I want one. NOW! I don't know which though. I'm fairly positive I could present myself as a "test" case for the insurance (and that they love DH enough to let me...but you never know).
Anywhoo. I want one, but I have no idea which one. I don't have any cozy feelings with MiniMed, but if that's the best, I'd push for it. I've heard good things about DexCom, but also that their PC software sucks the big one. Abbott is a crap shoot as its still awaiting approval - AND it needs FreeStyle strips which are a 3rd tier drug for me.
I'm so confused. So if you've got a CGMS, sell me on your brand. If you hate it, tell me that too. If you think CGMS is a waste altogether, bring it on! LOL I need the good, the bad and the ugly.
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5 comments:
I'm shooting for a Minimed Mini-Link. I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it. It seemed a natural jump since I've always used Minimed pumps, for around 12 years now.
I'm a reasonably satisfied Dexcom user. Though the software is definitely grim.
I'm hounding my Dexcom rep to get me in contact with their software development folks. I'm hoping to figure out how to improve it.
The price for the Dexcom system seems a lot lower than the Minimed. I also hear that the Minimed sensors need to be refrigerated, which might be a drag.
So I'd give the Dexcom about a 6 out of 10, mostly because of the software. I can't rate the Minimed.
You can also read this comparison of the two devices, it may help you in deciding.
I've always used MiniMed pumps, so the MiniLink was the natural choice. I've been using it for eight weeks. It took some adjusting, and I've had some hiccups (expensive hiccups, since the sensors are $35 a pop!), but overall I am very happy with it. The web-based CareLink software is user-friendly and extremely helpful, with a menu of graphs and charts that let you see at a glance how you're doing.
One thing to keep in mind as you get started with this - the sheer volume of information is absolutely, positively overwhelming. I'm an accountant, and I love both detailed information and numbers of all kinds, but after a few days my head was swimming. Just take it slow, because it's COMPLETELY worth it. In only eight weeks, I have so minutely tailored my basals and boluses that when I took the CGM off for a couple of days to get a break, ALL of my fingersticks were between 84 and 142 (4X/day). I wish you could have seen what they were before! I would often go for days without testing because the numbers were so frustrating....
Anyway, whichever way you choose to go, best of luck to you!
Dear Floreska,
My name is Stephanie Tanner, and I work for the International Diabetes Federation. Because of your blog, I thought you might be interested in helping us out a tiny bit.
We are in the midst of our preparations for the first UN-observed World Diabetes Day (www.worlddiabetesday.org) on 14 November this year, and I wanted to ask you if you would like to help us to spread awareness of this worldwide event and the theme we have chosen for it this year - Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.
It is estimated that over 200 children develop type 1 diabetes every day and there's no question that the disease often hits disadvantaged communities the hardest, and that children in the developing world can die because their parents are unable to afford medication. In many countries diabetes is still considered an adult disease and as a result can be diagnosed late with severe consequences, including death. Even after diagnosis many children experience poor control and develop complications early.
This is why one of our key objectives for World Diabetes Day this year is to double the number of children covered by the Life for a Child Program - http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/go/wdd-2007/life-for-a-child. We also want to encourage initiatives that can help to reduce diabetic ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) and to promote the sort of healthy lifestyles which can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in children.
A version of the diabetes circle, the icon we used for our Unite for Diabetes campaign http://www.unitefordiabetes.org/ has now been adopted for World Diabetes Day and we have produced a number of web banners that you can view and download here http://banners.worlddiabetesday.org.
The way in which you can help us spread awareness of World Diabetes Day is to add one of the banners to your own blog, which we would really appreciate.
The UN's World Diabetes Day Resolution (61/225) was really just the first goal of an ambitious campaign that we have been leading. This is the first time a non-communicable disease has been recognised as a serious threat to global public health and we are hoping now to further raise awareness globally of the disease that is predicted to contribute to 6% of the world’s mortality in 2007.
If you would like to know more about the UN Resolution and our plans for World Diabetes Day this year, just drop me a line at stephanie.tanner@idf.org and I will get back to you with more information.
Thanks,
Stephanie Tanner
IDF - Communications Assistant
My uncle has a DEXCOM series 7 cgms and as a result of using it, his DR has regulated his sugars and he no longer has a need for it. He purchased a lot of sensor to start and now has no use for them. If you are interested in buying the sensors let me know because they were expensive and I don't want to waste them. They exp in may so I want to get rid of them. COUPE7330@YAHOO.COM
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