I’ve been reading some of the discussions here but still feel I need clarity. I just can’t wait for the day when I have it in my hands! So my questions.
1) what are your pros and cons with the CGM that makes you feel you could of gone with a different company or stayed?
2) How is the pain when inserting the little wire?
3) what advice would you give to someone who is new to the CGM?
4) what are the good things to do and the bad?
5) What advice would you give in regards to taking off the adhesive thingy?
I am sure I’ll have more but its getting late and brain is ready for sleep. Thanks! I am counting down the days till I get the approval!
Hi Amy, congratulations on getting the Dexcom! I am answering but it’s my son who actually wears the device . . .
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For my son, the limited range on the Dexcom is worth the fact that it’s a smaller device and smaller needle than the Navigator. He wears it around his waist and we don’t have an issue with it, but I think some adults like the range of the Nav.
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My son always uses EMLA cream when inserting the wire, but I inserted one on me and it really isn’t bad. He just suffers from anxiety and requests the cream so we do it.
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Advice - make sure the little things on the back are all the way snapped in when you attach the transmitter to the sensor. There is a breaking in period where you get used to what numbers to trust and when to double check, so allow some time for that. Lastly - take advantage of the downloads so you can compare your daily trends. That has been the most helpful part of the Dexcom for us.
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I can’t think of a list of these at the moment.
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If you are like most people, the adhesive thing will give you no problems coming off - the problem is actually keeping it ON. I haven’t come across a really successful way of doing this - I want to use Skin Tac, but you aren’t supposed to have the Skin Tac on the skin where the needle goes in, so you have to be a little more careful when applying it. I’ve tried applying it to the actual adhesive but that hasn’t worked for us. We’ve also used Flexifix but we have to reappy it and my son’s skin doesn’t like it that much.
Good luck - there are people on here with way more experience than we have, but I love it so much I thought I’d chime in with some info. My son started in May and I can’t imagine not having it anymore. : )
Natasha
Amy - I’ve used the DexCom 7+ system for just over one year now. I haven’t used any other CGMs so I can’t give you any first-hand comparative observations. I attribute my 1% drop in A1c during the last year to the Dex. If you pay attention, it can keep you very aware of your BG trend. It also shines when it comes to waking me up in the middle of the night when when my BG is dropping too low. Treating a night-time low and not letting it persist for a few hours eliminates the sky-high post breakfast bounce that often plagued me pre-Dex.
The best advice I can think of is to never make an insulin or food decision based on the Dex alone – always do a finger stick first. Seeing that number on the Dex, especially when it’s won your confidence, can falsely lead you into some bad moves. Remember, at best, the Dex is about 15 minutes behind your finger-stick reading. If your BG is rising or falling fast, the difference between the Dex and the finger-stick can be as much as 30 points off.
The Dex readings in the first day or so are not as dependable as the the third day forward. In fact, I start the same sensor for a second session after the first seven day period. Some of the best readings I get are early in the second week.
Good luck. I’ve been a T1 diabetic for 26 years. Following home glucose testing, insulin pumps, and the newer rapid acting insulin analogs, CGMs, in my estimation, are one of the most significant T1 treatment advances of the last quarter century!
- I have only used the DexCom, so I can’t say much about the others. A newly inserted sensor needs to “settle in” before you get consistant readings. There is a biological process that needs to take place before the readings are meaningful. Some times this happens in a couple of hours, other times it takes longer and still other times it never settles in at all. If the readings are not within +/- 20% of your finger stick readings after 24 hours, the drill is to perform three finger sticks, 15 minutes apart, entering the results at the time you do the fingersticks. If the sensor readings are still off after completing this final super calibration, contact DexCom tech service for a replacement sensor. Do not agonize about sensors that are not doing the job. Get them replaced and go onto the next sensor. This is the biggest hurdle for the newbie. If your DexCom reading is within +/- 20% of the finger sticks then the sensor is in spec. That said the DexCom readings are often much closer. Newbies often try to calibrate the sensor every few minutes to get exact corespondence with their finger sticks.This confuses the receiver. The system will ask for calibrations when the receiver is having issues. When the readings are WAY OFF, you can enter calibration readings then also.
- The pain of inserting the sensor probe is on the same order as an insulin injection. If you inject Lantus, you will find the DexCom causes much less discomfort.
- Clean your skin surface vigorously with alcohol prep pads and let the area dry before applying the sensor. I find the sensor will stay on better. Once applied try not to bump, sleep on or otherwise disturb the sensor. When you bathe or shower, do not wash the sensor agressively with lots of soap. I would not suggest a leisurely bubble bath either. (I save the long hot showers for times when I am between sensors.)
- DexCom users on this site report very varying results with regard to the adhesive. I am lucky that the adhesive lasts for 14 days or more and my skin is not sensitive to the adhesive. However, others have problems in both areas, the sensor itches and the adhesive fails. You will have to find out how things go for you. When I do remove the sensor, it’s similar to any other small bandage.
- IMHO, the greatest benefit of the CGM system is to aid in making a correlation between my BG readings and how my body is responding to that particular BG level. That awareness becomes key to understanding when sensor readings might be off. The awareness also helps you understand how you respond to your medications and thereby helps you control you BG levels.
- So many of your questions have been discussed at length under other headings. Please use the search function to locate this information.
Good luck. aaron
Amy,
I have been wearing my Dex 7+ for a year. Let me answer your questions from my observations:
- Dexcom is the way to go. I had 5 of 5 Medtronic sensors fail on start up - they filled with blood and died on startup. I have not had a sensor failure on startup. Those that have failed in less than 7 days, Dexcom replaces with a phone call by 3 day Fed Ex. I write the insertion date and time on the package the sensor was in for my records and toss it when the sensor comes out.
- Yes there is some pain. The needle is bigger than the sensor wire. It will take a little getting “grit” when inserting the sensor. Dexcom’s inserter is the smallest in use today of all CGM inserters.
- Read and follow the directions! Call Dexcom if you have ANY questions. They are great. Try to read the manual first. Also, calibrate with every insulin dose! If you are going to give insulin, do a finger stick for at least the first 6 months. I still do by 7a & 7 p calibrations and any time I give insulin. I can usually do 7a and breakfast as one stick and 7p is the supper stick with supper insulin. REMEMBER, a CGM is a tool and all tools must be used correctly. The biggest help from a CGM is the CURVE. watch the curve when you eat and see what it does. Note what it does when you eat the same thing on different days with different emotions and stresses.
- Good - be yourself. Bad - chase the curve and worry.
- Pull gently - after 7-14 days it is usually ready to fall off. Check the sensor and verify the wire came out. If you do not see the wire, take a sharpie marker and circle the hole so you can monitor it and if necessary have your Endocrinologist check the insertion site for a lost wire. Lost wires occur so very rarely but you need to be prepared. I have never had a wire come loose from the sensor base. I also cover my sensor/transmitter with an IV3000 dressing.
Hope this helps. PM me if I can be of more help.
I’ve used the Dexcom Seven+ since getting my OmniPod… which is a little over 2 years now. To answer your questions:
(1) I’ve only used the Dexcom because was supposed to be linking up directly with the OmniPod real soon now ™… but that hasn’t happened yet. However, I do like it and I like the fact the probe is very thin. I wish the transmitter had a little memory in it so when it was away from the receiver it could record the information for a few hours then transmit it to the receiver once it was back in range…
(2) The pain isn’t bad… if you press the plunger quickly. If you antagonize about it, it isn’t so great… kinda like the first time you start pricking your finger with a lancet.
(3) The CGM is great. I use it mainly to see trends in my BG. There are times when it is awesomely accurate, and times when I have no clue where they are getting the readings from. It will usually correct itself if the readings are off. I’ve found it best to update the receiver with your BG readings anytime you do a finger stick.
I love using the CGM to see how my adjustments of basal and boluses are behaving. It also helps me plan my adjustments to the rates.
(4) I don’t wear the CGM all the time, I’ll give myself a week or two off when everything is adjusted properly, but if I notice things going weird, I throw it right back on. If I’m going on vacation, I’ll wear it, if I’m doing any strenuous physical activity, I’ll wear it too.
(5) I’ve never had problems pulling off the sensor… just pull it off… when it gets to seven days, it wants to come off.
You’ll find the Seven+ is a love / hate thing. When it gives wrong readings, it gives REALLY wrong readings. And when things goof up on it, they really goof off. But the majority of the time, its a champ. I just wish the sensor could have a little more range.
I’ve found the Seven+ helps me maintain my tight control on BG since I can make a simple correction or test to see if it is really has high / low as it says I am. I try and keep my BG between 80 and 130 all the time (including meals) and the Dexcom is wonderful in that respect.
Thanks for the advice!
Thanks! I am very excited about trying this thing out. I just can’t wait to get it. I’ll be like a kid in a candy store being all giddy haha
Thanks for the advice! I get more excited as the days are counting down. I do like the fact that it gives you a trend so I can see where I am heading. Especially when I am sleeping. I’ll have a low blood sugar at dinner then a high blood sugar at breakfast and I am like, what happened during the night!
I hope I dont lose the wire! I freak out that will happen when my pen needle at times.
the trend feature is what got my attention. I liked that feature and I thought this would be helpful to me. I am very excited about getting on this thing. Can’t wait to set up appts to learn about it and get myself going so I can get better #s and get my A1C down to that 8% to go on the pump
I have another question. Does anyone use the dexcom with the medtronic pump?? I’m still trying to decide if I should go with the ping or the medtronic