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Trialling Dexcom G4 CGM

Spicey245

Spicey245

Well-Known Member
Messages
294
Location
Isle of Man
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Working full time, fairground rides or anything which makes too much adrenaline!
Been given the Dexcom G4 CGM for a week by my Diabetic Clinic "unblinded" so I can have a play with it. So far I'm very impressed with it. It's generally pretty accurate when I've done my BM. I know it runs about 5-10 minutes behind 'real time' but it's great to see what my sugars are doing in between finger pricks. I had a TERRIBLE up and down day yesterday (just after Easter and sugars still stabilising after eating too many naughties!!). Thankfully, so far today, it's levelled out a lot. Still running higher than I'd like though! I also LOVE the trend arrows, I am finding them very useful. It's quite an eye opener as to what is happening between my finger sticks!! According to my finger sticks yesterday I was having quite a good day, although I had a couple of hypo's along the way, what they didn't show was the three huge spikes in between which was quite worrying to see!! :nailbiting:

I'm now seriously considering getting the Animas Vibe pump so I can use the CGM along with it!
 
It is such an eye opener isn't it?
I've been using one for over a year & would not want to be without it.
Re the trend arrows though I sometimes feel that the arrow can be misleading when compared to what the graph is showing.
 
They normally turn the screen off (blind them) when they give them to patients for the week but because I am thinking of buying one they have turned screen on for me so I can see the graph. ;-) Hehe!
 
DunePlodder said:
It is such an eye opener isn't it?
I've been using one for over a year & would not want to be without it.
Re the trend arrows though I sometimes feel that the arrow can be misleading when compared to what the graph is showing.
Click to expand...
Yes, a massive eye opener!! I was all over the shop yesterday, looked like a roller coaster on the screen! Lol! Today I've had no nasty spikes so far! ;-)
 
Spicey245 said:
They normally turn the screen off (blind them) when they give them to patients for the week but because I am thinking of buying one they have turned screen on for me so I can see the graph. ;-) Hehe!
Click to expand...
I knew that Medtronic has two CGM's one which isn't for viewing by the patient, Never heard that Dexi could be blanked out!
 
I did NOT want to give this back to the clinic yesterday, absolutely LOVED it! :)

I have just texted my DSN to say I would like to go onto the Animas Vibe pump purely because it has this system integrated! :)
 
I am going in to speak with my doc and DSN's next Tuesday. I don't know how I ever lived without a CGM and feel totally lost without it!!!
 
CarbsRok said:
I knew that Medtronic has two CGM's one which isn't for viewing by the patient, Never heard that Dexi could be blanked out!
Click to expand...
It's called clinic mode or clinical mode or something like that.
 
One thought I had with reference to the Dexcom; if I am going to get the Animas Vibe pump so I can use the Dexcom G4 sensors with it, what happens when they bring out the G5 sensors (which apparently are not going to work with the Animas)? Will they continue to make the G4's for the Animas pumpers or will the CGM on the Animas become null and void? Just a thought?
 
Spicey245 said:
One thought I had with reference to the Dexcom; if I am going to get the Animas Vibe pump so I can use the Dexcom G4 sensors with it, what happens when they bring out the G5 sensors (which apparently are not going to work with the Animas)? Will they continue to make the G4's for the Animas pumpers or will the CGM on the Animas become null and void? Just a thought?
Click to expand...
Good question. One to ask Animas before you commit to them.
If you have an iPhone, the G5 will work with it.
 
they normally wait a few years to phase out a system - at the end of the day its a cash cow, they dont need to put extra money in and just get money out so why wouldnt they?
 
DunePlodder said:
Good question. One to ask Animas before you commit to them.
If you have an iPhone, the G5 will work with it.
Click to expand...
Nope, but I do have a Samsung Galaxy S4... wonder if it would work on Android (don't do Apple!! Lol!)?

@Engineer88 - So you think it will still be fine then to go for the Vibe? As you say, they will take a few years to phase a system out so I suppose by the time I get another pump it will then be compatible with the next generation of CGM anyway and I'm sure that would be more than 3 years surely?! :)
 
Yeah I'm happy to stick with the Vibe myself, I've still got 2 and a half years to run and its my only CGM access too.
 
Its a lot more difficult with Android because there are multiple operating systems. IOS is what it is and doesnt change between phones. hence by developing apple software they cover more users at once. Especially now with the iwatch (dear father christmas.... Ive been ever so good!)
 
I will try my best to get a firm commitment from Animas! Thanks for advice. :-)
 
I would imagine that Dexcom will still carry on producing the G4 sensors as the Animas Vibe has only just been made available in the U.S so whst would happen for those pumpers if the G4 was no longer to be available? There would be an awful of annoyed and upset diabetics and Dexcom's reputation would be very damaged.

As much as I like the idea of seeing cgm data on a mobile, I dont like it enough to pay out vast amount of wonga on an iPhone and I am not entertaining a contract either. What's happened to the Sony xperia used to show the G5 sensor and bluetooth?
 
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