Not sure that this helps but im a big believer in taking “sensor holidays”… still have to check your BG, but take a week or two off a month on using the sensor… Since im paying out of pocket i tend to alternate sensor on/sensor off weeks… unless im sick or having issues, then ill wear it for two weeks straight… Its helped keep me sane esp since iv had a run-in of two sensors with premature failure recently… Sensor fail= week off…
Relax… and try going back to it when your ready…
-jake
Were you using the Minimed cgms? My niece used the Minimed cgms first because she has their pump now, but it was a PITA with the calibration restrictions, the needle gauge was traumatic (some insertions worked out okay; others we would have to pull sensor because it was sore after EMLA wore off). And just the Restart process every three days, pulling the darn thing off to recharge after Day 6. This cgms was not effective because it did not fit into her lifestyle. Dexcom has been a much better fit. Huge difference. The calibrations, we did them twice a day when she had stable blood sugars, sometimes three times a day but if BS high or low you can still calibrate (better not to, though, I found). Nice small introducer needle; no EMLA needed. No pain whatsoever. Seven days usually before you even have to think about Restart; then, just leave transmitter right where it is on the body and Restart from the Receiver. Readings generally within the 20 percent guidelines but ??? if you lie on the sensor when sleeping (we just roll her over) and if BS fluctuating rapidly. Have found it’s best just to wait out the ??? and Dex will recover. If you are motivated to use cgms, or really need to or just plain want to, I would try the Dexcom 7 Plus. There is a learning curve with it, but Dex is so much more comfortable to wear, easy to use. P.S. Feelings about wearing one… Niece is a young teen; would prefer not to wear two sites and just recently decided she does not like carrying extra Receiver around 24/7. So we use it only when her numbers are crazy or if she is getting tons of unplanned exercise. Once Dex integrates with Animas, one of her main objections will be gone; maybe she will wear it full time then. Or if Minimed comes out with their comfortable sensor.
I was on the MM CGMS and only tried it for a short time back when I posted this discussion. I go to the endo next month, and will consider the Dex. Thanks for all the info.
I meant 2 months!
I know this is an old post, but here are my thoughts anyway.
I got the MM CGM 2.5 years ago. I used it for about 10 months, then got sick of itALWAYS beeping at me, and usually being wrong. I went back to it after about a year, and it has been going better. I was getting very “burned out” by the CGM, and needed a break.
The number is not always accurate, but the trend seems to be, so I know if I am falling fast or going high (although I may not know how high). Here are some things I have found:
I always insert a new sensor at night, and hit "start"first thing when I wake up. It usually asks me for a calibration within 10 minutes, and that accurate calibration gets things off on the right start. Inaccurate calibrations really throw things off.
I get interference from some electronic devices, such as baby monitors, so it is good to be aware of that.
The sensors don;t seem to work at or near their expiration date…they get more and more inaccurate. Also, if the monitor is not fully charged you can have problems.
My sensors really stop working around 5-6 days. I have sometimes been able to get them to last longer but they get less accurate.
When I get a bad sensor reading, i put a new one in and start all over. In my experience, and once I get a bad sensor reading, it is very likely I will continue to get them,
All I can say is that I took a break, and looonng break, and it has been going better since I went back to it. I started using it again b/c I went to a new endo and they couldn’t download my pump, and he wouldn’t look at a paper record, so I wanted some readings to help us get more info.
Good luck! It has been worth all the effort and frustration for me!
The MM Revel and 523/723 system are way better than the previous version and worth every penny of the upgrade cost. Calibration is a breeze and the CGM is hard to over calibrate, unlike the Paradigm system. Resetting the CGM can be done with little hassle. The sensor, transmitter and inserter are the same with the Revel and Paradigm.
I almost gave up on the Paradigm system and love the Revel software and pump function.
It would be great to get an improved sensor from MM, like the new ones that both DexCom and Abbott are coming out with at years end.