CGM set up - yipee!!!

GrammyByer · #1 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 05:42 PM

Well, yesterday I met with my diabetes educator and the medtronic rep from Albany AND I am now hooked up to the CGM. It seems to be working fine thus far. I have the low alarm set for 90 at present for a few reasons. One - I am very, very hypounaware. I really don't feel low until my BS drops into the 30s. There have been many episodes where I have not been able to treat myself and thank god for my husband. Then after treatment, the BS skyrockets up into the 200s because of the treatment and the old liver rebound. The hope is that the CGM will alert me on the way down and I can catch it before it bottoms out. Two - There is a 20% chance of variance in the reading from a finger stick and the r3eading from the monitor. This can be either lower or higher. So my DE wants to make sure that the low glucose alarm on my pump is set high at first to make sure i catch myself if I am on the way down.

The really neat thing about the sensor is that it can be uploaded onto the medtronic care link and then you can get lots of good info - trends, daily or weekly glucose graphs, insulin basals and boluses, etc.

This is a really big relief to me because I am now not so concerned that I will slip into a bad low and if my husband is not around, i will not be able to help myself.

So, YIPEE!!!!!

RobiJo · #2 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 05:55 PM

There are a couple of threads in the Monitoring section with others' experiences and advice using the CGMS.

I agree, it's pretty neat. My readings are almost always within that 20% range. (Usually closer than that)

kgm0612 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 05:26 AM

Good luck with the CGMS!

Karen

Richard157 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 06:51 AM

Hello Linda, I am so pleased to hear that you have a CGM!!!!! That is wonderful! It should make such a big difference in your life and give both you and your husband a sense of security. I hope it works like you want it to. Good luck to you!

Richard

palefacegirl03 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 07:33 AM

That's just great,Linda

iDream · #6 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 12:16 PM

The GCM is VERY slow when it comes to going low quick/going up. You will learn this through your own experiences soon enough. Overall, I love it.

shockme · #7 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 02:13 PM

that's great,linda! keep us posted....trish

Alice · #8 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 02:49 PM

idream, do you mean that it is "slow" to report quick drops? I'm hearing that some people find them accurate...others not. I love to hear feedback on the accuracy. Overall, I know they are a great tool.

someone · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

idream, do you mean that it is "slow" to report quick drops? I'm hearing that some people find them accurate...others not. I love to hear feedback on the accuracy. Overall, I know they are a great tool.

The longer you wear the sensor, the faster it will reflect rapid spikes/drops.

Are all these new CGMS users the reason my sensors have been back ordered for almost 3 weeks? :P I miss mine.

iDream · #10 (**permalink**) 09-30-2007, 12:15 AM

Mine was on backorder for 3 months until I got it.
By slow I mean, its 10-15 minutes (give or take) behind a finger prick for me currently. For example: GCM says 80....I've gotten readings in the 60's. The arrows down/up do give a general idea if its going up or down rapidly. As someone mentioned, it gets better with time.....overall it is very accurate outside of the dropping/upping. enjoy.

KEVIN88GT · #11 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007, 09:08 PM

iDream tht doesn't make any sense... I thought they take readings ever 5 minutes... so wont it be AT most only 5 minutes behind?

And when you say it gets better with time... do you mean with EACH individual sensor? Like over a 3-4 day period and then you start from scratch again as far as sensitivity?

someone · #12 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVIN88GT

iDream tht doesn't make any sense... I thought they take readings ever 5 minutes... so wont it be AT most only 5 minutes behind?

And when you say it gets better with time... do you mean with EACH individual sensor? Like over a 3-4 day period and then you start from scratch again as far as sensitivity?

They give readings every 5 minutes, but it is a little slow picking up rapid glucose changes. And yes, it starts "from scratch" each time you put in a new sensor. This varies a lot from sensor to sensor.

KEVIN88GT · #13 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007, 04:30 PM

I have the 7 series minimed pump... anyone using the minimed continuous BG monitor?
-Is the process of inserting it as painfull/painless as the pump site?
-Is there something like a quickserter for it?
-Where do you put it....I have my site mostly on buttox area...closer to the waist...or the love handle areas.