First post. New to the forum but i had a question and this seemed like the place to get the answer.
I have a Dexcom G6 and Tandem. I get 90 day supplies, 1 transmitter and 3 boxes of 3 sensors. This has been my standard experience.
The issue i run into is when my transmitter expires whilst using my Tandem, i do not receieve a notice of expiry and then i place a new sensor in, with the expired transmitter. Then im stuck with a junk transmitter (as i get the notification shortly after putting in the new sensor with the “bad” transmitter during the calibration process. It really frustrates me and is not a good design.
Does anyone else/has anyone else dealt with this?
I have to call Dexcom and they will send a new sensor or use a butterknife to pry out the bad transmitter and put in the new one. Neither solution is one i enjoy and id much rather just get an alert when it has expired.
I agree, it’s weird that tandem can say things like low transmitter battery but won’t say you need a new transmitter until after you try to start a new sensor. I have the Dexcom app on my phone though so when the last sensor expires it will say on the app that you need a new transmitter.
Im just frustrsted that I place in an expired (unknowingly) transmitter into a new sensor and then i get an alert that it is expired (the transmitter) after ive initiated the process of synchronization of the new sensor.
Doesnt this bother anyone else? I have had to do this many many times and im just tired of it happening. Why cant it be fixed?
I use xDrip app (android), that shows the number of days since transmitter start. I also mark start date on trans box and count 90 days to note on calendar for new transmitter.
Often get 99+ days per transmitter.
Thats great that you found a solution to their problem. Why do we have to come up with our own solution for proper usage of their products though? This is what im confused about.
Also, how are you getting over 90 days? You mustnt be using a tandem?? Tandem has hardcoded stops on my device at the 90 day mark, unless you’re specifically talking about starting a sensor/transmitter on day 89 of the transmitter so it carries over to day 99. If thats what youre talking about, this isnt even the issue im talking about.
I just would really like a solution provided by the companies that alerts me when i cant use it before i do a new sensor/transmitter(unknowingly expired). It is theoretically possible so why are they making it more difficult for us users, their customers? I just dont understand. I get quite frustrated when i have to fix this when it happens. I dont typically set any calendar alerts, etc. Its not what they told me to do with the products.
I was talking with someone on another forum about this issue. The solution is, as @Firenza said, use the Dexcom app or receiver for all sensor and transmitter changes. On the pump only update the transmitter serial after successfully starting a new sensor with a new transmitter.
The pump does display an alert for transmitter battery low. Check either your alert log or the CGM log on the pump. Yes, allowing stating an expired transmitter is a software bug. Tandem has said they’d rather point fingers at Dexcom rather than fix it.
Thanks for the reply. I understand this to be the case as well and im fairly certain theyre aware of this issue based on your statement that theyre pointing fingers at one another. Ive had similar experiences. Im under the impression it is likely both of their responsibilities (or otherwise stipulated in their contract defining indemnification). Not sure of those details but Dexcom is offering a product through Tandem and if Tandem cant provide a sufficient solution that may be considered negligence on Dexcom’s part id imagine and i dont like having to deal with the problems it causes. I have had many experiences with this very problem and it is unfortunate that it is seemingly belittled by the companies.
I do understand that the Dexcom app operates and potentially helps remedy the issue. The problem here is that i dont need my app or mobile device to utilize the sensor and transmitter pairing. I can use the dexcom devices(transmitter and sensor) with just the pump/dexcom transmitter&sensor alone. I just dont get how they arent fixing this when it seems many are having frustrations and potential issues amongst many users/customers.
The solution is trivial. Remove the expired transmitter, and replace it with a new one, like they tell you to do. That takes 20 secs at most. Problem solved.
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The solution is trivial. Remove the expired transmitter, and replace it with a new one, like they tell you to do. That takes 20 secs at most. Problem solved.
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Its not so simple if you have an expired transmitter in a new sensor that has been inserted, i.e. the sensor is on my body. I dont get an alert before I place the new sensor on, that the transmitter is expired, when using the Tandem route and so i just put on the new sensor. Then my sensor in on with an unknowingly expired transmitter. Having to take it out, like youre suggesting, for one, is not advised ever. Ive called them and they have never suggested this; they have told me to remove the entire sensor/waste it and use a new sensor/the new transmitter and theyll send me a new sensor. This is complete waste of time and needless waste of a perfectly good sensor, as if the design were different in their algorithm’s logic flow it would never happen to begin with.
The Dexcom app may alert me before-hand/on-time but it isn’t required to start a new sensor and transmitter pairing so why does Dexcom allow Tandem to do this and not fix it. I can run it all just fine through my Tandem as I mentioned. So i personally feel it’s seemingly neglience to allow for someone to do this, when it is by design and unnecessary.
Albeit an edge-case, many users seem to have created their own solution by getting a calendar alert or some other methodology, xDrip or something akin. I haven’t used xDrip, just hearing about it today.
But the current implementation of the Tandem/Dexcom product has a flaw and ive personally had this happen many times and it doesnt get remedied. Ive reached out to them and simply want them both to fix it but i havent seen the fix take place.
Can anyone explain to me why when the transmitter expires it doesnt immediately alert you (on the tandem) and block the transmitter from being using again. This will prevent an expired transmitter from ever being used and i would never run into this situation and everyone running xDrip wouldnt need to any longer and it would just fix itself… am i being too logical?
I agree that it seems like something which should be fixed. I’m not certain, but I believe Tandem can’t send out fixes or patches to its software the way other companies can because it’s medical equipment and the consequences of inadvertently introducing an unknown bug when sending out a seemingly simple fix are so much more dire and such changes are regulated accordingly.
That is an interesting thought, ty for sharing. If they make one update to a system ever (software-wise) though, then the whole argument falls on its face. If you change one thing, it could introduce a bug. So hypothetically why change one item and not another? They have developers to test this stuff as well.
I did google it for more insight though. Both devices are medical equipment.
Dexcom Device is class II (2) medical device.
An insulin pump is a class II (2) .
An insulin pump integrated with a CGM is a class III (3).
It is very likely more regulated due to it being a class III (3).
Does allowing this flaw to exist because of, as your suggesting, higher regulation give reason not to fix something? I dont think so personally. They were able to get these products out on the market for us to begin with so they had to go through the issues of bugs, etc. before and have dealt with these things.
I didn’t mean it was a reason to never fix the bug. Just a reason it might take longer/have a lower priority than it would if the software was for another kind of device or application.
@DiabeticEndeavors I hear that you are fired up about this and you would like to do what you can to get it fixed. I’m the same way sometimes so if you want to talk to Tandem about this I’ll try to help you out.
Starting with how many times does the pump alert about the low transmitter battery? How long is it between the most recent alert and when you most recently tried to start a sensor with an expired transmitter?
I have this problem with every single transmitter change. I guess because I don’t use the Dexcom app, which tells people you have to start a new transmitter NOW. Seems like there’s random notices for 2/3 the life of the transmitter, but never one when you actually need it. Thankfully, I’ve always known the trick to removing them, as if you were restarting a sensor, so I’ve never had to waste a sensor. It’s still annoying, though!
By the way, I always start my sensors on the T:slim and can get up to 110 days if I time things right. The 90-day limit isn’t programmed into it. If the pump made you replace it at 90, there may have been low battery voltage in it or something unusual. The transmitters all have a hard cutoff at 110 days, but they also won’t let you start a new session after the 100th day starts. So while they’re warrantied for 90 days, they’ll run anywhere from 100-110 days, depending on what day you started the last session.
Unfortunate to hear that youre experiencing it on nearly every one. Thats the same for me. I dont keep track of the # days. I may get over 90 days too, i wait for the alert but dont get it until after ive put in the expired transmitter (unknowingly). I was just referencing 90 days for the purpose of creating an expiry and allowing for a programmable, immediate alert on expiry (albeit by design). Least then the soultion wouldnt allow for expired transmitters to be loaded in as it currently does.
Let me preface by saying that I don’t mind a little extra work. With 40+ years of T1D under my belt, little glitches or inconveniences just make me come up with a way to avoid them. I also have to say that I do not use my phone as a receiver etc. (when I was working, I was on call 24/7 and we had smart phones long before they were consumer goods - ergo I am over it) Anyway, I keep a log in my user manual of the serial numbers and insertion dates of my new transmitters. I also calculate the expected expiration date. Change transmitter is on my calendar. When something does goe wrong, and I have to remove the transmitter to try it again, I find a guitar pick works the best.
