Comments on: Continuous Glucose Monitoring with Medtronic/MiniMed Updated http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/ The blog of a bipolar misanthrope Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:40:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Joanne http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2830 Joanne Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:38:22 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2830 Scott, you have helped me so much with your practical advice on CGM. After 7 months of frustration with inaccurate readings and cal errors, I was ready to throw the thing out. You've told me things my Minimed trainer, who is diabetic and on CGM, seemed not to know. I have more accurate readings now and very few cal errors, wearing the same sensor for 6 days at a time. Thanks! Scott, you have helped me so much with your practical advice on CGM. After 7 months of frustration with inaccurate readings and cal errors, I was ready to throw the thing out. You’ve told me things my Minimed trainer, who is diabetic and on CGM, seemed not to know. I have more accurate readings now and very few cal errors, wearing the same sensor for 6 days at a time. Thanks!

]]> By: Jeny-Lynn http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2796 Jeny-Lynn Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:58:36 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2796 I have been using this system since November, almost a year, now, and have been diabetic for 32 years. Lantus or Levimar (along with many shots of short acting insulin with meals) did not work well for me, and going on a pump and continuous monitoring system has enabled me to lower my A1c value amost 2% after starting this system!! I attribute most of this success to being able to monitor my blood glucose continuously. I have encountered most of the problems mentioned on this web site, and have pretty much figured out most of the solutions that everyone has found to be helpful. I had a very good trainer, but, like all of you, she was not able to give me the information that we all have figured out on our own. One thing that she has taught me with this system, that none of you are using, is to cover the entire senor/transmitter with a transparent thin film I.V. Site Dressing by ReliaMed, 4"x4 3/4". It is completely invisible and waterproof, and stays on in any kind of weather conditions. It is a little difficult to separate from the trasmitter after it has been removed, but with very gentle pulling, comes right off. I wear my sensors for 6 days, and it does not irritate my skin, which is very sensitive, or anything, and has a non-sensitizing adhesive. I order them with my regular pump supplies and my insurance pays for them. They come 50 to a box. I have not had any trouble with the transmitter catching on anything or the tape on the sensor coming loose. I would highly recommend trying it. I have been using this system since November, almost a year, now, and have been diabetic for 32 years. Lantus or Levimar (along with many shots of short acting insulin with meals) did not work well for me, and going on a pump and continuous monitoring system has enabled me to lower my A1c value amost 2% after starting this system!! I attribute most of this success to being able to monitor my blood glucose continuously. I have encountered most of the problems mentioned on this web site, and have pretty much figured out most of the solutions that everyone has found to be helpful. I had a very good trainer, but, like all of you, she was not able to give me the information that we all have figured out on our own. One thing that she has taught me with this system, that none of you are using, is to cover the entire senor/transmitter with a transparent thin film I.V. Site Dressing by ReliaMed, 4″x4 3/4″. It is completely invisible and waterproof, and stays on in any kind of weather conditions. It is a little difficult to separate from the trasmitter after it has been removed, but with very gentle pulling, comes right off. I wear my sensors for 6 days, and it does not irritate my skin, which is very sensitive, or anything, and has a non-sensitizing adhesive. I order them with my regular pump supplies and my insurance pays for them. They come 50 to a box. I have not had any trouble with the transmitter catching on anything or the tape on the sensor coming loose. I would highly recommend trying it.

]]> By: HarleyGuy http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2761 HarleyGuy Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:21:40 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2761 As I thought it would be. Thanks for confirming my thoughts. As I thought it would be.
Thanks for confirming my thoughts.

]]> By: Misanthropic Scott http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2758 Misanthropic Scott Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:07:59 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2758 Alarm snooze is the time before repeating the same alarm after you have already acknowledged it once. I'm glad to hear you're doing so well with this. Alarm snooze is the time before repeating the same alarm after you have already acknowledged it once.

I’m glad to hear you’re doing so well with this.

]]> By: HarleyGuy http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2754 HarleyGuy Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:19:32 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2754 Thank you so much Scott. Clear,precise, and to the point. Refresh me on "alarm snooze". This is such a informative site. This is what us "newbies" need. I've been on CGMS 1 month today and have had very few problems. I read of so many Medtronic complaints, yet I have not had nearly a one, and that was my error anyway. I am just loving this technology. Thanks again. Thank you so much Scott. Clear,precise, and to the point. Refresh me on “alarm snooze”.
This is such a informative site. This is what us “newbies” need. I’ve been on CGMS 1 month today and have had very few problems. I read of so many Medtronic complaints, yet I have not had nearly a one, and that was my error anyway.
I am just loving this technology.
Thanks again.

]]> By: Misanthropic Scott http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2751 Misanthropic Scott Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:44:45 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2751 Hi HarleyGuy, Missed data refers to what happens when the transmitter either needs to be charged or there is interference with the signal. For example, the cordless ear bud that I have for my phone at work is a powerful transmitter allowing me to walk around my entire office floor while talking. It always blocks the signal between the transmitter and pump, even when the two are 2-3 inches apart. The alert the pump will give for this is WEAK SIGNAL. The time on the setup screen is the time until the pump gives you the alert telling you about it. It is very important to note that this setting will not affect the amount of time before the pump gives up and says LOST SENSOR. I have mine set to 15 minutes (0:15). That way I have more time to try to do something to get the signal started again before losing the sensor completely and having to start calibration all over again. My action may be to hang up the phone or use the wire handset instead of the ear bud. Or, it may be to physically leave my office for a few minutes if the interference is from just the general level of radio waves in a modern office interfering. As for the high and low snooze times, when you receive an alert that your interstitial glucose is either high or low, you must acknowledge the alert. If you do not treat the high or low, unlikely with low, and it is still high (or low) some time later, it will alert you again. So, the snooze is the frequency with which it will alert you for sustained highs or lows. I have my high snooze set to an hour (1:00) and my low snooze set to a half hour (0:30). Good luck with the learning curve and the device. It takes a while to master, but is worth it. Don't ever expect perfect results from it. It will never be perfect, but will be a very useful tool. And don't forget to check Ivan's site too. http://www.myparadigm.eu/ I happen to know he has some updates coming soon. Hi HarleyGuy,

Missed data refers to what happens when the transmitter either needs to be charged or there is interference with the signal. For example, the cordless ear bud that I have for my phone at work is a powerful transmitter allowing me to walk around my entire office floor while talking. It always blocks the signal between the transmitter and pump, even when the two are 2-3 inches apart. The alert the pump will give for this is WEAK SIGNAL.

The time on the setup screen is the time until the pump gives you the alert telling you about it. It is very important to note that this setting will not affect the amount of time before the pump gives up and says LOST SENSOR.

I have mine set to 15 minutes (0:15).

That way I have more time to try to do something to get the signal started again before losing the sensor completely and having to start calibration all over again. My action may be to hang up the phone or use the wire handset instead of the ear bud. Or, it may be to physically leave my office for a few minutes if the interference is from just the general level of radio waves in a modern office interfering.

As for the high and low snooze times, when you receive an alert that your interstitial glucose is either high or low, you must acknowledge the alert. If you do not treat the high or low, unlikely with low, and it is still high (or low) some time later, it will alert you again. So, the snooze is the frequency with which it will alert you for sustained highs or lows.

I have my high snooze set to an hour (1:00) and my low snooze set to a half hour (0:30).

Good luck with the learning curve and the device. It takes a while to master, but is worth it. Don’t ever expect perfect results from it. It will never be perfect, but will be a very useful tool. And don’t forget to check Ivan’s site too.

http://www.myparadigm.eu/

I happen to know he has some updates coming soon.

]]> By: HarleyGuy http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2749 HarleyGuy Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:26:22 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2749 Just found this site and just love the "real" info I have found. I am new with the Medtronic CGMS. One thing I am unclear on"Under sensor setup,review settings,missed data 0:40. Explain this to me please. Also,explain the "high" and "low" snooze. Also the "alarm" snooze, and whatthose times associated with the high and low snooze mean. I appreciate the time you have dedicated. It is certainly educational for this MM722+CGMS user. I thank you very much. Just found this site and just love the “real” info I have found. I am new with the Medtronic CGMS.
One thing I am unclear on”Under sensor setup,review settings,missed data 0:40. Explain this to me please. Also,explain the “high” and “low” snooze. Also the “alarm” snooze, and whatthose times associated with the high and low snooze mean.

I appreciate the time you have dedicated. It is certainly educational for this MM722+CGMS user.
I thank you very much.

]]> By: Misanthropic Scott http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2722 Misanthropic Scott Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:19:39 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2722 M Levine, Sensor->Sensor Start->New Sensor This will reset the time to allow you to continue to use the sensor. I generally follow this with Sensor->Sensor Start->Find Lost Sensor This allows me to enter a BG reading immediately (even if it warns me that it isn't ready yet) and it will be used, which is not necessarily the case after using the New Sensor option. M Levine,

Sensor->Sensor Start->New Sensor

This will reset the time to allow you to continue to use the sensor. I generally follow this with

Sensor->Sensor Start->Find Lost Sensor

This allows me to enter a BG reading immediately (even if it warns me that it isn’t ready yet) and it will be used, which is not necessarily the case after using the New Sensor option.

]]> By: M Levine http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2721 M Levine Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:56:29 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2721 I'm about 30 days into using the pump and 20 days with the CGM. What is the sequence to using the CGM sensor past the 3 days? I’m about 30 days into using the pump and 20 days with the CGM. What is the sequence to using the CGM sensor past the 3 days?

]]> By: Misanthropic Scott http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2619 Misanthropic Scott Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:54:22 +0000 http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/continuous-glucose-monitoring-with-medtronicminimed-updated/#comment-2619 Thanks Steve. That's good to know that the dementia risk may not be real. I'm glad to have my mind a bit more at ease about the dementia as that is very worrisome. As you said though, low is still dangerous and to be avoided as much as possible. Thanks Steve. That’s good to know that the dementia risk may not be real. I’m glad to have my mind a bit more at ease about the dementia as that is very worrisome. As you said though, low is still dangerous and to be avoided as much as possible.

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