I have been looking at the CGMS available. The Navigator looks good until I found out the price was $1500 for the receiver/transmiter and $500 for the sensors. Then the Dexcom 7. Wow! price was great, sensors (with resetting time) really good. I was ready to apply and fork over my hard earned money until I noticed the transmitter battery is non replaceable. $350 for a new transmiter was just too much to pay for a new battery. Who in their right mind would buy a glucometer that lasted only until the batteries died, forcing you to buy a whole new meter? Plus, I want to choose which meter I use for calibration.
Grrrrrrr, I just can’t justify the expense. It will be out of my own pocket, so I just can’t justify the “investment” at this time.
Danny: they say that the “life” of the Transmitter is only 6 months, but my first one lasted for about 17 months. (And it was the 3-day version, which went “obsolete” before it died.) This was in 7x24 use. I’m now using the waterproof “upgrade”, which I bought as a package (new receiver AND new transmitter AND a couple of Sensors.) So, in continuous usage since May, 2006, I have never replaced a worn-out Transmitter with the same model.
In fact, when I look at unhappy reports from Minimed users, the non-rechargeable Dexcom transmitter seems to be lasting longer than the rechargeable Minimed. Dexcom charges $350, you don’t have to mess around with recharging it, and Minimed charges about twice as much.
As to your second complaint: Dexcom has already released the software update to allow you to type in the callibration number from your meter, ANY meter, without a cable.
BUT, I think you’ve come to the right conclusion: If the prospect of throwing $700 a year into the garbage can is too upsetting, then your diabetes case isn’t DESPERATE enough to mess around with these flakey, unreliable, and expensive gadgets. Good for you, and keep up the good work!
BTW, I have a question for you: how many Sensors was Abbott going to give you for the $500 price?
Your story is similar to my experience, except I tried wearing it for over a year. The transmitter finally just gave out. I am negotiating on a Navigator right now. I believe the MiniMed setup needs more work to get it to work good.
I have used the Dex since 9/08. I did have a few issues with it at first but after the learning curve I won’t do without it. As far as the sensors when the system times out after 7 days I just restart it and have had a sensor last up to 14 days with absolutely no adverse concerns of any sort. No irritations, or sores. The inserted sensor seems to be very body friendly. This just may be me I don’t know. The new Dex 7 plus looks even better. I have talked to our rep and even though she’s not diabetic she has worn one for 10 days and has had no problems and very accurate blood readings and in 10 days has had not interruptions in the readings. The system seems to be vastly improved. My last A1C 12/08 was 6.6 the lowest since 1988. I attribute that to the Dex. Check it out on line.
I was interested in reading your (and Khurt’s) info! I have had an Omni Pod for two years now, and my doctor just had me trial the Dex Com. It worked for less than 24 hours and then the sensor gave me an error! I am having a hard time returning the unit to the rep…(my doc wanted me to trial it for a week and then will do the insurance put thorough if I liked it), and was wondering if you had any recommendations? I LOVED this system (I currently test about 25 times per day - my fingers are pretty sore!), but am a bit nervous about the customer service because of this failure, and now the difficulty with the rep getting back to me.
Also - I found that it was hard keeping within the 5 foot range all the time. Do you know if the Navigator is the same? I currently wear the Omni Pod and love the freedom that it gives me. I have been on the H-tron (Accucheck) and the Minimed previously, too…kind of felt “tethered”. The Dex Com gave me the same feeling.
Thanks for your help. I just feel a little lost at this point!
My experience with the Navigator is you can get a free replacement for any sensor that does not work the full 5 days.
The range of the Navigator is something like 20 or 30 feet, depending on conditions. Basically, if the receiver is in the same room you are, you’ll be fine.
As you see in other posts, I’m raving about the improvements. Far, far less instances of “???”, and when it does happen, one bG entry always restarts the graph. Now on day 12, and the readings are rock solid, even on highs and lows-- whereas the original “SEVEN” would have been within a day or two of dying by now, failing to show my full deviation from near-normal bGs.
One thing though-- be sure to THROW AWAY the One-Touch cable. Hand entry is better, it seems as if Dexcom still gets confused by even small time discrepancies between “meter time” and Dexcom time. When you just set the reading via Dexcom’s buttons, it’s always taken as brand-new and valid.
I had rented the Freestyle for 5 days before I decided to purchase the Dexcom only due to its size, sensor longetivity and its connection with omnipod
Though the Dexcom 7+ is about to drive me mad! The ??? occurs every time I put on a new sensor sometimes for like 6 hours…though the dexcom manual does say you can insert it anytime in the evenings it is just a nightmare. I have had it more than a couple of times that the readings for off like by 150 points…which does scare and make you wonder if you have lost all your senses for feeling highs or lows!
So as a conclusion I would say the navigator seems much more reliable though I have had it only for 5 days
Hope this helps, meanwhile has anybody else had similar experiences on the dexcom like I have had…as I am a new user on to my 6th week now
I know this is an old post, but since people may look at this as they are making the decision for a CGM, I thought it might help to add our 2 cents. After a lot of research and discussions with professionals, we selected the Abbott Navigator for our 10 year old daughter. We have had it about 6 months, and I have to say, that I am SHOCKED by its accuracy. Virtually every time it is with in a few points of the finger stick. On a rare occasion, we find that it is 10 to 20% off. As others have noted on the internet, there are some design flaws and issues (like the 10 hour warm up time) that make us anoyed at times, but it is so accurate, and helps give so much better control, that we can’t imagine living with out it.
The main reasons we selected the Navigator were 1) Accuracy - everyone said it was the most accurate; 2) The “automated” insertion of the sensor. I am afraid of needles, so we needed something easy for me, my wife, etc. - this is “push the button” simplicity.
We are thrilled with the Navigator and highly recommend it to anyone considering a CGM (and EVERYONE should be considering a CGM). I can’t wait for the newer version in 2010 - was just FDA approved and will fix a number of the design issues including a GREATLY IMPROVED 1 hour warm up time (as opposed to 10 hours).
Also try using some meter like one of the Wavesense meters for calibration. it might be an accuracy of calibration issue… … If i could get the curvettes Id use my HemoCue B-Glucose that i ended up with from a study to calibrate with… =) =)
Also if you insert it and wait a bit before starting it… some have reported better sucess with the dexcomm… Insert it, but wait an hour or so to actually start it…
Most of us “avoid start-up noise by shooting it in long before executing Start Sensor” people are giving it 4-24 hours of “extra” time. (Not merely one hour.) I always shoot in the night before a planned change, and leave the “old one” running until mid-morning.
Works great, but that’s about 10 hours of extra warm-up time. Not just one.
I’m getting the DexCom 7 next week since I have lows of 39 and highs of 300+ and no symptoms. I use the Bayer Contour meter for manual checks with their download software and love that. so does my Dr. It’s the eastiest software program out there since I’ve tried the Freestyle ( I like their meter better ) but not their software down load. I hate that I have to pay all out of pocket since Medicare won’t cover any of it but my neighbor on Medicaid can get a $6,000 pump for nothing and the sensors free. I couldn’t get a pump at all thru Medicare. What’s wrong with our system? Makes me want to quit PRN work and sit on my butt. Do you have to pay out of pocket for any of it? One thing I found out with the Free Style Lite was it read 20 higher than the Bayer… I called free style and they told me not to compare meters. I love the size of the Free Style and the little lite on it for at night testing. Wish Bayer made one like that. I did get in on a promotion for DexCom and the CGM is 999.00 and sensors are 275.00 a mo. instead of 399.00. I have a Medicare Advantage and when I went to go with a Medicare supplement I was still under Medicare guidelines. What kind of Ins. do you get to have it pay for this? Wish I could get a loaner instead of paying for one. I’d go for the loaner. DexCom is waterproof up to 30ft. and for 1/2 hr. I won’t have to take it off when showering. No other one does this. I swim a lot so fits me perfectly. The Animas pump is waterproof too.
I spoke to a rep at Insulet (OmniPod) prior to purchasing an insulin pump. He did state that there is a smaller pod (1/3 smaller) that has the Dexcom Seven Plus system built in to the PDM; it is simply pending FDA approval at this point. Knowing this, I went ahead and got the Dexcom Seven Plus CGM for now, as OmniPod will have it integrated in their next PDM/pump and will do a free upgrade once all has been FDA approved…
I just finished wearing my first Seven Plus sensor, and it lasted 10 hours short of a full 72 hours. I had no problems wearing it or removing it, other than the insertion site bled some.
I had horrible experiences with the Dexcom CGM. I sent it back after paying out of pocket. My fingersticks never corra;ated with the CGM. 176 on the CGM and 105 with a fingerstick. That’s not even close. I recalibrated wasting more strips than if I wasn’t on it. Got my money back for the monitor but still waiting (over 3 wks. ) for reimbursement of $500.00+ foe 2 boxes of sensors never opened. Dexcom has a lot of perfecting to do with this CGM. I used all parts of body in front. No good if you’re out of range 5 ft. When it’s laying a foot from you on your bedside table and says Out Of Range there’s something wrong. It’s too hard keeping track of it from room to room and too clumsy to wear all the time. I’m now on the Medtronic pump system and diong good.
How did you figure out a way for 6 days for the Medtronic sensor? I don’t have the sensor thing yet, just the pump. Don’t know if I want 2 things to change. As is, I have to change out the set every 3 days. Have gone 4. I think this is a money making thing for the pump and CGM manufacturers. I don’t think you need sensors with a pump because it’s duplicating things. I upload all my results from my pump and you can get the level of your readings with graphs etc.
Not just one.