Freestyle Navigator CGM vs. Minimed CGM

Last week I got an email from my CDE:

"I was wondering if you might be coming to the program at Health Trax on 2/26 (Note: Health Trax is a gym).  If you are, I wanted to ask you to be a guinea pig for me & wear a Freestyle Navigator while walking on treadmill & exercising during the program?"

I responded a very quick "YES!" because I have heard such great things about the Freestyle Navigator and I am always up for trying something new. I am on the Minimed CGM as well, which covered (finally!) by my insurance company.

She asked me to come in to the diabetes center two days before the testing to learn how to use the Navigator and to make sure I knew about any problems that can arise while wearing it. There was a representative from Abbott there to train me properly. She first explained the entire system to me and had a demo that was connected to a sponge that I practiced injecting into to see what it was like before I put it into my own body.

My first question was if I was able to wear my Minimed CGM simultaneously with the Navigator, or if it would interfere with the transmissions. (I didn't really want to take it off because it has been working really well.) But, she said that she has worn all three CGMs out on the market today at the same time. The Freestyle Navigator, Minimed CGM and Dexcom 7. (I haven't tried a Dexcom... yet!)

I couldn't wait to get started to see the differences between my Minimed CGM and the Navigator.

She took everything out of the packaging and at first it was very intimidating because the transmitter is pretty big and it needs a large serter to inject it.

The Minimed transmitter is a little bigger than a quarter.

She asked me where I would like to inject it and I know my CDE loves me to use my arms so I tried to impress her by using my left arm . The CDE responded, "Girl Power!" which I thought was funny.

The Rep asked if I wanted to do it or if she could so I let her since it really isn't often that you can get a diabetes break. She got the serter all ready and took the tape off and stuck it on my arm and pressed the button. I heard a loud POP. Done. The "pop" actually is the scariest part because I did not feel it at all. It did not hurt one bit.

Here is front view of the Navigator

Here is a side view to see how it sticks out.

Here is the Minimed CGM

This is my first comparison:

Injecting sensors

Freestyle Navigator: Little, to no pain.

Minimed CGM: A lot of pain and bleeding after pulling out the needle almost every time. The best way to explain it is that it feels like you are getting shot. I have had to waste a bunch of sensors because there was so much bleeding.

Setting up the Receiver

Freestyle Navigator: The next part was setting up the receiver. It stores all of your data up to 60 days and it also gives you charts of what your glucose is doing.