BG: 78
I met my new OB/GYN last week. I was extremely pleased with the visit. Dr. Rodrigo inspired confidence by making me comfortable. He addressed my concerns all the while confirming that he knew what he was doing. Since I've done this a few times, it was nice to hear him speak of things of which I am familiar. And even better news, he's okay with going for a natural [and by natural, I mean vaginal] delivery, IF everything is still honky-dory at that point in the pregnancy. So, that's my goal... to keep things going smoothly as much as is possible and in my hands. Which reminds me, this week: get blood work taken care of. An ungodly amount of baseline bloodwork. Whooppee!
When it comes down to it though, if that can't happen, I'll be pleased to have Dr. Rodrigo in charge of cutting me open. :D
Have I lost anyone yet? hahaha.
Diabetes plays a role in my life, no matter what. My sugars have been keen for the last few weeks. I'm quite happy with them, even though I've been quite unhappy with my CGMS. It works well for what it's guarantees...and I guess I shouldn't ask more than that except for when I hear Kerri Sparling's delivery story and she says that she had to remove her CGM prior to the C-section...and the removal was on day FIFTEEN!!! Why does she get fifteen days... IN HER LEG?! If I put my CGM anywhere besides my abdomen, sides and part of the back, I no longer have that guarantee. So SUCKY! The longest I've pulled from a Minimed sensor is 6 days, but by then, it was starting to itch and irritate under all that irritating tape.
So, I have to think back to why I chose the Minimed over the Dexcom--thank God for Blogger. And I remember, I really wanted the integrated system. I was more comfortable on the Minimed than the Dexcom after trying both of them. I still love that about the Minimed. But I'll tell you something, when the warranty is up on this Minimed, if Dexcom and Animas FINALLY have a system set up together, I'll be looking to make some more comparisons. I'll be looking for that pie in the sky. ;-)
Showing posts with label Dexcom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dexcom. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
End of Day Report
BG: 168
BG[CGM]: 198
So it has come down to this...
2 weeks with the Dexcom, and I'm about to send it back.
Why, you ask?
Well, I'll tell you. It has to do with efficiency. It's not that I've been dissatisfied with the product. No. The product has done everything it claimed to do. There are features it doesn't have that I wish it did, but even those small things are not why I'm returning it.
It's data management. When I thought it wouldn't matter to have two sets of data, to have two sets of CDEs and RDs working on my behalf, I was wrong. I have some serious maintenance to do on my PUMP settings...basal rates, bolus options, etc. I really want someone who KNOWS my pump to be my primary consultant along with my doctor. And for me, that means giving up the Dexcom and [eventually] going with the Minimed.
This has definitely been a learning experience for me. I'm one of the lucky ones who has been privileged to trial both CGMSs--Dexcom and Minimed. I found they both had pluses and minuses. Where one had a nicer transmitter, the other had better software. For me, accuracy wasn't an issue with either of the devices. Unlike some users, they were equal in that. Off more with the highs than the lows, and when I didn't calibrate.
I found that I tend to feel guilty when I have to make a choice... but that first and foremost, both companies are on my side. They want me to have their product, yes but they are people wanting to make life better for diabetics first. I think, in the long run, how can a company [or its representatives] fault me for my choice? This is a business with a mission to the diabetes community... and if I get to live 10 or 20 years longer because I had a CGMS, who the heck cares who made it?
:D Okay, yes, that definitely sounds like the bipartisan consumer. Haha.
I just want peace for all. ;-)
have a great week.
Bethanne
BG[CGM]: 198
So it has come down to this...
2 weeks with the Dexcom, and I'm about to send it back.
Why, you ask?
Well, I'll tell you. It has to do with efficiency. It's not that I've been dissatisfied with the product. No. The product has done everything it claimed to do. There are features it doesn't have that I wish it did, but even those small things are not why I'm returning it.
It's data management. When I thought it wouldn't matter to have two sets of data, to have two sets of CDEs and RDs working on my behalf, I was wrong. I have some serious maintenance to do on my PUMP settings...basal rates, bolus options, etc. I really want someone who KNOWS my pump to be my primary consultant along with my doctor. And for me, that means giving up the Dexcom and [eventually] going with the Minimed.
This has definitely been a learning experience for me. I'm one of the lucky ones who has been privileged to trial both CGMSs--Dexcom and Minimed. I found they both had pluses and minuses. Where one had a nicer transmitter, the other had better software. For me, accuracy wasn't an issue with either of the devices. Unlike some users, they were equal in that. Off more with the highs than the lows, and when I didn't calibrate.
I found that I tend to feel guilty when I have to make a choice... but that first and foremost, both companies are on my side. They want me to have their product, yes but they are people wanting to make life better for diabetics first. I think, in the long run, how can a company [or its representatives] fault me for my choice? This is a business with a mission to the diabetes community... and if I get to live 10 or 20 years longer because I had a CGMS, who the heck cares who made it?
:D Okay, yes, that definitely sounds like the bipartisan consumer. Haha.
I just want peace for all. ;-)
have a great week.
Bethanne
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Dexcom CGMS
I went a week--as you well know--and I'm uncertain about the CGMS. Partly. I know I have to get used to it. [I'm reiterating, aren't I? Sorry.] Anyway, I'm going to do another week with the Dexcom, then decide if I want to keep it. If I use it the way is recommended...not as a replacement to fingersticking...then it seems pointless to have the second device. See, I ended up turning most of the alerts off of the Dexcom. I was able to relax when I wasn't watching the numbers, which is the key, I think. So, if I'm just trending, then I don't see the point of having two sources of data. *sigh* I really thought the separate data wasn't going to matter. I'm just not sure any more. Another week to get in a groove, then I'll see. :)
Fall is here! I'm so loving the weather. It's cool. A little wet. Colorful. It's beautiful. Despite the diabetes see-sawing, I'm very happy!
Thanks for stopping in.
I hope you enjoy the fall as much as I do.
With Love,
Bethanne
Fall is here! I'm so loving the weather. It's cool. A little wet. Colorful. It's beautiful. Despite the diabetes see-sawing, I'm very happy!
Thanks for stopping in.
I hope you enjoy the fall as much as I do.
With Love,
Bethanne
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
End of Day Report
BG[CGM]: 154, and holding steady. :P
Well, I got to a point where I started doubting the CGMS, and so I ended up checking sugars on my meter more than I expected to today. The variances I've experienced since making the video yesterday after first hooking up messed with my head. I understand the blood vs. interstitial fluid argument, yet at the same time, my sugars do not normally spike. They haven't spiked in the 24+ hours I've worn the CGMS. That Frosty-cino I blogged about here did the job, but in general my sugar charts look like rolling hills, some taller than others. So, I'm starting to contemplate my goals with the CGMS. If its purpose is to mark trends, than maybe wearing it 24 hours isn't necessary.
On the other hand, when Matt joins the military later this year, I want to believe that the CGMS can offer me a measure of security when I'm alone with my kids. Can it? Should I expect it? I believe the answer is yes. I also believe that overall, the competing companies have comparable products. Little differences here and there, conveniences, pros and cons. That competition will continue to instigate improvement. I think right now, the cons of both the Dexcom and the Minimed are enough that you could chose one over the other and not really be better off, one way or the other. That's just me. I'm pretty laid back. I like the infusion and transmitter device better on the Dexcom. That's why I went with it. That to me--at this point in my life--was more important than having the transmitter linked to my pump instead of another device. For someone on the go ALOT, they might feel differently. I'm not. Yes, I have four children, but really... I'm a writer, so I sit here. If I'm away from my desk I'm in my kitchen, which is a few feet away or i'm in the car with my purse. Not a big deal to me.
I'm justifying for myself. I know that my choice is my choice...but, of course--and Matt thinks I'M COMPLETELY NUTTY--I feel bad having to choose one over the other. That's me. The feel-bad-girl. I need to be okay with the decision, and I am. :) thanks for listening to me drone on and on again.
CGM tracking me down to 129, but it's been at least 45 minutes since I started this blog post. I really do love this CGMS technology. It's fabulous! I told the rep, I could just sit here and watch it...
Well, I got to a point where I started doubting the CGMS, and so I ended up checking sugars on my meter more than I expected to today. The variances I've experienced since making the video yesterday after first hooking up messed with my head. I understand the blood vs. interstitial fluid argument, yet at the same time, my sugars do not normally spike. They haven't spiked in the 24+ hours I've worn the CGMS. That Frosty-cino I blogged about here did the job, but in general my sugar charts look like rolling hills, some taller than others. So, I'm starting to contemplate my goals with the CGMS. If its purpose is to mark trends, than maybe wearing it 24 hours isn't necessary.
On the other hand, when Matt joins the military later this year, I want to believe that the CGMS can offer me a measure of security when I'm alone with my kids. Can it? Should I expect it? I believe the answer is yes. I also believe that overall, the competing companies have comparable products. Little differences here and there, conveniences, pros and cons. That competition will continue to instigate improvement. I think right now, the cons of both the Dexcom and the Minimed are enough that you could chose one over the other and not really be better off, one way or the other. That's just me. I'm pretty laid back. I like the infusion and transmitter device better on the Dexcom. That's why I went with it. That to me--at this point in my life--was more important than having the transmitter linked to my pump instead of another device. For someone on the go ALOT, they might feel differently. I'm not. Yes, I have four children, but really... I'm a writer, so I sit here. If I'm away from my desk I'm in my kitchen, which is a few feet away or i'm in the car with my purse. Not a big deal to me.
I'm justifying for myself. I know that my choice is my choice...but, of course--and Matt thinks I'M COMPLETELY NUTTY--I feel bad having to choose one over the other. That's me. The feel-bad-girl. I need to be okay with the decision, and I am. :) thanks for listening to me drone on and on again.
CGM tracking me down to 129, but it's been at least 45 minutes since I started this blog post. I really do love this CGMS technology. It's fabulous! I told the rep, I could just sit here and watch it...
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