Josh wore a version of the Medtronic CGMS Gold and we would not recommend this particular model. The sensor and monitor were attached by a wire and could not be detached. The monitor was big and cumbersome and the sensor was uncomfortable, but Josh stuck with it. I am not above bribery as a motivatin...
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Untitled Comment
Allison Blass
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 05:08 PM
You should definitely try the latest version of Minimed's CGM! I'm surprised they even let people use that old, stinky model. I'm on the new Minimed CGM and I love it! Although the numbers are not always spot-on, and when I'm falling fast, the CGM can be slow to catch on just *how* low I am, I have been able to catch several lows because I can monitor the arrows while exercising and I can see if I'm dropping and if quickly. Usually when I get 2 arrows, I am much lower than what the CGM says I am but I have been able to prevent the lows simply by looking at the CGM which is way easier than testing several times in half an hour.
In addition to always being able to see the numbers, you only have 1 gadget (as opposed to DexCom and Navigator, which requires you to have an additional receiver), which is your pump. Hopefully you'll get a chance to try it out, if that's something you're interested in.
-Allison Blass
www.lemonade-life.com
re: Untitled Comment
Kim Benjet
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 06:32 PM
Thanks Allison. I appreciate your comment and I'm glad you are doing well with the Minimed CGM. Josh may ultimately choose to wear a CGM.
For now the info we found from the 5 day trial has resulted in greatly improved blood sugars. There is one final blog to this series that will go up later this week I believe. Our use of the CGM was really for intensive blood sugar pattern management and we found it really useful to look at all the factors that contribute to blood sugar along with the CGM data (exercise, food, stress). As much as I wanted to see the data in realtime, it was useful to look at it graphically over five days and then make changes to his insulin regimen.
I think CGM are going to become more and more the "norm" for intensive diabetes treatment.
Kim
You should definitely try the latest version of Minimed's CGM! I'm surprised they even let people use that old, stinky model. I'm on the new Minimed CGM and I love it! Although the numbers are not always spot-on, and when I'm falling fast, the CGM can be slow to catch on just *how* low I am, I have been able to catch several lows because I can monitor the arrows while exercising and I can see if I'm dropping and if quickly. Usually when I get 2 arrows, I am much lower than what the CGM says I am but I have been able to prevent the lows simply by looking at the CGM which is way easier than testing several times in half an hour.
In addition to always being able to see the numbers, you only have 1 gadget (as opposed to DexCom and Navigator, which requires you to have an additional receiver), which is your pump. Hopefully you'll get a chance to try it out, if that's something you're interested in.
-Allison Blass
www.lemonade-life.com