[gield]

The other day I was looking at the web site Diabetes News and I came upon an article about Continuous Glucose Monitors. Wow! Why aren't people talking about this?? Shouldn't this have made the front page of newspapers the way that (in my opinion) moronic inhalable insulin did?? I would love to get one. If I could get a device that vibrated when my BG went under 80 or over 190 that could change my life. I don't want to get a pump though.

From what I can gather there are 3 CGMs on the market. See this link.

Compare continuous glucose monitors

I would love to hear from people who have used these things and get some information about which of these is the best. A part of me wonders if buying diabetes technology that is so new might be the equivalent foolishness of buying the 10 gigabyte ipod 5 years ago. Please send me some info. I hear so little buzz about this device I wonder if maybe I am not understanding what it is correctly.

[DeusXM]

Has been discussed numerous times before here. Unfortunately, CGMS technology is still very, very much in its infancy. Not only do the equipment and pads cost a fortune, they're still not that accurate - you usually have to calibrate them every 12 hours or so with a regular blood test.

[spike]

We have been discussing CGMS's at length, in depth, for quite some time. If you search the archives you'll find plenty on the subject. The only thing of possible import on the horizon is the Navigator, which some of us are eager to see come to market. It might turn out to be as undesirable as the other 2 major players in this nascent field.

[JediSkipdogg]

It's one of those devices that can be very good or very bad to a person. Here's a few of each...

Delayed Numbers - The readings from the machine are generally delayed at least 10 minutes. The machine takes a reading every 5 minutes, therefore your numbers can be off if you are in the middle of a fast spike or drop.

Accuracy - The devices are only 40% accurate. Many times they are dead on, but it you are rapidly chaning, say from drinking OJ or running 10 miles, you could be pretty far off. This device is really 20% accurate, but that's 20% added on top of the BG meter you choose. And to make the device more accurate you MUST calibrate while your BG is steady, so preferable about 4 hours after your last meal and insulin dose so that your BG isn't changing.

Fingerstick Confirmations - Since you still have to do two fingersticks a day, and then numerous fingeresticks everytime you eat, you really don't save anything in terms of BG strips. The only people that save are the ones that test randomly throughout the day. You can't do any diabetes corrective action based on the device numbers.

False Alarms - Even if you set the alarm to go off at 80, you may not be 79. Some users have experienced it going off and they are still running 120 with no reason for it to have gone off. The biggest complaint is false alarms at night. Say you have it set for 80 and it goes off that you are running 59. Firstly, you have to wonder how you dropped 21 points in 5 minutes for it to not go off previously. Then, once you test with a fingerstick and confirm the 59, you take something like OJ. Well, you have to wait till your BG goes above the 80 or it will alarm at EVERY reading after that. And since the device has about a 10 minute delay, that could be sometimes upwards of 30 minutes that now you have the alarm continually going off.

Sensor Wear - If you are a pump user, you know about about these. And some people have a hard time with pump canulas and finding spots, now you have twice as much of a problem finding them. CUrrently, they can only be worn 3 days, however, Dexcom has discovered in a clinical study that 7 day wear is fine. However, if you keep it in 7 days on a pump most likely you may insert an infusion site near it, well, NO insulin can touch the sensor or it throws the numbers off. So now there's a harder time finding locations.


Money Money Money - You must pay for this. Some people are fighting insurance companies to pay, but there really isn't a benefit to them for insurance yet. Some say it will lesson complications. Well, we have numerous members on here that have had diabetes for 40+ years and they have ZERO complications and they were around before BG meters even existed. So, obviously current treatment methods are working. Also, in all 3 current devices out there, you have to replace the transmitter about every 6-12 months. For the Dexcom, that applies to the receiver as well. Because all of those units use rechargeable batteries that are non-user replaceable. They went with totally sealing the units to allow the devices to get wet, although, for the Dexcom they still recommend a shower patch. So, there's another cost insurance companies don't want. Sensors are currently $35 for 3 days of use and the transmitters/recievers go from $250-$750.

Trends - Now, there is ONE useful purpose to them. They can track trends in blood sugars. You can find out how long that slice of pizza will stay in your system. Or you can see how high you go with a bowl of ice cream. But for using it for exact numbers, one can't do that.


JEDI NOTE: Keep in mind those problems don't effect everyone. So take them as you may, however, those are the biggest complaints/problems so far with the devices. Remember, it's a first generation product, so they aren't recommended by me yet, but maybe when the next phase comes out, I'll see the light.

[Cyborg]

I returned my Dexcom, but I am anxiously waiting for the next line of more accurate CGMS devices. Perhaps, with FDA approval to replace fingerstick for dosing insulin.

[Twister212]

He he.

And as some posters know, I LOVE my Dexcom. I find it to be lifechanging. If you want to hear the positives, search on my user name. I think the more negative posters are completely wrong. The question isn't whether the devices could be better, or if they are perfect, the question is, do they lower your HBA1Cs and reduce hypo/hyper-glycemic incidents. If I had one or two hypo's per day previously, now I have one a week. Perfect? No. Significant improvement in quality of life? Yes.

Bottom line, unfortunately, is that these meters aren't cheap or covered by insurance, so you have to be prepared to put cash on the barrel for a product that isn't yet perfect. By the way, this is not "first generation" technology. I used the minimed CGMS gold and own a Glucowatch. THESE...were first gen products. Maybe that is why I like my Dex. I have been a user of the earlier technology and know how much better it has gotten (and I know it will get much better still).