I have been using my upper thighs with the Medtronic guardian 3 since December of last year . It is very comfortable and easily accessible. The only reason it isn’t FDA approved is that Medtronic did not present it to the FDA as a recommended site.
I too had miserable luck with it in my abdomen.
But with the thigh site I don’t even feel it there. I don’t have any issue with clothing and it says on well with bathing suit, swimming and sun tan lotion.
My only complaint is the constant reminder to calibrate when it really doesn’t need it as the numbers are on target with finger sticks.
I don’t use auto mode as I have not had much luck with staying in auto mode. It also frequently left me basal deficient
Medtronic has a recall on their web site to change out your transmitter if it has a certain serial number. It is to better accommodate staying in auto mode
I just did that 2 weeks ago but have not retried auto mode yet.
@Anne98, that’s good to know. I think that I might try my thigh next time,to give my arms a break.
I get your point about the notifications. Man, it’s tough. For some reason they seem to get particularly persistent when I’m driving in heavy traffic, in a meeting, etc.
I’ve been in Auto mode almost all the time over the last month. I’m not sure if it’s giving me enough all the time either. I go high at times, unless I bolus. I shouldn’t have to awake at 2:00 a.m. to bolus, when I’m not going to eat any carbs, just to stay under 150.
I’ve had some issues with my CGM, but, not as much as others. It drives me crazy, normally on insertion day, but, then usually settles down though I get MANY notifications that seem off. . I have requested a new one and not sure when it will come.
Meeting soon with Endo and CDE to get some guidance.
Libre - Loved it. Worked great. didn’t do alarms, but since it’s right there and I check it frequently so I doubt very seriously a severe low would sneak up on me. I’ve had T1 for 41 years and have not had to have anyone help me with a low in decades. So am not too worried about that aspect of it. I liked that it was NOT all tech geeked out liked the G6. I have ZERO desire to share my results with anyone except my doc. (Would be great if you had a T1 kid however) The ergonomic features of the reader are better. You can see averages and scroll back though the previous days. When you put notes in, you can actually see when you did it. It is a much smarter designed and technically stable product IMHO. I only had to have one sensor replaced in one year.
Dexcom - My new insurance provider does not cover Libre so I got the recommended Dexcom G6. When it’s working, it’s great. I’ve just had a lot of problems with sensor failures. If they don’t last 10 full days, I call and they send me a new one. In 1 1/2 years I’ve probably gotten at least 10 replaced. Things I don’t like are not being able to see the notes of what I ate and dosed on the reader. I also don’t like that I can’t scroll back to previous days and can only see last 24hours.
NOTE: I use the Reader. If you use a smart phone and can do some of these things please let me know.
Bottom line: As someone who has used both, if I had my preference regardless to cost I would select the FreeStyle Libre.
Hi Anne, I was interested to see your question as I have similar issues with medtronic guardian Cgm. I’m on a medtronic 640g pump so no closed loop available, the only reason for having the sensor in my view is so that my pump will stop delivering insulin if my levels get too low which is unfortunately a daily occurrence for me. As you say having to ring medtronic each time you have a faulty sensor is tiring at best. Some sensors are OK but a large number of them only work to 4 or 5 days. As I’m paying for them, it’s an expensive game. If there were other sensors available that linked directly to my pump I would jump at the chance to move away from medtronic but there aren’t tight now. The dexcom 6 seems to be far more accurate to me from what I’ve seen. Until I can swop I’ll need to keep using the medtronic cgm. I think it all depends if you have frequent lows or not, if not then changing to another suppliers Cgm may work for you. Best of luck.
Hi All
i took the big leap and changed to Dexcom 6 over the summer. So far, very happy with it
I wear it in my thigh and don’t even know its there
I also took a bigger leap and have gone on to Omni Pod. (right now the original system but will be changing to the DASH onm y next order)
My 670g failed and as I was so tired of all the calibration and alarms , I used it as my opportunity to change.
I had been on Omni Pod in the past but with out a sensor.
The CGM .definitely helps me to stay on track
I had a bit of diabetes burn out going on and so far these 2 system together have helped.
I just came back from a 8 day vacation in Disney (my husband and I travel a lot) and my biggest draw back was the PDM is difficult to use in sunlight.
So hang in there everybody, change can be a good thing and a hard thing and I realize insurance plays a big roll here but advocate for yourselves
Hey I have had the dexacom g6 for a little over 8 months now and its life changing! Never have to calibrate it its extremely accurate there has only been about 3 times that it’s been inaccurate for me and 2 failed sensors but other than that it’s been amazing. plus it connects with my tandemx2 pump that I got 4 weeks ago
Check out the new technology at eversensediabetes.com It’s a pretty amazing implantable sensor changed once every 3 months at your doctors office during a short visit.
The 6 will integrate with the Omni Pod Horizon when that comes out (which will hopefully be with in a year.)
I’ve read that there is a push to make sensors and pumps interchangeable with each other.
thanks for your input. I feel that if you have to keep calibrating the sensor, how can you trust it
Obviously a VERY personal decision. My daughter has been on the Medtronic CGM for about 4 years now. Although I love Medtronic in general the adhesives really tear up her arms. She also lives in a very humid area in the summers so she’s using even extra tape just to keep it on like “Rock Tape”. I always tell people who ask nothing has to be permanent. You can always try one product and most companies here make it advantageous to make a change and try theirs. I’m also concerned with scar tissue build up on her so I like the idea of less need for change from every week to every 3 months sounds appealing to me personally.
I was using the Guardian 3 with my 670 G and loved the closed loop. Just went on Medicare and had to switch to Dexcom 5g. Got a letter saying the next refill will be the 6g and that Medicare won’t pay for test strips any longer since they are not needed with 6g. This makes me a bit nervous🙁.
By the way, I use my upper thigh and the accuracy is great. So much easier than the other recommended sites.
Hi Patricia
I understand your concern about the test strips and finger sticks
It’s hard to change brain waves when it has been so ingrained in us
I have found that Medtronic made me not trust the sensor because of all the calibrations
Since changing to the Dexcom 6 I’ve done very few finger sticks
I stopped getting test strips from the pharmacy several years ago and started getting them thru Amazon ( I use contour)
Turned out to be cheaper than my pharmacy co pays
And now I do not do very many finger sticks
I read my blood glucose off the app on my phone so it’s always handy
I don’t always carry my test kit but pick and choose the scenarios
Anne
I’ll be Medicare eligible next year and do not relish the thought of arguing with them on how to control my diabetes
Within the. next few years, most pump systems will have closed loop capability’s
I don’t know how long Medicare can drag their heels and try to pull us backwards
Hi Anne @Anne98, it certainly sounds as if you have made a wise choice; I will be changing from the G5 to the G6 later this year. I’ve been under Medicare since August 1, 2010 and my change will be “automatic” - doesn’t require me to take any steps unless a new prescription is due at that time.
You will find that if Medicare is paying for your G6 that the cost of BG Check-strips will not be covered; as the G6 “doesn’t need calibration”, the BG Check-strips are considered duplicate payment. Based on my experience, you may find dealing with Medicare is more cut-and-dried and easier to use than commercial, employer provided insurance and that Medicare will cost you less out-of-pocket; I had employer provided medical insurance from 1960 until 2010 except for ten years in the middle when I was self-employed.
Anne,
I have been using the Dexcom G5 for the past year and a half. I have been very happy. My Medtronic pump is going off warranty soon and I am thinking of staying with the same combination. I am on Medicare, so that’s another reason I won’t use the Guardian as it is not covered yet.
Roger
I just stumbled across this post and am intrigued - I’m always interested in gadgets, although that term did understated what this did.
I have a tendency to walk too close to walls and have scratched a number of watch crystals against a door frame. I’ve also loosened a few Dexcom G5 transmitters and sensors so I wonder how the Eversense stays in place (magnet, clip???) and how securely, I world love input from users. Thank you.
Dorie @wadawabbit, the Eversense is implanted under the skin by a physician; a user-replaceable double-sided adhesive patch is placed over the inserted implanted sensor and a transmitter is placed on that patch.
The web site is eversensediabetes.com
An advantage to this system is that accidental knock-off does not destroy the sensor and the transmitter is simply reapplied.
Thanks much @Dennis. You have aroused my curiosity and I might check it out with my endo at my next visit. I don’t know if she supports it or my insurance even covers it, but it never hurts to ask. Thank you for the info!
plus it connects with my tandemx2 pump that I got 4 weeks ago