Hello! I am starting on a Dexcom in a month. I am wondering what to expect or what I should know about it in advance. My endo suggested it b/c I use Omnipods and the two will be integrated at some point in the future. I am mainly curious as to how annoying it is to carry it around with you within range. What happens if you go out of range? How do people generally carry it at work, especially women (with skirts and no pockets, etc)? Is there anything you wish you knew about it before starting that could have helped you prepare/adjust as nec? Thanks for the help!
My Dexcom came with a handy carrying pouch that has a clip on the back of it, so it clips to my waistband with just a bit of a noticeable bulge. If I’m wearing something without a waistband, I’ve found putting it into a small bag that can be easily worn over my shoulder is the best/safest way to carry it, and this allows me to carry my PDM along with my testing supplies too. As for going out of the five foot range, as long as you are back in range within five minutes or so, it doesn’t really mess with your graph much - but if you have to be out of range for an extended period of time, just test more if you are worried. The graphs you will see displayed are 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr and 24 hr graphs. Other information will be shown when you d/l the data from your Dex onto your computer… If you are like me and are hypo unaware, then tell someone around you (that you trust) about how to tell if you have bg problems as well as how to treat you and where you keep your supplies. Carrying the Dex monitor is no worse than dealing with carrying around your PDM for your 'Pod, although you don’t always have to keep it within range for it to work, which is the only major difference. At night, I sleep with my Dexcom monitor beside my bed - and when I have to charge it, I just make sure it’s within the five foot range (it charges with electricity and doesn’t require battery changes, which I think is the ONLY drawback to the 'Pod lol). I started out using Mastisol with both my 'Pod and my Dex but now have switched to Skin-Tac, which is just as good (if not better) and not anywhere near as sticky as the Mastisol is. Hope this helps, and feel free to holler at me if you have any other questions. Good luck! =)
The folks at Dexcom will tell you that the sensor is only guaranteed to work when placed on your abdomen, but I’ve worn mine in the same places approved to wear my 'Pod, and I’ve had the same results with no noticeable differences. The only difference is the amount of pain when first inserting the sensor, as it’s more painful when placed in places other than my abdomen.
When you pinch up to insert the needle and canula, be sure to keep it pinched up until you remove the needle…otherwise it can continue to insert and may go too deep into muscle tissue. Also, this unit is for tracking trends only. On me, and many others, it is DEFINITELY NOT reliable enough to use to make bolus or correction decisions… I found Navigator was always close enough, but Dex is quite often OVER 25% different that my Blood meter (which is always close range to the lab tests). Good luck. At least it does alert me to lows, and usually it is right ( but not always, by any means.)
Thanks, I appreciate the suggestions a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised if I still test 10-15 times/day (I feel very weird not knowing where my blood sugar is). However, I am hoping the Dexcom will help me stop highs and lows before they happen, especially at night. I have a difficult time with overnight blood sugars and am fearful of lows at night, waking up most nights around 3am to test. I have done that so often that I automatically wake up at 3am as well as in the morning to get up! I would like to not have to do that anymore and have a safety net to alert me to what’s going on. Thanks again!
Also as reported by others, acetomeniphen(sp) (Tylenol) use will skew the results, so none of that. It doesnt mix with the chemical on the sensor strip. Also be aware that it is in a lot of other OTC pharmacy products
I just started the 7+ two week ago. I have found the monitor to be fairly accurate the lower the readings. More variablity when my numbers are high, just like a glucose monitor. I have used the current sensor for two weeks, probably skews the results. I have found that I test five to six times/day, rather than 8-10x/day. My fingers appreciate that aspect of it. As for the lows overnight, the 7+ wakes my wife up more than it does me. Then she wakes me up(usually at 3AM).
Hi! Have you startded your CGM? I just got mine about 4 days ago. So far, so good. I’m actually surprised at how stable my BG’s are! I keep it on my bedside table at night. I will wake up automatically and just glance at it, if it’s in a good range and not dropping I don’t bother testing. Because I’m hypo unaware I can see when it’s trending down and can check and eat so I don’t have the terrible lows. That’s what I’m hoping to do anyway! 
Just went through an hour of exercise, watched it as it started to nose dive, had some glucostabs and it’s been stable and holding at 87 ever since! Fantastic!
I was a MM CGM user before I started the Dex, so I transferred over my pretty rigid calibration technique. With the Minimed, you should only calibrate when stable (no fluctuations from food or just injected insulin expected). I was told I could calibrate the Dex whenever, even if I was rapidly falling or rising. Well, I discovered that sure, you can calibrate that way, but the results will suck. If you just remember to calibrate when your blood sugar is stable, then you will probably get great results. I find I’m very close to my actual numbers the entire sensor period if I follow that rule. And if you’re not stable when the “ENTER BG” message pops up, you can wait until you are. The Dex will continue to give you readings, but they just might not be as accurate as the Dex would like for them to be.
I have not. The process is taking longer than I expected b/c of scheduling conflicts between drs and dexcom ppl and my work schedule. I am really excited to get started though. Good to hear it works well for you and others!
That’s good to know. I haven’t been paying attention to whether or not I was stable when calibrating but I have noticed sometimes it’s more accurate than other times. I’ll pay more attention now.
I just stick it in my purse if I don’t have pockets. I usually wear workout gear at work with a jacket with pockets so it hasn’t been a problem, we’ll see how it works when I’m dressed up. If I walk away with it left on my desk I don’t worry too much, with it checking every 5 minutes a loss of a couple points isn’t too much too worry about. It just won’t register while away and then picks back up at the next 5 minute point.