Paradigm 722 with Real Time on the way!

[solox316]

Hi everyone! I wanted to share the good news that my insurance has approved a new Paradigm with the Real Time sensor! I should have them both in less than two weeks!

I am not sure if I will be using the BD monitor with it or not. I have used the Flash for years and now the Lite, and I love the Abbott meters... we shall see.

There are definitely many things I will miss about my Cozmo (the size not being one). I just couldn't pass up the chance to use the sensor!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

:thumbsup:

[solox316]

Ok... So I JUST got a message from my rep right after my post. It turns out that you cannot use the Paradigm Link meter while using the Real Time sensor... as they both use the RF on the pump... I guess my mind is made up, stick with the Abbott meters!

[pjams]

Many here will be envious of you (I am). What insurance company do you have?

[xMenace]

Ok... So I JUST got a message from my rep right after my post. It turns out that you cannot use the Paradigm Link meter while using the Real Time sensor... as they both use the RF on the pump... I guess my mind is made up, stick with the Abbott meters!


How odd. We can send people into space but we can't do this?

[solox316]

Many here will be envious of you (I am). What insurance company do you have?

I am a teacher here in Michigan. I am very very fortunate to still have MESSA Blue Cross, at least for one more year until we have a new contract.

[solox316]

How odd. We can send people into space but we can't do this?

You are so right... with the advancement in technology in other areas, it would seem like this could be made possible. :confused:

[JediSkipdogg]

You are so right... with the advancement in technology in other areas, it would seem like this could be made possible. :confused:

I still don't understand why there's a 2 hour "blackout" for initial calibration. You would think the receiver could accept two sensors at once and you'd just have to wear two while the new one starts up, yet you'd get readings from the old one. Common sense and simple programming code if you ask me.

[GrammyByer]

Congrats!!! I have been trying for months now to get my insurance to cover the cost of the CGM. Let us know how it works for you once you get all set up.

[jenet]

I still don't understand why there's a 2 hour "blackout" for initial calibration. You would think the receiver could accept two sensors at once and you'd just have to wear two while the new one starts up, yet you'd get readings from the old one. Common sense and simple programming code if you ask me.
You can do this part of the time with the MM CGMS - or at least with the standalone MM Guardian CGMS. I do it regularly. (And I agree about the lack of common sense and programming skills exhibited in CGMSs. I've had that discussion with my MM reps a time or two, and I saw a similar lack with the Dex. ;) )

When I'm on what will be the last day of my old sensor, I go ahead and insert a new sensor before bed. When I get up in the morning, I move the transmitter from the old sensor to the new sensor (before my shower so the new sensor is waterproofed), and tell it to start new sensor. Within 5 minutes (before I can get out of the shower if I don't wait, instead of 2 hours), it asks me for my first calibration BG. Within 10-15 minutes, the numbers start showing up on my screen.

Near the end of the three day mark (roughly an hour before it ends, sometimes sooner), I go ahead and do a "start new sensor" leaving the same sensor in, and the same thing happens. I think the key to my day 3 restart may be doing the 5-minute restart before it actually tells me the sensor has ended.

Now on day 6, it's a different story. To avoid the dreaded "day 7 weak sensor death" (something probably hard-coded in the system :( as you can still do a disconnect, reconnect and restart just fine but will have to then wait the 2 hours again), I go ahead and remove the transmitter at the end of day 6, recharge it, reconnect and do a "start new sensor" using the same sensor. Doing the day 6 disconnect/recharge/reconnect/restart, I do have to wait the 2 hours, but I do at least avoid all the nonsense about weak sensors. Because I had heard about the "day 7" issue, I've never tried restarting on day 6 without the disconnect/recharge/reconnect. (It's also supposed to preserve the life of the transmitter by recharging more frequently than 14 days.)

For the initial insert, day 3 and day 9, I do the early insert/early start and don't have to wait 2 hours. On day 6, I do the recharge/reconnect/start, which does make me wait 2 hours. I think I still haven't made it past day 12 with the same sensor as my "isig" is too low by then (the raw chem reaction number), but I'm thinking it would probably be about the same as day 6. (If I have made it past day 12, it happens so rarely that I don't remember it.)

cheers,
j

[JediSkipdogg]

For the initial insert, day 3 and day 9, I do the early insert/early start and don't have to wait 2 hours. On day 6, I do the recharge/reconnect/start, which does make me wait 2 hours. I think I still haven't made it past day 12 with the same sensor as my "isig" is too low by then (the raw chem reaction number), but I'm thinking it would probably be about the same as day 6. (If I have made it past day 12, it happens so rarely that I don't remember it.)

cheers,
j

What I don't understand is why you don't have a 2 hour on the initial sensor? If you didn't have the transmitter connected and ONLY the sensor in, how does it know it was in overnight? And then why doesn't it work on day 6? I guess that just puzzles me.

[jjames]

I am a teacher here in Michigan. I am very very fortunate to still have MESSA Blue Cross, at least for one more year until we have a new contract.
Teacher? Michigan? Fortunate to have a job! (hehe - JOKING!!)

That's awesome news though! Happy for you. I'm hoping to recieve my pump in a week or two, though we're not sure on the RealTime system, the insurance company didn't deny it, but they didn't approve it. They want more information from my doctor; the insurance company's parent company approves them, so I'm guessing in the end I'll be approved for it too.

[Funnygrl]

Is your Cozmo in warranty? I just applied to get a Paradigm today cause I want a CGMS. My Cozmo is in warranty though, so I'm not sure how much luck I'll have. PS, the 722 is almost identical in size to the Cozmo. If I'm approved, I'm getting a 522.

[solox316]

Is your Cozmo in warranty?

Yes, barely. It is out of warranty in two months. The insurance specialist at Medtronic said it was close enough... Maybe that is my particular insurance company's leniency though.

I imagine the 722 has to be slightly thinner at least... I despise how thick the Cozmo is, especially with the meter.

I wish I could get a 522, I take just barely too much insulin... ~70 units/day.

Teacher? Michigan? Fortunate to have a job! (hehe - JOKING!!)

You don't have to be joking! I am very fortunate to have a job! I have too much friends that have left Michigan to find a teaching job elsewhere... I was in the right place at the right time to get my interview a few years back...

You can do this part of the time with the MM CGMS...

Thanks! I am sure that will make more sense to me when I actually get started... I am going to save what your wrote to refer to when I get going! -sw

[JediSkipdogg]

Is your Cozmo in warranty? I just applied to get a Paradigm today cause I want a CGMS. My Cozmo is in warranty though, so I'm not sure how much luck I'll have. PS, the 722 is almost identical in size to the Cozmo. If I'm approved, I'm getting a 522.

If you have different insurance warranty won't matter at all. They won't know the warranty of the pump you currently have.

[Funnygrl]

If you have different insurance warranty won't matter at all. They won't know the warranty of the pump you currently have.
I'm hoping that's the case. If it is, I should have a new 522 in a few weeks.

[NoelD]

Jenet, your sensor/transmitter routine sounds just about like mine. Works like a charm. The most I've gotten so far is 17 days from one sensor. Now, I just do 2 weeks normally.

[evil636]

mabey this will give you an idea as to how thin the 722 is
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i163/evil636/misc%20pics/DSC00549.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i163/evil636/misc%20pics/DSC00548.jpg

[Gary R T]

I have been using a DexCom System Seven CGMS for two weeks, and really like it. I pump using an Animas IR 1250. I'm hoping to wait for the Animas CGMS (don't know how long that will take). CGMS is the way to go!

[solox316]

Got my phone call today. My paradigm will be on my doorstep tomorrow! I will be waiting to use it though til after my hawaii vacation. By then the RTS kit should be here too! With my TWO loaner pumps from Smith's I got this week, I am on pump overload! Maybe I should pull the ol' 507c out of the dresser drawer too!

[Dewey]

Got my phone call today. My paradigm will be on my doorstep tomorrow! I will be waiting to use it though til after my hawaii vacation. By then the RTS kit should be here too! With my TWO loaner pumps from Smith's I got this week, I am on pump overload! Maybe I should pull the ol' 507c out of the dresser drawer too!
LOL @ pump overload! I know what you mean there! :D Please keep us posted on how everything goes & congrats to you on your new pump! :thumbsup:

[solox316]

Ok, so I missed myh first pump deliver this morning, by like 5 minutes... Stupid filling came out at the Dentist yesterday, so I was back getting it fixed.

I called UPS and it was early enough in the day, he came back out to the house, which I thought was pretty cool!

Now... here I am , looking at the unopened box... per suggestion to wait until 1. after my vacation... 2. insurance has paid. I swear the box in taunting me to open it up!! It is all ready to go too, new sets and everything!!!

[solox316]

It turns out that you cannot use the Paradigm Link meter while using the Real Time sensor... as they both use the RF on the pump...!

Well, I seem to have been misinformed. While using the sensor, the Paradigm Link meter will still send your readings to the pump. Good thing too, considering how accurate that meter is turning out to be!!!! (SARCASM) :cool:

[duck]

Well, I seem to have been misinformed. While using the sensor, the Paradigm Link meter will still send your readings to the pump. Good thing too, considering how accurate that meter is turning out to be!!!! (SARCASM) :cool:

All three of my meters seem to jive with my Freestyle and the control solutions, so I guess I got lucky?

And yeah, turn that Link off when using the RTS--I need to get it straight with MM as to why, but you're not supposed to calibrate more than four times a day, and with that doggone Link turned on, you can do four in like a few hours!

[solox316]

Ahhh... that would explain more of my variance today, having each reading count as a calibration. I swear I read that it wouldn't mark is as a calibration unless you told it to... but... looking in the sensor update history, they are all there! Hopefully I will have more luck on day two.

Besides, I totally underbolused all the free samples they were giving away at Costco today... they were just too darn good to pass up!