“Mom, you have a new beep!”
— my 13-year-old, apparently discovering my new CGM
I am back on the Dexcom (!), and feeling the truth behind the saying, ‘third time’s a charm.’ I all but swore off continuous glucose monitoring systems more than a year ago after stints trying all three on the market (Dexcom, Medtronic Guardian, Abbott Navigator), in which the discomfort and inconvenience seemed to clearly outweigh the benefits.
But as you all know, I’ve been stumbling through a really rough patch with this demanding disease, and frustrated as heck, so willing to try just about anything to jumpstart better BG control.
To make a long story short, I ran into Dexcom’s Northern California rep at the recent TCOYD conference here in Santa Rosa, and she convinced me to give it another go, for better or worse. She fitted me with a new trial system ten days ago, complete with pretty pink plastic cover (which picks up a lot of lint, btw).
Suddenly, I’m almost as excited about wearing a CGM as I was five years ago, when I was one of the first patients ever to wear Dexcom’s first-generation product, the very first continuous glucose monitor ever out of the gate at the FDA.
Here’s what I’m finding great about this ‘more mature’ system so far:
Physical comfort
Maybe I just got lucky with my first two sites, but I sure remember the sensor insertion and daily wear being a lot more ouchy. So far, I haven’t felt one bit of discomfort with this thing. Here I must note that the Dexcom was always the most comfortable of the three if you ask me: the Guardian has that nasty long-needle inserter and shell-shaped sensor that dangles and pulls on things if you don’t cover it with an oversized adhesive patch. Grrr. And the Navigator sensor is rather large, with that terrible awful plastic-latex adhesive backing that made me break out, captured moisture inside, and then made me break out more. Double grrr.
If the Dexcom Seven continues to be this comfortable to wear, I may not be giving it back unless they pry it out of my cold, dead hands (so to speak) — because site soreness and associated suffering was the main thing holding me back from using a CGM again.
Ease of Calibration
All the older models I used required either synching up two devices via special cable, testing with an extra fingerstick meter model I didn’t like, and/or fussing with confusing and time-consuming input screens. No more! I absolutely love how easy it is to plug your numbers into the Seven. That’s what it feels like, in fact, just plugging in a number now and then, rather than some complex process of “calibration” (why do I hate that word?)
All you have to do is scroll up or down on a nice large-print screen that displays the current reading, and you’re there. The system also reminds you — but not too often — with a nice, clear intuitive message that it’s time to punch another number in:
Accuracy!
I’m kinda blown away, to be honest. Back in the day (a few years ago is ancient history in the CGM world), these systems were lucky to be anywhere in the neighborhood of your current results from your fingerstick meter. That huge lag time was so frustrating. The combo of that and discomfort is what turned me off.
But check this out:
It doesn’t happen like this all the time, of course, but so far been not more than 15ish points off, which I consider AMAZING.
Gear Overload
In short, I’ve become a big fan of the Dexcom 7. What I dislike most about wearing it has nothing to do with the particular model: it’s just a pain having yet another gadget to carry around and keep track of — especially one that needs to stay close to my body or it goes “out of range” and is rendered useless.
I keep it in my purse, but keep walking upstairs or downstairs or down a hallway and forgetting about it. Grrr once more. And here’s yet another charger to worry about!
While visiting with some colleagues at Alliance Health in Salt Lake City last week, I lifted up my shirt to show them my “double-gear” (OmniPod + Dexcom 7 sensor). You should have heard the gasps in the room! Funny how at the moment, I seem to be more aggravated by the parts that are not adhered to my skin…
Anyone with me on that?
I know I’m not the only person waiting for the FDA to approve the OmniPod/Dexcom and Animas/Dexcom integration. I can see myself holding onto my Cozmo pump past its warranty date until one or both of these happens.
Some other issues with the Dexcom that I’m hoping they’ve fixed in their 4th generation device.
1. Unnecessary alarms. If looked at the display in the last 2 minutes, I already know what’s happening. Don’t alarm unless the values are changing quickly. I’m annoyed when this happens at night and I’ve just fallen back to sleep.
2. Alarm customization. I’ll get used to any alarm if I can’t change it. It’s a lot easier for me to sleep through the alarm, even with the receiver in bed right beside my head. Let me customize the alarm sound, not just the volume.
3. Let me scroll back a la Medtronic, so I can actually read the values from two hours ago, not just guesstimate then from the graph.
4. Please use a standard mini USB connection for charging and syncing with the computer. That’ll make it much easier to charge and I won’t need yet another cable when I’ve got many, many USB cables lying round the house.
5. Please develop smoother skins. The current ones are really hard to get into and out of my jeans pocket.
Have fun Amy, I’ll generally get 10-12 days out of a sensor with accuracy only dropping off in the last 24 hours.
I like my MM because I like being able to see where I’ve been in the last 24 hours, and I’ve gotten to know its idiosyncrasies — it’s almost always 20 – 30 mg/dl lower than I actually am, so I just take that into account. I don’t mind the tegaderm I use to keep it flat, and the next generation, the Enlite, will have an adhesive to tape it down built in. I love the fact that it coordinates with the pump, so I don’t have to drag around another gadget — for me the less diabetes junk I have to cart around, the better!
I do think that if we wait long enough, CGMs will get better, but I sure like this better than testing 12 times a day!
Can you take the rubber cover off? Seems like a pain. Then you can keep it in a spibelt when you’re not dressed up. My 8 yr old wears her pump in a spibelt 24-7 and doesn’t even notice it.
I’m glad you like it. I read that guys book that was on your site all about cgm and it was really helpful.
The current PLUS does not resemble the original STS, it is that much better.
I think it should take borrow a page from MM and allow different high/low targets for different times of day. It would also be nice but not essential if it could save readings when the receiver is out of range.
We’re warming up to Dex over here too! It’s like a dramatic love affair sometimes…fortunately the good times outweigh the bad
I l ove my Dex as well, all except for the ??? issue. Basically, when ??? appear, the device stops working. I know that it is trying to “understand” what the sensor is sending and is a “normal” part of the system. So, from a technical standpoint, the system is still working normally.
However, from a patient standpoint it is not. It does not know what your levels are and cannot alert someone who suffers from hypoglycemic unawareness to extremely dangerous lows in the middle of the night (or any other time).
You may say, well that is just how it is. And that is true and honestly, that is not the dangerous part for the patient.
The part that puts the patient in danger is that is does NOT sound an alarm to let the patient that it is no longer functioning properly.
But I still love the damn thing…
I just finished a 7 day trial and I’m trying to get my order placed for a new Seven system today! I was impressed by the accurace and comfort and I’m anxiously awaiting the future integration with the Animas pump. I also agree with the comments above regarding continual alarms when low and the use of a common charger like mini-USB.
I’ve had similar good results with the Dex 7+ since August 2010. I credit it for helping get my A1c down from 7.6 to 6.9 in a few months…but the number of devices: Animas Ping and Dex receiver, not to mention phone and sometimes Ipod leaves me spinning. And yes, the mentioned improvements get my “yes please” too.
Thanks, Amy, for sharing your experience. I was also at the Santa Rosa TCOYD, and spent a lot of time asking questions at the Dexcom booth! I had tried the Medtronic Guardian, but it was so wildly inaccurate I just gave up on it. Next up for me, Dexcom. Thanks for the motivation.
What I love about Dexcom is that when we have a problem with ??? or failed sensors they take responsibility for the problem. Great customer service!
Glad you’re having a good experience this time! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Dex, even with the things that aren’t exactly as I’d want them…it has helped me go from HbA1c of 8.4 (2 years ago, just on MM pump) to 7.1 (1 year ago, Animas pump) to 5.8 (today, after using Dex for about 10 months now). I don’t want to go without it for more than a day or 2 max, it’s just so helpful. It’s a reminder and a behavioral tool for me. And I was concerned about wearing 2 devices and carrying the third (meter), but it really is not that much of a bother at all. I love that when I call w/ ???issues, they talk it through with me and when there is no good reason for it, send me replacements. I love that it’s easy to use. I wish there were a few more options for things like alarms (sound, volume and timing) and viewing. I wish MOST that the Ping and Dex were combined into 1 device, like NOW. But overall I love it. Oh, and I have gotten up to 24 days w/ 1 sensor, just starting it over at the end of the 7-day cycle, keeping the receiver charged and using skin-tac (first) and some tegaderm strips (after a couple weeks) to keep it on.
Hey, I’m in the Bay Area too, so if you’d like to get together sometime and chat about Dex or anything else, type 1 or whatever, please contact me. I’d love to do that.
I need help! I love my pod but my husband will not let me pay for anymore. Yes, I know, huge issue. All I care about is getting some pods and having good blood sugars. I will deal with him later. Does anyone know how I can get better insurance or cheaper pods? or free pods?
I have been on the CGM fence for a few years now.. I am still waiting for the Dex/Omni-Pod all in one unit. Anyone have any updates on that?
Thanks!!
Question: Can the Dexcom be just worn at night? In other words, [I guess] once a sensor is plugged in is it reusable over and over for say a week?
I also think the Dexcom 7+ is the best, and I have worn all of them. I would like to know the best way to get more than a week out of a sensor. Can anyone address that at length? Medicare does not pay for sensors, so longer wear works for me!!!
@ Ryan I have the Dexcom 7 and you cant remove the sensor holder and reuse it it’s a glue pad that stays in place until it dies. So you cant just pop it on and off, it’s a good system though pushing that injector the first few time is interesting.
My son, age 2 1/2 is wearing the dexcom now and it is wonderful. It takes out all of the guesswork and has helped me to see just what is going on in his little sensitive body! My complaints are opposite of most adults, wishing for louder alerts (instead of vibrating), smaller size, and better range (I can’t understand how rf remotes can send a signal through multiple floors yet this thing only can send 5 feet?).
Awesome otherwise, a must for parents of toddlers with type 1!
We are still waiting for the Dexcom 7+ here in Australia. I’ve wanted one way before I went on an Animas 2020 (no Ping available here) some 22 months ago.
I read with jealousy some of the great experiences people have with this CGM and continue to wait eagerly for them to appear here. I’m told not to hold my breath, which is a great shame because it’s the same diabetes and same issues we have here as in the USA and wherever else these CGMs are available.