Grading On the Curve

Well, we're coming up on two weeks of bliss, my litte TGMS and I. Which calls for some thoughts on the learning curve of this bad boy.

Point form, in no particular order, here is what I've learned:

- The sensor/transmitter is not called a CGMS. Minimed has coined it a TGMS. Betcha can't guess what that means, eh? I'll make it easy on you...google it. OK, OK. It's a Telemetered Glucose Monitoring System. All this name change refers to is the automatic, wireless transmission of data to the pump (specifically: biotelemetry).

- After a frustrating first few days, I finally clued in about the following:
      - If the sensor is bleeding, profusely, it is not deep enough
      - If the pump keeps blaring the calibration error over and over and over, the sensor has NOT    been inserted properly
      - If there is a big difference between manual BG and the TGMS BG (big meaning more than 1.0mmol) the sensor is not inserted properly
      - If you can't guess, I had some initial insertion problems. Remember I told you about the    spontaneous hemorrhaging problem I was having? Well, it caused a lot of the above problems. Errors up the ying yang. So I smartened up and looked for the root cause: the sensor. I followed logic, and the massive amount of blood that was occurring could've only been caused by one thing - surface veins. So I inserted the next set just a leeeetle bit deeper. My CDE/pump trainer had advised that depth of insertion was so important...and I learned that it is. As long as you aren't depending solely on the inserter to pick the right depth.

- So, to sum up the above: if you're getting scads and scads of errors (calibration error, bad sensor, whatever) or BG readings 1.0mmol+ above or below your glucometer, you can safely assume that you are not inserting the sensor properly.

- Sensors will last SEVEN days. Yep, you read me right. I wore my last one (which was the first insertion fix) for seven whole days. And it worked fabulously. No decrease in accuracy. No redness or infection when the sensor was removed. In fact, it looks better than many of my insulin insertion sites do!

- I can hide the transmitter part (which is a bit bulky) by setting it directly under my breast when the sensor is on my abdomen. Or near my armpit when it's on my arm. Voila, it is practically invisible!

- IV3000 sucks. My big. Fat. Toe. It lifts after two days of wear. Uggg I hate it!!! I have always used OpSite Flexifix for needle sets, and after using the IV3000 that was included with my transmitter when I first got the 522...well, I'll just keep on using the OpSite, thank you very much.

- Instant granola makes my BG level spike slightly within a half hour of eating, after which it normalizes. An hour later (about) it causes another, larger peak that does not instantly come back down. I can now dual wave with precision for this, and hold my P.P. (post-prandial) glucose peak levels below 9.0 mmol. It rocks!!

- I never calibrate if the Sensor Isig is below 5.00. I can calibrate successfully on a low BG as long as the Isig is above this number; otherwise, the sensor readings get wacked and I have to recalibrate to normalize.

- The pump will not lose the transmitter signal when it is sitting eight feet away from me while I'm in the shower. But if I sleep directly on the transmitter, 9 times out of 10 I'll get a weak signal error.

- The Solutions software does not work with the 522. Excuse me a moment while I wipe away my tears... I tried it. And tried. Nope, sorry. No Paradigm pump detected. So now I am consigned to using the CareLink program. Which is passable, but in no way is it as versatile as the Solutions Software. (Are you listening, Minimed???)

As promised, the good/bad post will be making its way here soon (sorry, Andrea).

Comments

[Andrea]

This is awesome :)... I'm trying to suck in all this great info that you are SO kind to share with us. So when time comes, I'll be prepared and know what to expect :).

As for the good/bad post... I'm doing my best to be patient, which is not my strong suit, but I know your post will be worth the wait :).

Thanks again for sharing your experiences :).

[Sandra Miller]

Fantastic post, Tiffany!

Getting a CGMS for Joseph will be the next big step in his diabetes care, thus the information you share here is of tremendous value to us (as I'm sure it is to all of your readers).

Thanks so much for taking the time to document your experience.

[type1steve]

Thanks for the great post! I've ordered my Paradigm 522 and CGMS transmitter; should be getting the whole thing in the next month (hopefully). Pretty excited (been T1 30yrs, ouch, on pump for 20yrs)Where did you buy the OpSite Flexifix?