought this up with Dexcom yet?
Will work with the same sensors. The transmitter will be different & if you have a Share receiver it will need a software update. I believe the G6 is when they will introduce new sensors & those are anticipated to be approved for 10 day wear.
This article suggests that you’d just need a new transmitter, as that’s the part that launches the data to your phone. The chart shows the sensor to still be the G4 Platinum Sensor. I’m on the other team (Medtronic…) so I’m not sure exactly how these components fit together but it seems as if the main deal on the G5 is that it goes directly to your phone, instead of to a separate gizmo from which it’s “shared” there. I am split on the phone thing. I had a battery issue with my iphone 5s for a while and it would have posed a problem for having any of my my BG stuff run through it. It works better now but there are still times, often when we’re into the sketchy, travel wifi (since no one wants tourists to have wifi? hmmm…) which is precisely when I’d want my BG data. Well, really, I want my data all the time but travelling represents a peculiar situation that makes me think I’m happy with my all in one BG/ CGM setup. But that’s just me!
Awesome, thanks!
Yeah, I can definitely see the arguments on both sides of it. For me, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. I want as few physical devices as possible. But I’m glad that the existing receiver can still be used as a backup - having that along on vacations, etc will make it pretty doable for me.
i know this won’t answer your question, but i have got to ask: so many people on this site talk about how long their sensors last. the average seems to be about 2 weeks. my question is this: do you wait for the current sensor to announce itself finito after the 7 days, and then reboot the same sensor w/ another “sensor session?” how does this work??? very curious.
I believe you just restart it as if it were new, the receiver finds the transmitter and it “launches” normally. I’ve done this with Medtronic sensors too although I found the results weren’t as tight into the 4th reboot so I just pulled it as, to me, the trends are handy but +/- 5 mg/dl is what I like to see!
Either works fine. Use whichever is the most convenient. Even with a re-started sensor you will have to wait 2 hours for it to start reading again. The pump will then start beeping and buzzing and demand 2 calibration readings. If this is going to be at an inconvenient time (e.g. whilst I am driving or in a meeting) I will sometimes stop the old sensor session (CGM menu-start/stop - stop CGM session and then restart the sensor (using start new sensor) so that the calibration will come at a better time. Otherwise I just wait until the sensor expires and then go to the start new sensor menu.
Joel.
G5 transmitter has bluetooth built in and communicates to your phone via BT.
Hey Daisy - yes, what you described is correct. I typically get 20+ days out of each of my sensors.
i’m “supposed” to change my sensor tomorrow. i think that it will be a good time to test out this extended theory of everyones’ i’ll just “re-boot” it. what do i do? do “stop sensor” and then “start sensor” just like usual and then wait the 2 hours before calibrating it? that sounds right to me. i forgot to ask my cde.
You’re right. Just Stop Sensor or wait until it stops by itself. Then Start Sensor and wait the two hours.
Just a footnote: If you have a Share receiver and opt to do the upgrade to G5, you’ll be able to update the firmware over the web with an authorization code they’ll send. That saves you having to buy a new receiver, but after the update it will no longer talk to your G4 transmitters. It’s a one-way update.
Not at all, actually. It’s not always spot-on with my finger-sticks of course but it’s usually close enough to give me a reasonably reliable idea of where I’m at throughout the day. Have you talked to Dexcom about it? What kind of crazy numbers are you seeing–can you give us some examples?
Are you taking something with acetaminophen? That can mess up the Dexcom big time. Also, it is important to calibrated it properly. Only when you have a flat arrow and preferably when you have a normal blood sugar 80-120 mg/dl/. I will often just wait to calibrate until my blood sugars are rock stable and normal.
I am rewriting this post because it seems most people misunderstood my question, which was not about the crazy readings after 4 days, but about it only working for 4 days when most people say they can get 2-3 weeks use. With mine the sensor usually totally stops sending data after about 4 days.
– original post –
I just started using the Dexcom G5 this year, about 4 months ago. I can not get much more than 4 DAYS of good readings from my sensors, after that they start to go all over the place and I can’t rely on it so I go about 3 days a week without.
I don’t understand this with everyone talking about going 2 weeks or longer. Has anyone else experienced the same issue I am having?
Thanks
Thanks for clarifying. Did you call Dexcom yet? Maybe you have a bad lot of sensors? Very odd that sensors would just stop sending data randomly after 4 days. I’ve never experienced or heard of an issue like this.
What error are you getting? Is it the display below with ???
This can occur for a variety of reasons and can take up to 3 hours to correct. I found that a few times moisture got between the sensor/Xmtr contacts in the shower and I had dropouts like this.
I know acetaminophen affects it but how about nsaids? I take a 325 mg aspirin every day per my cardiologist due to heart issues. Will that affect it?
My understanding is that aspirin is fine (as well as ibuprofen), it is really just acetaminophen.