Well let me step out again if I get something wrong please don’t have a cow. I have the paradigm pump with the real time glucose monitor I am not sure if this is the same thing you are talking about however I have found a few things out that you may want to check into. The sensor will be no problem I have my site on the right side of me and put my sensor on the left side so that I am rotating better. The sensor is covered with a big clear bandage called and IV 3000 which helps it to stay on and not catch on clothing or anything. It can be very accurate but you do not want to start it out with a high sugar it really messes things up over 300 is what i am calling high. Also you do not want to read what your pump says your blood sugar is and cheat and enter that as your actual blood sugar…yes I have done that when i put the sensor on at midnight and then it woke me up beeping to take a blood sugar, i was to tired to get up and the next day had to take alot more bs to get it straightened out. Also I lost my sensor once and called the company and was told I could get a new one every 6 months not sure if you have to but you can. My insurance and medicare pays for most of my supplies but I am still left with a pretty hefty bill, however it has really helped me to pay attention not only to my sugars but to the things going on around me what is causing me stress when my pump goes off and I want to throw it through the wall I have to step back and say ok what is stressing me out here. All in all I love it and it has helped me immensely.
I have had the MM CGM (w/ 722 pump…) for about a year now and I love it! I loathe the gnarly needle but the data is priceless and has been really useful. I’d run 5.5-7.0 A!Cs for a few years, got a pump and was able to get to 5.8 pretty much all the time which is ok, but I wondered why I couldn’t improve it but the CGM got me to 5.4? I like the extra control and flexibility with the pump a lot. I calibrate it 3x/ day and use the sensors for 6 days, which I don’t think is recommended but a lot of times, once it’s ‘set’, it seems to work pretty well and I figure if it’s working, why take it out of circulation while it’s still providing good data? I had one day last week where an unexpected flat tire, threw off my schedule and I ran out of time to replace it when the second three day period ran out and I said ‘well, I might as well see what happens…’ and the sensor provided good data for another day before it died late that night. I don’t keep track of anything but I am pretty sure the days that it’s most ‘off’ are on ‘start’ days and once I get it pounded into shape, and perhaps I cheat by eating really conservatively on those days, it works very well for me. I have perceived the ‘MM suxx’ vibe but that hasn’t been my experience at all. I am looking forward to getting a new Revel pump from them next spring.
I am not a fan of the IV3000 tape at all though. I was about a week into pumping and ran my first 1/2 marathon and, unfortunately, about 3 miles into it, the tape got loose and the sensor ripped out so I was data less for the rest of the run. I got some FlexFix tape that is a lot more durable that I have not had any problems with, even for 6 days at a time
I was worried about that as well but I got the Dexcom and am VERY happy with it. Although it can stray from calibration (I remind it a few times a day with a finger stick value) it always wakes me for a low or a high. The sensor lasts at least 10 days (you have to trick it into a second week). I absolutely depend on this device and so far it hasn’t let me down. I don’t know about the MM product, though.
Jeff
Totally agree, Shannon. I'm so tired of the phone conversations with them. When my warranty is up I'm planning to trade in my MM for another brand. Now, to just figure out which one.... So keep talking everyone! :)
In my opinion, all the devices that exist in diabetes land work. It's based on personal preference and how your body adapts to it. I also think it's in your mindset. When I was originally going on the pump, I just thought the Omnipod PDM was more attractive and didn't really listen to the MM lady. Two years later, I was ditching Omnipod for the MM pump and love it. It hasn't been perfect and I've learned some tricks being on this website. Other diabetics are your best friend because we all learn ways around the built in systems these companies have. I just started on the CGM recently and haven't had any issues at all. It is fairly accurate and hasn't given me any issues. They're also coming out with a newer version that inserts differently and is a bit smaller which might help the inaccuracy issues. I love that it yells at me but I also know that I need to rely on my blood glucose meter always. No CGM is spot on accurate and they all have a bit of a delay.
My advice: no matter which one you get, I'm sure there will be something that comes up. It's inevitable. My BEST idea was joining this site and finding other's suggestions. No matter what the technology that you decide to use.
I started with a MM pump but for some strange reason, my ENDO wouldn't write a script for MM. I wound up with an Animas which I really dislike. My Endo is now an ex-endo! I can't wait to get back to MM which I really liked and probably still will.
But the CGM device is a different matter. As far as I can tell, the Dexcom (which I have been using for a few years) works well and can be used for seven days. The MM CGM is restricted to three days (I don't know why). Have you looked into the cost of one vs the other in the long run? I am thinking the MM pump and the DEXCOM CGM would be the best choice for me. Your opinion??
Jeff