[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Cyborg, did you read the link I posted?

Still reading through the article, it is very interesting. I did come across one statement that I'm curious about:

"A few minutes after calibrating the new test, Dexcom alerted, once again, this time asking to remove the sensor. Frustrated at my lack of sleep, the inaccurate results, and the waste of a new sensor, I looked at the nine hour trend graph to look for an explanation".

I wonder if Dexcom has modified their unit. Both of the units I had were incapable of showing graph data after a bad sensor or bad receiver alarm.

[koblenz]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I just found a very very very interesting article by someone using a Dexcom. I HIGHLY encourage EVERYONE to read it before buying one...

http://www.insulinfactor.com/article_dexcom.html

The user of it

Ah ha ha ha ha ha... this is my local Cozmo Rep. He is the one that came to my office and gave me my pump demo when I was pump shopping. Real nice guy. Pretty sharp.

[Rick Stockton]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I find the part about Lifescan and their meters interesting. I just wonder why it won't accept Ultrasmart readings. However, if it accepted Ultra 2 readings, I would somewhat consider it more.

The UltraSmart sends it's data uses a different communications protocol. (Of course: there are a lot more categories of data to send.) I asked J&J via Email on Friday if the Ultra-2 matches the original Ultra, or the UltraSmart, or neither.

I expect that it matches neither. To the extent that it's going to send "extra" data, it'll adding properties and values like the UltraSmart... but not as many of them. So it'll be more like UltraSmart than Ultra, which just has data pairs [date-time] bG-value, [date-time] bG-value,..., but it will be "missing" lots of data categories and values which the UltraSmart provides.

If J&J plans to discontinu the OLD Ultra completely, then Dexcom better buy up a slew of 'em before they disappear from drugstore shelves. And so will I

[Rick Stockton]

Originally Posted by jen_slc

...The only cable that came with it connects the receiver to the Ultra for calibration..... The only connection I can see on the Dexcom receiver is what looks like a 12-point slit of metal that pops into one end of the cable, kind of like what cell phone charger connections look like except the cell phone connection has more points to it.

Well, there's the identical connector from the 3V DC charger... so we know for sure what two of those pins are about (+3V and Ground, no idea WHICH ones). But as for the other 10, who knows? Raise +5V on this one to reprogram it on these other ones; command pins here; data pins there; extra grounds, unused ????

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Rick Stockton

Well, there's the identical connector from the 3V DC charger... so we know for sure what two of those pins are about (+3V and Ground, no idea WHICH ones). But as for the other 10, who knows? Raise +5V on this one to reprogram it on these other ones; command pins here; data pins there; extra grounds, unused ????

A computer option is coming. Just not available now, so most likely that's what those extra pins are for.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

A computer option is coming. Just not available now, so most likely that's what those extra pins are for.

I believe J&J has plans for their own competing product.

[jen_slc]

Alright, the DexCom state rep called me this morning to check in with me and see how I was doing. Here's the deal: software is not available for the end-user yet. At this point the software is licensed only for clinicians. So yes, they will be able to download all of my data when I go back on Thursday. That's good. There will be plenty of graphs and trend analyses, etc. Here's the not-so-great part: currently there is no way to extract the raw data, as in no way to get all bg readings over the 72-hour period in a log format. The rep told me this feature will be added since they've had multiple requests for that from clinicians already. You'd think that'd be one of the first capabilities they'd think of adding when building this thing.

Anyway, at least I will have something Thursday. And I'm trying to record my 2nd sensor readings every half hour. The first sensor's data looks pretty good right now, I'll try to get some posted soon.

[JediSkipdogg]

Thanks Jen....have you tried exercising at all yet with it on? I'm just curious how exercise affects it. I know some that have used it said when you start to sweat, the sensor misreads and gives you bogus readings. I'm just trying to see from a personal perspective if that's true.

[jen_slc]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Thanks Jen....have you tried exercising at all yet with it on? I'm just curious how exercise affects it. I know some that have used it said when you start to sweat, the sensor misreads and gives you bogus readings. I'm just trying to see from a personal perspective if that's true.

Yeah, I read that blog you posted earlier... I am going to exercise tonight and push it hard so will let you know. Wait, I forgot, I can't. I did do my yoga on Sunday morning and that was a sweat-fest but I wasn't wearing the device because I broke the belt clip Thursday night at kickboxing. Oops! hehehe. Maybe I'll put it in a fanny pack and wear it, otherwise it'll be next to me on the floor while exercising.

[jen_slc]

LOL, ok, that was stupid and I just realized this is a sensor-in-the-skin/sweat issue and not a receiver-on-the-belt/sweat issue. Dur. Think my bg is dropping. Anyway, I will see how it goes tonight but for what it's worth, my sweaty Sunday yoga session didn't cause any problems and yes I could feel the sweat running around it.

[Tim_Roy]

Suggestion: Use the Ultra while you're on the Dexcomm. Then you can synch up the results even when you're not calibrating. I can't be sure, but it seemed to clear up the occasional issues when I did that.

My experience on the DexCom was very positive, after a rather rough start (had some problems with the meter itself we thought were bad sensors).

Without having been on it my sugars would likely STILL Be all over the place. Not only did this thing teach me LOTS about how my body reacts to food and insulin, it helped me win a long-running debate I've had with a certain member of my care team about my bolus-vs-basal needs.

Are you borrowing your doctor's or is this your own meter? My doctor has three that they lend out. We just pay for the sensors.

[jen_slc]

Originally Posted by Tim_Roy

Suggestion: Use the Ultra while you're on the Dexcomm. Then you can synch up the results even when you're not calibrating. I can't be sure, but it seemed to clear up the occasional issues when I did that.

My experience on the DexCom was very positive, after a rather rough start (had some problems with the meter itself we thought were bad sensors).

Without having been on it my sugars would likely STILL Be all over the place. Not only did this thing teach me LOTS about how my body reacts to food and insulin, it helped me win a long-running debate I've had with a certain member of my care team about my bolus-vs-basal needs.

Are you borrowing your doctor's or is this your own meter? My doctor has three that they lend out. We just pay for the sensors.

Yeah, after I spoke with the rep on Monday he suggested switching to the Ultra for my second sensor trial, which is what I did. The data I've posted in the monitoring section from the first sensor is UltraSmart readings and I will post the second sensor's data with the Ultra readings there soon too. I just don't like the Ultra! My doc lent me the Ultra and I haven't had to pay for anything. I have no doubt this information is incredibly useful and will help my doc sort things out with me. A lot of the problems I noticed during the time on the sensor I already knew about and this just confirmed, but it will be good for my doc to see it.