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Cgm - Great Idea, But Rip/fall-off In Reality

York-Shrew

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I recently tried a G4 Dexcom for a week, borrowed from the hospital, but decided against getting one of my own as Dexcom refused to tell me how long they would support the G4, and the G5 works out at a minimum of £61/week as it's a two part product - 7 day sensor and 3 month transmitter. Nor would they say how long the G5 would be manufactured or if it would be compatible with its successor.

I'm now trying a Libre via a trial at the hospital, so I get a free handset saving myself £250. Sensor 2 is working perfectly thanks to my DSN fitting it. Sensor 1 fitted by the Rep fell off 40 minutes after application. The Rep also didn't have a clue about Omnipods and whether or not a sensor and pod could cohabit on an arm. However this product is also a rip-off. One sensor lasts 14 days and costs just shy of £49 PLUS you've got to pay £4.95 postage!! They've also designed a product that has to be disposed of in a sharps bin, but is too large for all by the industrial sized bins; the packaging is too large to post through a domestic letterbox; and it has the smallest, least sticky adhesive pad they could find. Most of the people trialling at my hospital have been using secondary tape to keep it stuck down. The weirdest limitation is that Abbot have only bothered to get a licence to wear it on an arm, despite the fluid it measures being present around they whole body.

Whilst both products provide great information in their own way, they really are far too expensive for the NHS to be considering funding with their current budgetary constraints. I would urge anyone using a CGM or considering using one to provide feedback to the manufactures on cost and limitations. Only with loads of people telling them "it's a great product and I would love to use it but,,," will we be able to get them to reduce the cost and make improvements.
 
I recently tried a G4 Dexcom for a week, borrowed from the hospital, but decided against getting one of my own as Dexcom refused to tell me how long they would support the G4, and the G5 works out at a minimum of £61/week as it's a two part product - 7 day sensor and 3 month transmitter. Nor would they say how long the G5 would be manufactured or if it would be compatible with its successor.

The sensor can be worn for a lot longer that 7 days, all you do is restart the sensor and as long as you stick it down well it can last anything up to a couple of months for some people. I managed 47 days for one sensor but others last about 3 weeks without a problem. The G4 transmitter lasts anything from 12 to 14 months.

If you look in the blood monitoring forum you will find a write up by one of the members regarding the G5 I think from memory he said it was 100 days for the transmitter but don't quote me on that.
 
Hi there @York-Shrew
you make somewhat valid points but I would draw your attention to the changes that have happened in the last 35 years --------------- there was NO blood testing then and pumps and CGM's were a distant dream.............
we can only live in the now and the technology we have available to us,
and the funding the NHS can provide.

omnipods and libre can cohabit on an arm ( have done it )
 
I usually get 3 weeks + out of a dexcom sensor. I have had the G4 transmitter and receiver for 12 months. So I think the weekly costs work out a bit cheaper. It is an expensive bit of kit, but it is possible to get more out of it.

The sensors for the G4 and G5 are the same, so they will continue supporting the G4. They might stop selling G4 transmitters. But I haven't heard that that is the plan yet. Once the last G4 transmitter is sold, there wouldn't need to be active "support" because the sensors for the G5 are the same for the G4. I think there was some indication of what things would look like for G6/7 earlier this week, but that has been the very first mention so I would imagine they are still pretty far from market, the G5 is still relatively new and I can't see the, stopping support for it any time soon.

So long as you keep sensor and pod an inch or so apart, they can go on the same arm. I have mine on the same arm at the moment :)

Sorry, honestly not trying to "sell" a dexcom, you have perfectly reasonable reasons for deciding it's not for you, just saying it is possible to stretch it.
 
I live in Ireland and the only CGM available to us is the Enlite from Medtronic I use one with the 640g. A few years back they were thinking of stopping them altogether due to cost I know I had to fight long and hard to get mine but now they are offered as standard when upgrading your pump. I'd be lost without mine as my hypo awareness is sometimes non existent and without the sensor detecting my lows I'd be in a heap. I get 6 days from mine but I know some people have managed much longer I just can't get the hang of getting the transmitter off without taking the sensor with it.
 
I'm sorry to hear you've had this experience. I've tried enlite and libre and although my enlite experience had a lot of sensor issues both when working are great. A libre reader costs £80 more or less given we don't have to pay vat as type 1s. I've found them very easy to apply and the only one that fell off was after I went swimming. The problem I have is removing the adhesive from my arm at the end not it not sticking. Maybe you had a faulty batch? Yes the sensor costs about £49 and you pay shipping but that's 2 weeks whereas the others are only covered for 7 days. (Yes I know people find ways to extend dexcom but it's not guaranteed for a replacement in that period). I agree about the pain to dispose.
Re the license only to wear it on the arm, I actually prefer it there as I put canulas around my stomach and enlites only have a license for the stomach which I find irritating.

Good luck if you do decide to continue further along this route. A working sensor is an amazing thing and really makes life a lot easiser.​
 
Hospitals such as mine are now been given sensors and readers to give to their patients by Libre for them to "trial" one sensor free of charge and keep the reader free of charge. The "trial" is not to give data back to Freestyle but for hospitals to use to try and gain momentum towards the NHS providing these on a permanent basis.
My diabetic nurse manager certainly sees the benefits on a wider view for patients than just hypo awareness.

I think I'm now on my 5th and every sensor has been absolutely superb. I cover mine with a small band of tubigrip which I just slide up arm or down arm for showers/washing etc.
Also careful in showers to not get water or soap intentionally on it. I'd I don't stand under shower with water directly hitting that arm.
Never had one fall off, it's been a life saver for me and my limited testing on fingers due to lymph node removal.

No faults at all.
 
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