By "best" I'm trying to find the point where price meets benefit.
I live in Georgetown, Guyana, and got diagnosed with T1D 10 years ago~ (March 26th 2002). I've been using my finger pricks all along, and that has been fine since I've achieved fair HBA1Cs off ~7%.
However I am discovering as I get older the sugars are harder to keep track of, and my time is becoming more occupied with... well, the future.
I am going to make a trip out of the country soon and will go ahead with the plan to get a CGM to improve my control.
I've been doing some reading on the DEXCOM G4 which seems incredible. What are the differences between the G4 and the 7+?
Can these be bought over the counter or do I need a prescription?
As far as i know, there are only 2 CGMs on the market. one is by medtronic and runs on a pump, which means the levels are sent to your pump and the pump displays them, so you only have one gadget for 2 abilities (pump and cgm) the other one is dexcom which has been separated from a pump so far, which means you carry around another gadget only for the cgm. but the new animas vibe has a dexcom included, but is not available everywhere (the FDA is still checking the device, in europe it is out).
from what i have heard, the dexcom is more accurate than the minimed, but minimed is releasing a new sensor (enlite enhanced) which should come out shortly and solve the problem.
at the end, you have to decide what is best for you, a combined cgm or a separate one, i am also not sure what is available in guyana at the time.
i dont know the differences between the G4 and the 7, normally cgms are prescripted so the insurance covers them. good luck
The 4 is the newer model and has been shown to be more accurate and to last longer. I have the new Medtronic sensor and have had some issues with it although I haven't given up yet. I've never used the dexcom, either model, but, if I can't get the Medtronic Enlites to work better (i.e. at least as good as the old model, as the needle is a great improvement...), I'm thinking about switching.
I used the Dexcom 7+ for years and just upgraded to the Dexcom G4. I loved the 7+ and the Dexcom G4 is even better. The G4 is much more accurate at lower BGs than the 7+. The accuracy is simply amazing. I highly recommend the G4. It is available only with a prescription.
I did use the Medtronic Guardian awhile back. It was very inaccurate and I simply stopped using it because it was worthless to me.
Once you get over the enormous amount of data, the CGM is a great tool. I don't know how I made it before my Dexcom!
Thank you Melitta! I welcome the hoards of data. I've always wondered to myself "how much better can I control if I knew my readings through out the day?". The CGM fits in perfectly.
Accuracy of sensors and how long they last will depend heavily on your specific body chemistry. Some people's body chemistry allows Medtronic accuracy on par with Dexcom but as a first-time user, I would go with the G4. In the US, you will need a scrip.
I started using the Dexcom 7+ in early 2009 and used it continuously until I switched to the G4 this summer. I am not sure the 7+ is still available, but even if it is, I would recommend the G4. I have found it equal to or better than the 7+. I have had such good luck with it I would rather give up my pump than the G4 even though I have to pay for it myself (Medicare does not cover CGM). I find that I can extend the life of the sensor by re-starting it at the end of the first 7 days. While I have had some work accurately up to 14 days, I do not use them beyond that. The average is about 10 or 11 days. You do need to use IV prep or a similar product to improve the adhesion so it will last beyond the 7 days.
I do not need a new Rx every year, just a one time approval from the doctor. But, your insurance company may have different rules. If you do not have insurance coverage, call Dexcom for guidance on how to order and shipping/cost details. Their support is very good.
I started with the Dex 7+ in 2009 and upgraded to the Dex G4 last year. I'm on my second G4 system now. I'm not sure how insurance and doctor's prescriptions are handled on an international basis. Perhaps the easiest way for you to get these questions answered are to call Dex customer service. That's how I order the system. I let them take care of all the paperwork and approvals.
I really like my Dex CGM and wear it 24/7. I feel strange if I even have to go without the data for a few hours. One thing I like to do, and I know I'm in a decided minority, is to upload all the data to the Dexcom Studio software and monitor things like standard deviation, averages (7,14, 30 & 90 day), interquartile ranges, time spent in range, and time spent below 70. The CGM is also a great way to adjust basal rates.
I can't comment on the Medtronic CGM but I can almost always get 14 days out of a Dex sensor and the accuracy seems to improve in the second week. CGM use allowed me to drop about 1% off of my A1c while also helping me spend as little as 5% of a typical day at < 70 mg/dl.
Goto the Dexcom group and read up on extending sensors. You likely need a prescription for a Dexcom system in the US. They are mailed out, so you might as well order it from home. Call the company up and find out what your options are.
The best strips I have used are the Freestyle ones, but they are expensive as heck and my insurance doesn't cover them. I'm happy with Accucheck which my insurance covers, but no way would I pay retail.
Online I found a somewhat generic Advocate Redi-Code that comes close to the Accucheck, and the strips were around $9 for 50. So if I was going out of pocket, it would either be that or possibly one of the newer Walmart/Relion generics (around $10 for 50). The Relion strips I used a couple years ago weren't as reliable as the Redi-Code, but they were still decent.
