My latest Dexcom sensors have been way off the mark - and they were not all from the same box. Last night was the last straw: I woke up with a low alarm, set at 80, felt pretty low, tested and my BG was 30 - my new record low. While I was shaking, sweating and sucking down glucose, the sensor track never went below 75.
I really want to get off the 7, but I'm not sure my insurance will go for the G4 even when I'm out of warranty. Is the G4 really more reliable?
Meanwhile, I've got another box of sensors with a different Lot # so I'll try again. Hoping for better things.
I concur. The G4 is much more accurate. With the System 7, sometimes my bg would be off by 100 mg/dl from the sensor. I still have differences with the G4, but they are not nearly as large. If your insurance will not go for the G4, I don't know what you'll do. I think I read on another post that the system 7 is discontinued.
Check with DexCom about upgrades. They offered me the upgrade for $399, which could not be submitted to insurance. I used my flexible spending account.
It had turned out great. The G4 is much more accurate.
I have been burned by my System 7 a number of times. When I first received my system 7 two+ years ago I relied on it too heavily. (Yes I know your not supposed to but I did.) I have checked the Dexcom readings with finger pricks and found wide discrepancys, 100-150 mlg/dcl. Needless to say I reported this to Dexcom and they quickly FEDXd me a replacement senser. Now I never do an injection without first doing a finger prick to see what my glucometer reads versus the Dexy. This is a mustdo to keep your self out of trouble.
I asked but they did not give me any special upgrade price - I'd have to pay full price if insurance won't cover it. However, they believe that insurance will pay for the new system when my warranty is over, which is soon. I sure hope so!
I generally do a finger stick before a bolus as well since I can't rely on the Dex for that. I thought I could rely on it for lows at least, but now... I'm really looking forward to something that works better.
You're not wack-a-doodle, the Dexcom is. I used to pay out of pocket for the Freestyle Navigator. It was so accurate it was scary. I actually was able to be lazy about finger sticks and dropped my A1c over 1 point, even with my laziness. Plus you could be 30 to 40 feet away and it gave a reading every minute.
When I had to switch to the Dexcom 7+, my insurance company started paying for it, so it was free for me. It was not uncommon for my readings to be off by 100 points. The first few times I got a reading of 150 and it was either in the 50's or the 300's, I was furious. I never trust the Dexcom 7+, compared to the Navigator. I would much rather pay the $400/month out of pocket for the Navigator than get a free Dex 7+, because for me it is not reliable. I still get livid when my CGM beeps that I am 55 and dropping when I am really 80 or 100.
I can only pray the Dex G4 works better for me. I get my G4 in about a month.
Just remember a few important things: - Acetaminophen totally flat lines my readings, so read all medication labels.
- Do not enter a bg reading between 12 hour calibrations unless your finger stick is off by more than 20% of the CGM reading
- If you eat or put lotion on your hands without washing them, your finger stick can read higher or lower than it really is.
- Calibrate when your bg is flatlined.
You probably already know those things, but reminders can always be helpful. I follow those and still get jacked up readings sometimes. If I violate any of those, it definately throws off my calibration.
Good luck to both of us. I am hopeful the G4 will be better.
I have had the some issues. I was burned early on. I relied on the System 7 monitor for glucose readings and did not do a finger prick. I went low a couple times because of that. Now any time I think I need to do an injection I do a finger prick first. In one case Dx read 261 but the finger prick was 74.
I just got a G4 and am wearing both P4 sensor and the System 7 sensor for a few days to see what the differences might be. Should b e interesting.
