I am using the 770 with guardian 3 sensors. They are not the greatest as they are inaccurate on the low side and take a while to show a trend line. I have been weighing the differences of maybe going back to dexcom and having to do basal tests and adjust that way or having the closed loop system manage my numbers and adjust things. The differences are 1. I won’t need to test as often with a dexcom. I would trust a low when it says that I am low. Or stay with the guardians and not have to basal test. It helps manage the rise in blood sugar from eating. I need some feedback. Help me to decide. Thanks.
I can’t give a comparison, only one person’s experience with Dexcom and Tandem C-IQ.
Previously I was doing multiple injections with Humalog (6-8 a day) with a single Toujeo for basal at night.
I’m pretty much at my same basal 0.69 u/hr as the 16 u of Toujeo I used to give. And my IC ratio isn’t much different either, around 1 unit for 9.5 g carbs.
You can see if you trend higher and set a slightly higher basal rate for that time of day if it’s a clear pattern. If you note frequent lows, back off a bit.
It’s normal to see several gaps through the day where it suspends the basal if drifting downwards. That’s fine with me.
Finally, I’ve found that making small changes of correction numbers helps a lot. If it’s often taking too long for a high to come down, I decrease the blood glucose change per insulin unit and if it looks like the Rocky Mountains, increase a bit more to sofern the points (up and down!). It isn’t stagnant however and I make (small) changes probably every week or two.
My hardest thing still relates to exercise. Still working on that!
1 Like
I like accuracy, that’s one reason I like restarted sensors and I fine tune my Dexcom sensors to be within 5 points. I love not having to finger stick as much, but on the first couple of days I am still finger sticking probably 6-10 times each day because I don’t trust my sensors yet or I want them more accurate. Once I get them accurate I only finger stick once every 3-5 days to make sure. Having that break of not finger sticking is invaluable to me,
Given that I also recognize the value in something automatically doing adjustments for you. My DP is back and some nights viciously so. I have my pump settings higher but I can only put them so high for what I might need most nights. It would be nice to have something that automatically kicks in and deals with it.
I believe Dexcom is going to integrate with Medtronics? I’m not sure what that means or when though.
I wouldn’t base it on basal testing. That’s me though, I usually just tweak my existing program to my needs.
From 2019…
Maybe another 1-2 years??
Agreeing and doing are 2 different things.
1 Like
@MM1 I remembered reading about it, and there is still talk about them doing it. I did not realize they have been talking about it for so long.
I’d agree, don’t count on it! Maybe G7? Maybe not !
Haven’t seen anything more recent since that press release, and even back then that was the only thing I could find. All pretty much from the Tidepool side, too. Did Medtronic ever chime in?
1 Like
Kind of old news, but I went back to my Dexcom/Medtronic combo after six months trying to make the 670G + Guardian 3 loop thing work. It just still seems like the sweet spot for these systems is people who are struggling to keep their A1C in the 7s, and can just cause frustration if you’re already doing as well or better without it. That’s an old assessment but it still seems to obtain—happy to hear from anyone who thinks things have improved in that regard.
In any case the only inconvenience I’ve had in doing the “hybrid” Dex/Medt thing is not having my CGM readings integrated into my pump status screen. But I decided that was far outweighed by having a more accurate, reliable, and easier to deal with CGM. Do people still have to spend fifteen minutes with that rube-goldberg taping stuff? Yuck.
So I guess the question is, how big a hassle is basal testing for you? Some people do adjust it every few months, but I rarely if ever do. I have 5 rates programmed and that seems to cover it within tolerable variance. More trouble to change it than to adjust for things manually unless it really seems like a long-term metabolic change is occurring which is pretty rare. The only other concern I had was whether switching back to Dexcom was going to be a problem for my insurance coverage, but it turned out they’re completely agnostic about it. Just put in Dexcom for my next order and that was that.
1 Like
I just can’t see Medtronic coming through with this because it is a direct competitor of their own sensors. The just released a new version that does not require calibrations.
I hate to be the one to say this out loud, but let’s consider that a company might string along people in order to keep them from switching pump manufacturers, but then never really giving us the carrot.
I’m not saying that is happening, I’m saying it feels like that.
4 Likes
Since I have moved my sensor to the inside of my calf I have been having better accuracy. I am thrilled as I want this system to work. I can hardly wait for the g4 and the 780. Medtronic will be right on par with Dexcom.
That’s what I am waiting for too, the 780! But getting weary with my 670G and latest G3 sensors…always off (lower) by 30 than my fingersticks. Ugh!
I had this problem when I had it in my thigh. I would calibrate it and the number it went to was always lower than the number I put in. It should have been close. Someone suggested I try in my calf. Since I inserted it on the side of my calf it has been very accurate. Keep trying different places. Try not to give up. The guardian4s are coming and the 780 with automatic corrections and a more aggressive algorithm.
Hmm the calf? I’ll have to try that. I have always used my thighs and just this past 6 months or so have had problems with the lower CGM reading and the BG finger sticks.
Please excuse any errors!
1 Like
Just be careful you don’t insert the sensor in muscle. My calves are not muscular. Most of the muscle is in the back that’s why I use the inside about half way up.
Once you try can you let me know your results. You might want to ice the area before you insert the sensor as the calves are areas that are known as “bleeders”.
I will thank you
Please excuse any errors!
I actually have really good results with the Guardian sensors/770g. The first half day might be off sometimes and getting it to the 12-hour calibration schedule on Day 1 can be annoying but after that I rarely have issues. I keep tight control so I can’t talk much about how it is for high numbers, but mine are always really accurate for lows. When I do have to calibrate my meter/sensor are almost always very close.
I do not use auto mode though, because I hate high BGs and when I did try it (on the 670) it let me run high. I admit I didn’t give it a long test run and I probably could have made it work if I stuck with it. I have spent time fine tuning my basal rates and overnight has been very steady for me. If the pump does wake me saying I’m low I believe it.
Have you given Automode a try? It might be worth it before going through the hassle of switching. You might be surprised. I hated my 670G and guardian sensors and was always frustrated. Mostly because I was on it since the release and the first guardian iteration was crap. But then two things happened- they fixed the guardian transmitter and I had a period of time at my work that was so chaotic I didn’t have much space to manage my diabetes. I basically started packing a low carb lunch and then I had to trust automode. I decided those 6 weeks I would stay in it 24/7. Surprise surprise my blood sugar was great those few weeks! I think the key with the algorithms (for me) is to trust the machine and not monkey with it too much. It might not drop me as quickly as I like but also I’m not going to bottom out either. I did end up switching to the Dexcom/Tandem combo last year and I love it! But I’ve also found the same to be true of Tandems algorithm- let it work its magic. Once I get in there and start getting upset and messing around things up south rather quickly.
But also, it works well as long as your base settings are correct. Also I wore my Dexcom and guardian together for about a week last year and found both to be similarly accurate. And both at times could match or lag behind my actual BG. But I am much happier on Dexcom- I like it because it cuts out all the sensor reading errors or connection problems I was having with the medTronic. I much prefer only getting alarmed for my BG rising or falling. I’m sorry diabetes is such a pain in the well, everywhere. I did get frustrated when I hopped on the Dexcom and it didn’t cure me.
good luck
1 Like
Have you tried it in your calf yet? I am having excellent results with the sensor placed there. My actual bloodsugars are never too far off my sensor readings. I can trust it. Like last night my sensor said I was 3.9mmol. I got some carbs into me and it worked wonderfully. I love automode as the 770 helps curb your bloodsugar if you are rising. It gives you some autobasal to keep you in line. This current sensor I have in now has 2 days and 12h. It looks like it is going to go the full 7 days.
It doesn’t matter anymore whether dexcom will connect to medtronic. The guardian 3 sensors are very close to what my actual bloodsugars are. When the Guardian4s become available it will be like having dexcom. I also dont use medtronic’s overtape. I use hypafix and cut a patch of tape and put it over the entire sensor. Very easy for me.
Except dexcom is coming out with a much smaller sensor, it’s supposed to last 14 days and transmit directly to a smart watch if you like. No more transmitters to deal with.
They will constantly up the game. It’s good for us though.
It forces them to get make better and better products.
Medtronic should open source their own sensors to give dex a run.( that is if they are truly better, I battled the old style ones and was miserable)