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Off CGM...

Engineer88

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,130
Location
Wales
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Morning guys,

I've decided to take a break from the CGM. Anyone else felt like this?

Basically fed up of the constant alarms I've had lately. I had a 'bad' box of sensors none have lasted more than 16 days which is very discouraging. I've had 2 of the 4 replaced but its put me off so much :(

Otherwise all in all im really cheesed off. I've gained weight (4/5lb) which is enough for me to know about it and my Ave bloods havent dropped like I would like with the new insulin (although the responce is SOO much better).

If anyone wants me I'll be sulking in the low carb corner.
 
I've not had personal experience with a CGM but I could imagine it getting annoying at times............

I wouldn't expect to have it on 24 hours a day though, unless there was severe hypo unawareness for example......

so are the alarms your talking about not meant to be going off, is that what you mean...?
 
You dont have a choice about length of wearing - its £50 a sensor and once its in it doesnt come off until its dead (24/7 for upto 21 days).

No the alarms were errors mostly. Error0 being the favored the last few days. Problem was i was planning on wearing it for 21 days (cheaper) and its only lasting 14. That means dex wont always cover it as they should only last 7 days
 
By having it 'ON' I meant actively using the numbers its recording for day to day management...........if that's what you do with the numbers.........lol........

you would think with something that has to stay in you for a month they would be more reliable.......

I hope your next batch is better......

what been the best thing about the CGM so far.......?
 
By having it 'ON' I meant actively using the numbers its recording for day to day management...........if that's what you do with the numbers.........lol........

you would think with something that has to stay in you for a month they would be more reliable.......

I hope your next batch is better......

what been the best thing about the CGM so far.......?

Its not meant to last for a month its only meant to last 7 days... But i stretch it to 21 normally.

Having it to detect lows before they get severe or highs before they get too high, the data to prove my insulin didnt work for two hours minimum after injecting, getting the basals closer to right without basal testing (too much) and no overnight testing. also always knowing exactly where my bg were and which way they are headed.

the break wont last long i dont think!
 
I came off my cgm, it was giving false hypo alarms during the night. Checking blood to meter I was in the majority of cases above 5.0.
Had it constantly alarming on a 4 hour drive on motorway.. Tested constantly and wasn't hypo and was always above 6.0.
It then imploded and I gave it back to hosp.
Mine was a pain in butt. I get better levels just from testing...
Reported to mhra for the chronic failures and false low readings. They asked the Company to investigate themselves! Later on all the blood strips used for calibrating this cgm and meters were withdrawn and replaced.
You aren't alone.


Loving life
 
Morning guys,

I've decided to take a break from the CGM. Anyone else felt like this?

Basically fed up of the constant alarms I've had lately. I had a 'bad' box of sensors none have lasted more than 16 days which is very discouraging. I've had 2 of the 4 replaced but its put me off so much :(

Otherwise all in all im really cheesed off. I've gained weight (4/5lb) which is enough for me to know about it and my Ave bloods havent dropped like I would like with the new insulin (although the responce is SOO much better).

If anyone wants me I'll be sulking in the low carb corner.

I've just had 2 consecutive nights of low bg alarms - "Beep-Beep-Beep" at 2 in the morning, I've wanted to throw it out of the window!
BUT it was correct & saved me some nasty hypos. Ever since the hot weather began my readings have been very erratic, can't seem to get back to an even keel.

So, no I don't want to take a break - currently waiting the 2 hours after inserting a new one & it seems like a long time.
Hope things improve for you soon.
 
I came off my cgm, it was giving false hypo alarms during the night. Checking blood to meter I was in the majority of cases above 5.0.
Had it constantly alarming on a 4 hour drive on motorway.. Tested constantly and wasn't hypo and was always above 6.0.
It then imploded and I gave it back to hosp.
Mine was a pain in butt. I get better levels just from testing...
Reported to mhra for the chronic failures and false low readings. They asked the Company to investigate themselves! Later on all the blood strips used for calibrating this cgm and meters were withdrawn and replaced.
You aren't alone.


Loving life
When it worked (ie before this box of sensors) i would have recommended it to anyone. Infact i did. they are awesome and I'm missing it a lot, think i might try again at the weekend.
 
I thought good initially before realising there was problems with this particular manufacturers equipment and strips. I would never go back tho from my experience I became too bothered by the thing.


Loving life
 
Hey!

Sad to hear you came off :( but I never had any errors so far and if it was off then a calibration always fixed the problem.
Is there no way to silence the alarms? You're using a vibe pump as a receiver if I remember correctly?
With the dex receiver I have, I can always put it on vibrate and leave it on the carpet - it doesn't wake me up then :) unless its a 3.1 hypo alert, this one always beeps.

Remember you're trying to get 3x the "approved" period of 7 days and 4x the "guaranteed" 5 days :)

I don't think I w,,ould be able to stop using it now... I only recently realised how much I rely on that thing. I don't feel my hypos until I'm 2.5mmol and so far dex warned me about a lot of them before I reached the 3.5mmol point. So I basically haven't felt a hypo since I got it :)

But, well, it's just a device, an odd batch of sensors can happen all the time. I would give it one more try, maybe the next box will be better :)

Remember, it's 4x the guaranteed time!
 
Hey!

Sad to hear you came off :( but I never had any errors so far and if it was off then a calibration always fixed the problem.
Is there no way to silence the alarms? You're using a vibe pump as a receiver if I remember correctly?
With the dex receiver I have, I can always put it on vibrate and leave it on the carpet - it doesn't wake me up then :) unless its a 3.1 hypo alert, this one always beeps.

Remember you're trying to get 3x the "approved" period of 7 days and 4x the "guaranteed" 5 days :)

I don't think I w,,ould be able to stop using it now... I only recently realised how much I rely on that thing. I don't feel my hypos until I'm 2.5mmol and so far dex warned me about a lot of them before I reached the 3.5mmol point. So I basically haven't felt a hypo since I got it :)

But, well, it's just a device, an odd batch of sensors can happen all the time. I would give it one more try, maybe the next box will be better :)

Remember, it's 4x the guaranteed time!

I understand that its longer but its the only way I can afford it (and thats a push atm).
 
still must be worth it though eh, considering you still need to test your blood with test strips, especially if doing dose changes etc....
 
Yeah I mean, it made the change to a pump easy as pie, and yeah my Hba1c was dropping because of it (then i went to China and everything went pear shaped!)

It shows me how many carbs I can eat and like i said gives me evidence to use for/against the hospital etc
 
@Engineer88 - how are you finding humalog? I can see the the 2-hour gap with Novorapid as well... Just now, my Dex is showing a table rise over the last 2 hours (I ate 2h ago), and just a moment ago a veeeery steep drop down, when novo finally kicked in :\ Dex even started alerting that I'm "FALLING!" :eek:
 
Yep thats what I would get most every meal.

Humalog is fine. not much of a change but it kicks in after about 20mins which is awesome.
 
Just wondering on this........ive met 2 peeps in person who swear by cgm. Both have the sensors in their arm and both are slim to avrrage build. Inserting the sensors in the arm looks like a two prrson job but the sensors seem to last ok.
 
Just wondering on this........ive met 2 peeps in person who swear by cgm. Both have the sensors in their arm and both are slim to avrrage build. Inserting the sensors in the arm looks like a two prrson job but the sensors seem to last ok.

Yeah its the two person job I have issue with. I dont trust anyone else to do any type of insertion or even injection for me anymore. I freak out when I have to have blood or anything done by a nurse or anyone.

Besides that I can only see me knocking sensors off on my arm - its not approved by dexcom so not coved by warranty.
 
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