If it seems like a plain cgm will be approved soon, I'd go with #1. Otherwise, I have no idea! Ack! Why do things have to be so complicated?
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it doesn't really look like it =/ it apparently takes a lot of paperwork and a long approval process in Canada. Then once it's approved by the government, Pharmacare has to approve it and cover it before most insurance places will. The first year I was on Lantus, we paid 100% out of pocket because even though it had been approved for use in Canada for a while by then time I started on it, Pharmacare hadn't added it to it's list of approved coverage so none of the insurance companies would pay for it.
i don't know, i wish it were an easier decision =/ like choosing whether to eat left over valentine's day chocolate or not haha
Can you even use the cgm without a pump? Cuz my friend was told by Medtronic that you can't.
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yeah i asked about that (like if it was two different devices or both in one). he said that what people generally do who don't want the pump but take that route for the CGM is put the reservoir in but without insulin, cut the tubing and turn the basal rate to 0. so the pump is on, but it's not delivering any insulin.
When I first read this I thought "Surely she must be mistaken and other CGMs can display in mmol/L rather than mg/dL," so I checked the Dexcom literature, and you're absolutely correct! How bizzare and ridiculous! This would be a simple, simple conversion (for the micro-processor) but they don't bother? That said, I've been on a Mini-Med pump for 9-years and a Mini-Med CGM for only a couple of months. If I wanted to get just a CGM, I would go with the Dexcom, (aside from the translation issue) because it's much less expensive and the sensors are approved for 10 days to the Minimed's 3 days. I have a friend who wears her Dexcom sensors for up to a month, and I have been able to get 2 weeks from the Minimed, (I seem to be able to pull them out very easily.) I honestly think you could get 2 weeks from each Minimed sensor, but you must tape them down really well, and be VERY careful if you have to untape them to re-charge the transmitter (the IV prep tape is pretty cheap through Amazon). I understand that with the Dexcom, there is no re-charging, so once the tape is down you can leave it alone. Buying a $6K pump just to get a sensor seems a total waste, and I don't think I'd bother! Is there a possibility of buying a "rebuilt" Guardian system for less? Also, it's sounds like a good idea to try them out ahead of time. For me, the CGM has a greater learning curve than the pump, and is far more confusing to make sense of what's going on. But, like I said I've only had it a few months, so maybe it will get easier!
I don't know Batts, that's a tough choice. There's no way in hadees I'd wear a pump that actually doesn't pump anything. If I were presented with these three options myself, I'd go with number 1. Wait. Once the Canadian govt or whoever approves them and companies see a market for one that used Canadian numbers, they'll start selling them. Then get what you want.
When I first read this I thought "Surely she must be mistaken and other CGMs can display in mmol/L rather than mg/dL," so I checked the Dexcom literature, and you're absolutely correct! How bizzare and ridiculous! This would be a simple, simple conversion (for the micro-processor) but they don't bother? That said, I've been on a Mini-Med pump for 9-years and a Mini-Med CGM for only a couple of months. If I wanted to get just a CGM, I would go with the Dexcom, (aside from the translation issue) because it's much less expensive and the sensors are approved for 10 days to the Minimed's 3 days. I have a friend who wears her Dexcom sensors for up to a month, and I have been able to get 2 weeks from the Minimed, (I seem to be able to pull them out very easily.) I honestly think you could get 2 weeks from each Minimed sensor, but you must tape them down really well, and be VERY careful if you have to untape them to re-charge the transmitter (the IV prep tape is pretty cheap through Amazon). I understand that with the Dexcom, there is no re-charging, so once the tape is down you can leave it alone. Buying a $6K pump just to get a sensor seems a total waste, and I don't think I'd bother! Is there a possibility of buying a "rebuilt" Guardian system for less? Also, it's sounds like a good idea to try them out ahead of time. For me, the CGM has a greater learning curve than the pump, and is far more confusing to make sense of what's going on. But, like I said I've only had it a few months, so maybe it will get easier!
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It does seem like a waste to me as well, especially since if I plan to go back to the pump in the future, it will be with Animas not Medtronic, and I will have already wasted my coverage!
Dexcom isn't in Canada yet, which is why they don't have an option to change the settings which sucks. I've heard of people buying them from the States out of pocket (it's out of pocket here anyways right) and just doing the math. I suck at math though, I don't think it would be worth it haha.
Thanks for letting me know about your experience, it's definitely something I'm worried about =/
I don't know Batts, that's a tough choice. There's no way in hadees I'd wear a pump that actually doesn't pump anything. If I were presented with these three options myself, I'd go with number 1. Wait. Once the Canadian govt or whoever approves them and companies see a market for one that used Canadian numbers, they'll start selling them. Then get what you want.
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yeah Option #2 is least likely to happen haha
The problem with waiting is that waiting could be a year, two years, 5 years. Dexcom was suppose to be in Canada back in what, 2009? It's not 2011 and Animas has NO idea when Dexcom is actually going to be approved and available in Canada so that they can intergrade it with their pumps. =/
My doctors (and once I was old enough to do everything myself) have been trying for 16years to find a pattern to my levels. That's why I'm wanting a CGM, is to help us pinpoint wtf is going on. I could wait and if I have to I am willing to, but I wanna look at all options right now and weigh the pros and cons first.
I originally was going to try an iPro at the clinic(Medtronic still but you only wear it for 3days at a time, my endo suggested I try to get that before a CGM), but back in August they were hoping to have it by end of September..when I checked in December they still weren't sure if/when they were going to be getting the machines.
Whats your main reason for not wanting the Dexcom? The fact that you would have to figure out the math diff.? As much of a pain as that could be, I bet you could pick it up really quickly and it come second nature! I just ordered the Revel pump with CGM yesterday myself, so of course I would say order that! lol...But seeing that your not wanting to use the pump feature at this point, $2000 is alot of money! Its so crazy how much of a hassle insurance makes this I swear!
I would tend to agree that in your shoes I would probably get the Dexcom (money issues aside). Instead of doing 'math' I would switch your meter to measure the US units too and just retrain yourself to think of your target BG as 120 instead of 7. So really, no math. <70 is low, >150 is high, etc. (all numbers are just for example).
Canada's medical device approval system really sucks. It is SOOOO slow. at my last job, we were trying to get new sizes of an already approved device added to our approval and it took MONTHS. very frustrating.
Whats your main reason for not wanting the Dexcom? The fact that you would have to figure out the math diff.? As much of a pain as that could be, I bet you could pick it up really quickly and it come second nature! I just ordered the Revel pump with CGM yesterday myself, so of course I would say order that! lol...But seeing that your not wanting to use the pump feature at this point, $2000 is alot of money! Its so crazy how much of a hassle insurance makes this I swear!
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I'm not too surprised, a CGM is not considered a necessary medical device in any country so having it covered is luck of the draw.
I'm NOT good at math. I have a carb ratio of 2:15 and I can't figure out my dose without a calculater. I use one to add, subtract, multiple, divide, etc. Math was always my worst subject in school. On top of that, I would be spending more Canadian (except now when we're almost at par) for the same thing I could get in Canada, out of pocket to the US. It seems as logical as buying the pump but not using it.
I would tend to agree that in your shoes I would probably get the Dexcom (money issues aside). Instead of doing 'math' I would switch your meter to measure the US units too and just retrain yourself to think of your target BG as 120 instead of 7. So really, no math. <70 is low, >150 is high, etc. (all numbers are just for example).
Canada's medical device approval system really sucks. It is SOOOO slow. at my last job, we were trying to get new sizes of an already approved device added to our approval and it took MONTHS. very frustrating.
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THanks for the suggestion, but not going to happen. I'd be using a calculator everytime I tested. After 16years, I can't change with the snap of my fingers to md/gl =/ I know already it would drive me nuts and getting a dexcom that isn't in mmol/l would drive me nuts, hence why i've given up on that idea.
I like how we don't just approve stuff without proving it's okay..but yeah its a pain.
after sleeping on it, i've decided to have a chat with the nurse at the local D clinic and see if I can find out when they think they will get the iPro's in. It doesn't seem like any of the options other than not going with a CGM are really going to work for me currently due to money. It's too bad Canada's Pharmacare doesn't cover it..cuz then I could atleast write a letter of appeal to the insurance company.
i feel your frustration! the decision is totally up to you! however, i would say don't get the pump just to get the cgm if you don't want it.
can your minimed rep see if you can get a trial run of the cgm? i know people whose endo's have been able to get them at least a 3-day trial run with cgm.
i use the minimed pump and cgm, and love it! it works for me. it seems like both minimed and dexcom work for some people and not for others. i know people who've switched from one company to the other because one didn't work for them. the minimed works for me. a friend helped me by telling me to calibrate every time i test, as long as there's no arrows. it's more than minimed says to, but it works for me.
The LORD 'tests' us all the time. That principle is all over the place in the bible. Every person's walk of faith is different. The LORD may save a person from a car accident, allow an (innocent) person to be involved in a car accident, and also allow someone else's decisions cause an accident. The same goes for this disease. Someone may be saved from diabetes (with God *all* things are possible). Someone may develop diabetes with no indication whatsoever that they were going to develop it. Others (ie me) may develop diabetes as a result of things said or done.........certain lifestyles *may* increase the likelihood of developing diabetes. When I was experiencing the early symptoms I believe the LORD 'told' me that, because of my incredible pride and arrogance, I was going to live life in a broken body.
Phil 2:12 says to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"........That doesn't mean you work *for* your salvation (the work has already been done)......it means you have to work out (like a math problem) to determine what is from God and what is from the enemy and what is neutral.....we need to determine what is FOR us, what is AGAINST us and what can work either way.
James and Peter were both arrested (Acts 12). God's plan was for James to be martyred and for Peter to escape.
Everyone's path is different, but we need to walk with each other to encourage each other and help each other 'work out' what is from God and what is not.
Diabetes, as well as other diseases, isn't the sin. As a consequence of sin entering this world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden we must realize that there will be trials, rough times, diseases, etc. that occur in our lives and in our lifetime. There is no avoiding it. Who knows why God allows me to have asthma and pre-diabetes or why my hubby has Type 1. Do I have asthma because I sinned against God? I don't think so. Can God use me because of my disease? Absolutely!
Let's not let our diseases control us. God is in control and He will use all circumstances and all things for His purposes (though we may not understand them fully).
I am also a Christian! I wouldn't be anywhere without him, my families gone through a great deal of losses lately but we're strong in faith and we know that god would not give us anything that we wouldn't be able to handle.
Jesus Christ is LORD! I don't know any stronger way of saying it. :)
If I hadn't had God in the last several years of my life (coping with diabetes) I don't know how I would have survived. He's what keeps me going because I know he has a plan for me, even with diabetes.
"Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world". If you have Jesus Christ in your life, no matter what denomination you are in, he will give you all the help you need to cope with diabetes, and He clearly has a plan for you!