CGMS now I am worried, anything posative?

[willie4004]

I posted a thread a couple of days ago about the CGMS accuracy and was a little startled. There was some pretty disappointing feedback. I was just wondering if anyone is for the device? They would not keep selling it if it did not work, right. I know there will always be some times when it may not be close but does it work well most of the time and sometimes just way off? That I can live with. It seems some feedback is that it is a terrible hoax. I sure hope that is not the case. I may be overreacting but i went through all the trouble to start pumping and now I am having second thoughts.

:eek: :eek: :confused:

[Coppernob]

Hey Bob, firstly you can be on the pump without the CGMS as I was for 6 years. Being on the pump greatly helped my overall control - it is more natural for the body to receive insulin via pump, more like the output of the pancreas than insulin shots.
Secondly, I like the CGMS - I have been using it for about 2 months now. Sometimes the BG values are not accurate but for the most part are within the right area. My reasons for liking it are these:
1. It lets me see if my BG is rising or falling rapidly
2. It lets me know in the night when I am going low (or high) and I can correct - I admit that sometimes I keep turning the alarm off in my sleep and then end up in trouble but usually I pay attention or my husband alerts me.
3. I can see the effect of different foods on my blood sugar - this is very valuable because I can then adjust appropriately next time I have a certain food.
I am still learning but so far the positives outweigh the negatives for me. This is just my experience - everyone is different. Hope this helps you.

[Penny]

Hi Willie. :) I do not pump, so don't know anything about this, but thought I would respond until some of our people who use this device sign in. If you do a search, you will see there are quite a few discussion on the CGMS.

[Dewey]

Hi Bob & welcome to the forums...while No CGMS (or meter, for that matter) is 100% accurate 100% of the time, CGMS systems do a great job in helping to catch highs before they get out of hand & lows before they do, too. I don't know who gave the impression that CGMS are that bad, but I will say that they've come a long way since I trialed the old MiniMed one, and that was several years ago.

The one I have now is the MM Guardian standalone system, and I'm very pleased with it. It tells me when my sugars are getting too high or too low, and I'm able to catch & treat before I get out of control (and before I wind up in a "911" situation). It's been extremely helpful to me! Granted, I still use a meter to confirm my BG readings, but I Love the system & feel that it's been very helpful.

Not everyone has had good experiences with the CGMS, and not everyone will...it's an individual thing & each of our bodies react differently to treatments & things like the CGMS.

As with everything else, what works for one, may or may not work for others. I hope that nobody will let you get discouraged, as the only way to know for sure (whether or not the CGMS will be right for you), is to try it for yourself. Here's hoping your experiences will be good, like mine, and that you'll find the CGMS to be a helpful tool in managing your Diabetes.

[RobiJo]

I love the CGMS. I find it fairly accurate most of the time. While it may be a little longer for more insurance companies to cover it, I think that the systems are a step in the right direction.

[duck]

If you tried to take my CGMS from me, I'd shoot ya and not think twice about it. How's that for an endorsement?

:D

[Keezheekoni]

If you tried to take my CGMS from me, I'd shoot ya and not think twice about it. How's that for an endorsement?

:D

I agree wholeheartedly. :D

Of course the massive blood spurt after taking the needle out of a new sensor this morning was quite shocking! :T It's working well though, so I'm not gonna complain...

[willie4004]

thanks fior all the encouragement

[RobiJo]

Here is part of a report you can look at. It gives all kinds of data that you can't get from just testing. There's another part that does a pie graph of how much time you spend on target, above target, below target. You can set the low and high range as well. Mine is 70-140 as shown on the graph.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc201/robi1214/sensordata.jpg

[JediSkipdogg]

Think of it like this...

Glucose meters were not created till 1980. After that it wasn't until I'd say till the early 1990s that they were widely used.

In 1983 the first mainstream insulin pump came out. Not till I'd say 1995 or later did pumps really pick up.

Now CGM devices weren't around till 2006. I find it odd that of all items it appears diabetes want CGM devices more than they wanted BG testing and pumps.

Therefore, take that how you want. Keep in mind with the above I'm saying that BG meters, pumps, and CGM was used by home users on a consumer basis and not by doctor's office usage or some other means. I just wanted to throw that out there.

[Funnygrl]

Here's the CGMS section of my blog (http://www.diabetesdaily.com/blogs/fadingtogray/diabetes/cgms/index.php), where I wrote a lot about my experiences.

[RobiJo]

Here's the CGMS section of my blog (http://www.diabetesdaily.com/blogs/fadingtogray/diabetes/cgms/index.php), where I wrote a lot about my experiences.

Your blog is great. It really shows how your thoughts/feelings changed as you got used to and more comfortable with the sensor.

I always keep pressure on a new sensor insertion for about 10 seconds then remove the needle and keep pressure on for 2-3 minutes and I then I don't get bloody backflow.

[someone]

I'm pretty happy with it. I have found that most issues I have experienced were related to doing things such as not standing up when inserting the sensor. Believe it or not, sitting while you insert a sensor can determine whether or not it works properly. When it is working right, I find it to be within 10 points of what my meter says.

[Lizzy]

I have been using the Dexcom 7 since 2/15/08 and for me it is great. I rate it right up there with my pump for helping to get better control. With my first sensor I was getting terrible numbers. After calling tech support and being told to calibrate 4-5 times a day I now match very close to my meter. For example, this morning I tested at 93 and my Dexcom showed 92. It has saved me from some bad lows and is helping me to adjust my pump settings better. Now if my insurance would start covering it that would be even better!

[belyro]

I started on the CGMS 2 weeks ago, and I LOVE it!!

Some people love it and some people don't, but as with a lot of things, I think the people who don't love it tend to write more about it than the people who do. There are a number of us out here (as you see now) who really are very happy with the CGMS. I pay out-of-pocket for mine, so I think that says a lot - if I'm willing to pay $50 each of my own money, they must be pretty good :) It's definitely worth a try.

[GretchO]

I too read a lot of negatives about the sensors when I first joined this forum and thought there might be something wrong with me for liking it so much. I think it's something that may take a while to get used to, but I'll second everyone else's endorsements here and say I think it's been great in combination with the pump for helping to get some really great control...it's helped me with setting basal rates, alarming for lows at night (well, that's annoying but better than waking up not knowing where I am).

The University I work for switched insurance carriers at the beginning of the year and it took them 5 months to decide whether they'd cover them (they will) - the previous insurance company did. While we were up in the air about coverage I decided I'd pay out-of-pocket for them if I had to.

[turtlea]

CGMS a hoax, Sensor Accuracy dreadful. Can't be more active or flexible food


Turtlea

[steamfan261]

CGMS a hoax, Sensor Accuracy dreadful. Can't be more active or flexible food
Turtlea

Sorry, bubba, but my CGMS tracks quite nicely with my meter, and has been of enormous benefit to me. Not a hoax. Not quite sure why you think there's a connection to being more active or having "flexible food".