I have been using a 7+ for over 2 years...and this is at least my 3rd unit. It isn't reliable. My doctor wrote me a script for a G4 but my supplier won't submit for it until the warranty expires. I hear that the 7+ is actually discontinued, but that doesn't matter to them. Dexcom also wants to keep me on the 7+. My insurance will pay because the unit isn't accurate, it is discontinued and my doctor wrote a script. The supplier and Dexcom won't submit to insurance, but they want a letter from my insurance stating that they will pay. My insurance wants a prior authorization to issue the letter.
It is a mess. After dealing with this, I wonder if anyone has used a different CGM? If so, how did that go?
My CDE (who is type 1) is switching from a competitor to Dexcom G4 because G4 is so reliable. She tested it for a week.
Sometimes my system 7 would be off by 100 mgdl. In the 3 months I have been on G4, I have never been out of calibration any where near that amount.
I am so happy with G4, I would go through the pain to get the p******* contest resolved and get my hands on a G4.
I used the Medtronic sensor a while back. My personal experience with that was pretty bad. Very inaccurate, huge insertion needle (making me bleed every. single. time.) and the transmitter does not have any adhesive on it causing it to flop about unless you put something over it. The only other "competitor" was the Freestyle Navigator. That has been discontinued for a while.
I love the Dex - I've upgraded to the G4. I actually did the upgrade while within the warranty of my old 7+. I had a few hundred dollars left in my FSA for the year (2012) so I just forked over the $399 to do the upgrade since it was reimbursable by my FSA.
Just found this.. wish I had known too.. I just started using the Dexcom 4 and it isn't very reliable either. Looks like from the site below ...
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2013/01/01/dc12-0070.abstract
there are three different ones available.... Navigator shows the best
The Navigator had the best overall accuracy, with an aggregate mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of all paired points of 11.8 ± 11.1% and an average MARD across all 12 experiments of 11.8 ± 3.8%. The Seven Plus and Guardian produced aggregate MARDs of all paired points of 16.5 ± 17.8% and 20.3 ± 18.0%, respectively, and average MARDs across all 12 experiments of 16.5 ± 6.7% and 20.2 ± 6.8%, respectively. Data reporting percentages, a measure of reliability, were 76% for the Seven Plus and nearly 100% for the Navigator and Guardian.
Information on the navigator
http://www.abbottdiabetescare.co.uk/your-products/freestyle-navigator
Thanks for the replies! Right now my Dexcom is off 100 pts. I just got off the phone with product support and they told me all of the things I was doing wrong....to many fingerstick tests, she said I entered a number while the antennae was up, I shouldn't have changed the time when I was on the plane, etc. etc. etc. (She never heard of anyone ever changing the time.) Dexcom is a terrible company, Dexcom product support is even worse than the product. :-(
The Navigator is not available in the US.
For those that used the Navigator when it was in the US, they generally reported very positive results and great accuracy.
For the US, Minimed and Dexcom are the only alternatives.
I currently use Dexcom G4 and find it better than when I used MM and Seven+ .
Some have better luck with MM than others. There are many postings on this site from users switching from MM to Dexcom, and few that went Dexcom to MM.
If you still have your 7+ under warranty, then that's the same story I would get from my insurance. They only cover new purchase after warranty is out. Since Gen4 came out last August/Sept, you probably only have a few more months before your warranty ends.
If you pursued switching to MM, you may get the same response for your insurance, that they will not cover MM until your current Dexcom is out of warranty. Your only recourse might be to get a letter of medical necessity from your doctor as evidence that even with Seven+, your medical needs are not being met, and that the MM or Gen4 is required. It may take one or more appeals.
Are your issues with 7+ that it is consistently inaccurate ? Or do you get Errors and ??? . Have you tried different locations ? Mine works much better on my arms or thighs, and not well on my stomach. Have you talked with Dexcom support when you have issues to see if they can help trouble-shoot, or conclude the sensors need to be replaced ? Do you take tylenol, or products w/tylenol ?
Which supplier are you using?? I use neighborhood diabetes and never had any issues with them
It is consistently inaccurate. 104 was really 42. 268 was really 455. It alarms with lows all night at -55 when my blood sugar is really 90-100. To shut it up, I increase my blood sugar...and in the morning it starts again.
My insurance will pay for the G4. My doctor wrote a script. I use THC as a supplier. Dexcom won't acknowledge that the unit it faulty, but it is still under warranty until July, so both Dexcom and THC are dragging their feet. I get the feeling that Dexcom doesn't have anymore 7+'s for replacement and they don't want to replace it with a G4. My husband wants me to throw it in the trash. I think he has a point. It does more harm than good. :-(
I use Omnipod and I have had a couple of pods that were slow to take on a pod change. I didn't realize I had a problem because I was relying on my Dexcom. After the insulin started absorbing, I had to fingerstick for the low, because my Dexcom didn't catch that one either.
It's the warranty that is fouling up everything right now. Chuck the PLUS, wait a few months until the warranty expires, then get the G4. This is an opportunity to enjoy a simpler lifestyle!
Thanks! It is better today. I must have had 4 bad sensors in a row...a whole box. I thought the whole unit went berserk, but it looks like after my 3rd day of this sensor; I am glad I didn't throw it out yet.
I used a MM for 18 months, and it was awful. Over a 7 month period, I had 6 lows in the 50's or lower, that the CGM didn't catch at all. Not just lag time, they simply didn't show up at all. For me, that's unacceptable, because I don't feel them at that level, and by the time I DO feel them, I may not be able to treat them. And since I live alone, it's too great a risk to take.
I have had much better luck with the Dexcom. I have a G4, and have the low level set at 80. If it's riding steadily around that level, I don't freak out, but if it's dropping, I test, and while the number may not agree exactly with my meter, the trend has always been correct. So if the Dex shows 70, I may actually be 60, but at least I've got the warning to test and correct before I lose it completely.
As far as highs, I don't worry as much. If the Dex is showing 260, and I'm actually 307, it doesn't matter -- what is important is that I know to test, and then act on it. It's not an emergency, like lows are.
So I'm satisfied. Even though I DID pay for the G4, because my warranty wasn't up, I'm happy I did it. As they say, I'm alive to tell the tale! :-)