If I were the parent of a child with diabetes, my opinions about the new-to-the-market and highly praised Medtronic MySentry CGM monitoring device might be different.
But I’m not a CWD parent. No, I’m an adult living with type 1 diabetes.
And from that perspective, despite all the benefits of this device I see, it’s just not for me. I see more cons and downsides to it than benefits and that’s why I can’t say it’s worth the extraordinarily high cost (originally to the mind-blowing tune of $3,000!) that Medtronic is charging.
Really, it doesn’t offer me much more peace of mind than my current continuous glucose monitor (CGM) does.
This wasn’t my original stance, though. It’s actually quite the opposite of what I envisioned thinking about the MySentry when I first decided to use it.
Several months ago after attendi
ng the Medtronic Diabetes Advocates Forum, I decided to take the company up on their offer of a three-month trial run of the Paradigm723 Revel insulin pump and the MySentry device. Approved by the FDA in January after about four years of talk and anxious waiting by the Diabetes Community, the MySentry is essentially like a CGM-connected alarm clock that has a monitor displaying real-time CGM sensor data. Through an “outpost” gadget that can be placed up to 50 feet away, it shows predictive alarms for both BG extremes and is marketed as providing some peace for nighttime sleeping without worry of dangerous low blood sugars, “just a glance away.”
My trial run started in mid-June.
When we started, I saw the potential for this device to be as our friend and ‘Mine correspondent Wil Dubois described it: a revolutionary product on the diabetes device market.
Personally, I thought it might draw me out from a deep sleep and alert me to encroaching low blood sugars — that it could change my life in that sense by giving me another layer of security while sleeping.
My Loving and Supporting Spouse wasn’t convinced, though. She disagreed and dubbed it basically just a “glorified alarm clock” version of the CGM that I already have and use. Although it may make a noise that’s louder and more noticeable than the little oval-shaped Dexcom or even the Medtronic CGM-pump Paradigm combo that I’d used before, she thought it’d be too easy to silence and ultimately wouldn’t stop me from hitting “snooze” and ignoring it.
She just wasn’t convinced that this thing was Big for those of us married adult PWDs who sleep in the same bed with partners and already have each other as a layer of security in case of sneaky lows.
As it turns out, and I hope she reads this line: My wife was right, and I was wrong.
The practical Cons outweigh the Pros, we believe.
Pros:
- Yes, the alarms are loud enough. They wake you up when all you want to be doing is sleeping and dreaming, and unlike the not-loud-enough alarms of the small portable CGMs that you can place under a pillow to quiet, the MySentry is un-ignorable; it motivates you to wake up and look at it.
- Thanks to the alert sound, the MySentry did catch some low blood sugars that might have had a negative impact on my night-time and early morning sleep routine. And it may have led to my wife being forced to kick into gear to grab some juice for me.
- With its user-friendly screen, the MySentry is easy to read and understand when you look over at it bleary-eyed in the night-time sleepy hours.
Cons:
- Yes, the MySentry caught some lows. But there was an even larger number of alerts and annoyances that came when the device couldn’t see past the existing CGM sensor inaccuracy and tried to scare me into thinking I was low, when really I wasn’t. This is a fault of the core CGM technology of course, but at least with that device I don’t have to worry about it alerting the whole dang house that something is wrong when it isn’t. (It’s a little ironic I’m dissing a device for doing what I wanted it to do in the first place…)
- The MySentry does have volume control and a dimmer function, but the thing is still too darn bright in a dark
room at night! Peace of mind to let you sleep? Um, that’s assuming you’re not being kept awake by the bright beacon light next to your head. (As if glancing at that kind of electronic device light from smartphones isn’t already sleep-disrupting enough…) Yes, you can put a washcloth or towel over it and even face it down on the nightstand… but that just seems to defeat the whole purpose of the device. I guess the alarm will still blare and wake me up if there’s an impending hypo, and I can just lift the cloth to see the screen as needed… but I shouldn’t have to do that. It’d be great if there was some option to completely blackout the screen between alarms for smoother night-time snoozing. - There’s no off switch. So, when you walk out of the room for awhile and forget to silence it — and you don’t want to take the outpost along — the MySentry screams for you to return. Oh, and even if you try to unplug it into silence, it still wails out as if you’re too stupid to realize you had unplugged it from the wall. I get that this is some sort of safety feature, but seriously?! Please, Medtronic: Don’t insult my intelligence and assume I can’t use my brain to logically and safely use an off switch. The “privacy screen” option you offer is nice so that we can conceal the BG results if we want to, but it’s not adequate if we want to escape this device entirely based on our own free will. I really don’t think unplugging it is good enough, and I swear I still hear it wailing even when unplugged…
My wife’s opinion is succinct: She says, “It serves no purpose for us.”
One morning, I made the comment after glancing at the MySentry: “Boy, that is really nice to look at in seeing your results overnight.”
Her response: “It shows you the same thing as the pump-CGM screen does, except it’s bigger and in color.”
Yep, so very true. Maybe this was a confirmation of the longtime belief that Medtronic’s insulin pump-CGM display could be more 21st century, like any smartphone screen is these days. (Hint, hint!)
What about the fact that it allows her to “see how my day went overnight” as far as blood sugar numbers? Um, if she wants to know, she asks and I tell her or show her my CGM. But typically, this doesn’t dominate our discussions and when it’s worth chatting about, I bring it up. We communicate openly and easily on these issues; that’s just how our marriage works. If people have trouble communicating about diabetes, I’m not sure the PWD in the partnership would want to show off their number graphs anyway.
Being that I work from home now, I lost track of the times that I was going about my business in the home office when suddenly the MySentry in the other room started blaring an alert that it wasn’t able to find the pump connection and I’d forgotten to silence the alert after getting out of bed that morning. Yes, I can use the outpost but I’d rather not plug and unplug this wall device every time I move rooms. This also presented problems at night, since I often go to bed later than my wife and the MySentry would annoy her if it wasn’t silenced when I was out of the room. Again, there’s no reason to tote the outpost around since the whole reason I was using this was for night-time b
lood sugar tracking.
And then there’s just all the other cons that can be found, like the cost (WTF, Medtronic?) and CGM accuracy issues that we just can’t — or shouldn’t — overlook.
This MySentry trial run actually taught me something else about my preferences on CGM use: I don’t like it most of the time. Especially when it comes to the Medtronic CGM, which has what many of us not-so-fondly refer to as “the harpoon,” a shell-shaped sensor that’s not too comfortable to insert or wear. I didn’t use the MySentry for the full 90 days because, honestly, I couldn’t stomach being connected that long consistently to the Med-T CGM. I needed breaks from it.
We’ve been hearing about the new and improved Enlite sensor that Medtronic has on the horizon for a long time. It’s supposed to be smaller, more accurate and comfortable. But they just submitted it for FDA approval in June (!), so it’s got a long way to go before coming to market.
The bottom line is that the current system that uses both the existing CGM sensor and MySentry device just isn’t good enough. If the CGM sensor is off, which happens way too often, then the MySentry showing you the BG results does you no good. You’re not low, despite what the alarm clock says. But the MySentry screams at you until you have to get up and do a fingerstick check of your sugars anyway — forcing you to do the very thing you were hoping the device would help you avoid in the first place. That’s not peace of mind, in my opinion.
Yes, maybe things will be better down the road. I’m sure they will. But this is the here and now, and at this moment the MySentry is simply as strong or weak as the current CGM sensor allowed in these United States. After all, it’s just a viewer for a flawed system in its current form.
Medtronic, I’d really like you to lower the cost and fine-tune the override functions the MySentry offers. I can’t take seriously claims that it’s a “safety function” that you can’t turn it off or have some “black out option” for those who want it. We PWDs manage our diabetes day in and day out, and so I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you acknowledge that we can and will use a device responsibly based on our own preferences.
Sure, I have been using a 723 Paradigm Revel pump that connects with the MySentry. I own and typically use a 722, which doesn’t have the predictive alarms but would be easy enough to upgrade to a newer version if I really wanted to. But I don’t. The old pump and my Dex CGM that have been gathering dust for a few months will soon be back connected and I’m happy enough with what works.
Not everyone probably agrees with this review, I’m sure, as we can see from other reviews out there in the diabetes online universe. This is just one couple’s opinion, not to say anything about the parents or single adult PWDs who might see all kinds of benefits that we just don’t. And maybe other married adult PWDs see the pros outweighing the cons, too… again, we just don’t. I’d rather rely on my little oval Dexcom and my wife’s keen CGM-like senses that alert me to low blood sugars during the night. I just have more confidence in that. And it’s less cumbersome.
To us, the MySentry isn’t a big win. But bravo to the company for making this available for those who do want it and are willing to pay.
Disclosure: Medtronic provided me with a 723 Revel pump, the MySentry system, and all the pump supplies and CGM sensors that I needed during my trial run. They didn’t ask us to write anything, but likely assumed we would, as that’s how we roll.
Nice Post! Disclaimer: we just got our MySentry last week! We got the FFLCWD deal for a lot less than the 3000 grrr. My diabetes world is complete opposite of yours, but you have met my dkids and know that. Our youngest has the revel and we like how it works so far. Its nice to peek into the bedroom and see where she is at, rather than walking up stairs, if she has a good sensor. For the most part we get good sensors. I like it, wife likes it, and after a few weeks I’ll do a CWD parent review. I can see where it would be no use to an adult with T1D. Thanks for a great review Mike.
Thanks for the review. and the perspective from the adult with type one which is so often overlooked by the market place.
Your experience sounds like my conversation with Dexcom about how they changed the alert tone on the Dexcom to be much more shrill sounding. It now sounds so shrill that it doesn’t sound like any other beep in your life. Which means that at work Ill be forced to turn it off frequently to avoid disturbing coworkers who will think the fire alarm is going off. When I asked Dexcom about it they said the change was done to “save lives”. I don’t have the actual quote but the person on the phone was talking down to me like I couldn’t possibly understand the importance of their work. I wish I had reminded them that I’m their customer, I’m not a reporter or an investor. And I have a right to an opinion on how the devices I use work in my life. And if the changes you make result in the customer turning off features then how is that “saving lives”. ?
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the heads up. Currently refinancing our house to be able to afford cgm. Almost 40 years type 1 and I apparently don’t qualify for coverage as I have too good control. Very frustrating. If I had a kid with this though I would definitely use this.
Mike – Your column today about the MySentry is why I visit the D’Mine every day. Your honest review of this technology is good for PWD and the manufacturers. CGM monitors have the difficult goal of waking you up, but only with valid alarms. If they “cry wolf” one too many times, they totally neutralize any perceived benefit.
I’ve used the Dex CGM for three years now and I think it performs admirably, all things considered. I recently suffered through a sleepless night as a brand new sensor was settling in for its first 24 hours of service. It woke me up every hour with false alarms. I didn’t permanently silence it (move it to another room) because I feared that I wouldn’t hear it when it did report an actual low. And it did finally wake me up at 6:00 a.m. with a valid low alarm! If every Dex sensor was this flaky in the first 24 hours, I would have a tough time using any CGM.
I think that the products that medical device manufacturers put out are over influenced by the FDA and engineering mindset and too little influenced by the experience of actual diabetics living in the real world. Did Medtronic receive any user reports like yours during the MySentry development? If so, did they attempt any changes or were they too influenced by the voices of non-diabetic engineering managers and internal FDA-fearful staff?
Thanks Mike… the Spouse and I had pretty much the same discussion, though at 3K the device was never really something we considered. I wouldn’t even feel right trying to file an insurance claim for it, knowing that if it were OK’d that might be 3K that someone else might not get next year for something they really need. Anyway, nice post. Love the pictures.
And in conclusion: Love my Revel, hate the Harpoon.
Mike, thanks for your review! I was also able to take advantage of the trial and agree with a lot of your critiques, especially regarding the cost, the harpoon & accuracy concerns, and the alerts when you get out of range. I see how it could be a pain for those who have a significant other.
(Also, did you know that if you do unplug mySentry from the wall, after a certain period of time it sounds some kind of beeping alarm/alert for a number of seconds for no obvious reason? But it’s powered off and unplugged, so there’s no way to silence/stop it or figure out why it’s doing it. Odd. Granted, haven’t checked the manual, but I don’t think they like it when you unplug it…)
However, as an adult with type 1 who lives alone…the mySentry is a lifesaver. Completely. And no, they’re not paying me to say this. I’ll say it willingly to anyone who asks, and even to those who don’t
. The CGM on a pump alone will not wake me up, but the Sentry does time after time, and has saved me from some significant lows, and helped catch what surely would have been some ridiculous rebounds afterward, since otherwise I would sleep through the regular pump/CGM alarms after I fell back asleep.
So is there room for improvement? Yes. But for me, I’m pretty sure it has or will save my life at some point. I’m so thankful to have been able to use a tool like this, even for a short trial period, and it gives me a lot of encouragement about the development of other tools coming down the pipeline for those of us with diabetes.
While I enjoyed your review, I would like to give my 2 cents review. My 18 year old son started college this year, and we were scared to death since he suffers from nighttime lows and has had a hypoglycemic seizure. We have checked his blood sugars every single night since he was 5. We purchased the My Sentry a few weeks ago ( for $1700, not the $3000). It has been a lifesafer! It has awakened him a few times to prevent a low. It makes me feel better knowing that the alarm will wake his roommates if he doesn’t silence it. I hope that when he gets married, he will have a wife that will be sensitive to his lows. I dread the thought of him ever living alone.
I was also able to trial My Sentry and fell in love. Above all else, my husband and 2 children have become more involved in my diabetes care (do you need juice, Mama?)and I have noticed that I have curbed some of my nighttime snacking by keeping it in the kitchen. It’s easy not to overindulge when you have a large beautiful 3 hour graph staring back at you next to the fridge. I also was able to use My Sentry during a bout of illness. My blood sugars had been quite high and once I got them back down within normal range, my husband kept bugging me to monitor my BG (rightfully so!). I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep with no interuptions. I posted My Sentry outside the bedroom door where he could see it and he was able to monitor what was happening while I caught up on much needed sleep. I can see where this system would not be utilized by everyone but I also see it being a huge advantage for others. God forbid, either of my children developed diabetes, I would use this in an instant. Teenagers, pregnant women, elderly patients with caregivers, college age and anyone who needs some visual accountability would benefit. That was the biggest motivating factor for me.
Great perspective, Mike. Thanks for sharing.
A little research would show you that the price of the MySentry is currently $1400. And as the parent of a child with diabetes, I would love to have the MySentry and hope to save up the $1400 to purchase one. You have the convenience of a spouse to sleep and be by your side when needed. I personally do not like having to have my daughter sleep with us in our bed or for me to have to sleep in her room. You obviously were not the patient they had in mind when this product was developed. I still think $1400 is high,but it is still better and more accurate than the price you misquoted.
Thanks for the comment, Jay,. The MySentry was originally going for $3,000 without any insurance coverage. Anyhow, this product was designed for all children or adult type 1s in mind, not just children. That’s why a number of us adult type 1s were trial-testing it and offering our feedback. I’m glad it’s working for you and you were willing to pay the price of $1,400 for your family. As mentioned at several points in the post, this just isn’t for me or my family and we could be the only one out there who feels this way about it. But it’s still the kind of feedback that Medtronic needs to hear.
I have a tendency to peak at my husbands Dexcom when he is sleeping (I go to bed later than him) and do accidentally wake him up. This would be nice, but the cost on top of everything else that we buy would deginately be prohibitive. Fortunately one of normally wakes up when his Dexcom beeps.
Thank you Mike for your insight on how CGM works. I think I understand it more now after reading your post vs talking with a Medtrontic Sales Rep. I am looking into the pros and cons of the medtronic paradigm revel minimed and Animas One Touch Ping or even using a pump at all. I am 52 years old and have type 1 for 33 years years. I don’t want a device that makes noise all the time. I like peace and quiet. If anyone can give me their opinion on the two pumps I would greatly appreciate it!!
Thank you for posting this! As parents to a newly diagnosed type I child (12 yrs old), we were “talked into” via parental guilt buying this piece out of our own pockets ($1800…discount price for buying right away with the pump/cgm) since insurance would not cover before our daughter even started on the pump. Three months after starting the pump we were given the go ahead to start using it. It has been nothing but a nightmare!!!! I would not recommend it for a child that is stable as we are very lucky that our daughters numbers are in control and she does not have scary episodes of highs or lows (I realize this is not the case for all). When I asked if we could return it because it was not working properly…via the continuous glucose monitor…we were told they would discuss it and return our call…Still have NOT heard from them yet! It’s been a month and I’m tired of leaving messages. Not impressed! Sorry to vent here, but I’ve yet to find a place on Medtronics website to do so there.