First Week In Review

Ok, sorry for the delay in update, I've been spending most of my free time learning about my new pump and tuning my diabetes. I've now been wearing the Minimed RT CGMS for 7 days, all I have to say to everyone is YOU MUST GET ONE OF THESE!

There is something awesome and a feeling of freedom knowing your glucose numbers every 5 minutes. I'm going to attempt to present my findings in a Question and Answer format. If you'd like to ask me a question, leave a comment and I'll answer them. Just remember, I'm not a doctor or a health care provider. These are my experiences. You should not adjust anything with your diabetes based on my feedback.

Question: How is the new minilink transmitter?
Answer: I never had the larger older unit, but this little unit (pictured below) is barely noticeable. It is rechargeable and can hold a charge for up to 15 days. It is so small, that it doesn't even feel uncomfortable.

Question: How long does the glucose sensor's last?
Answer: I was able to wear my first sensor for 7 days. The insulin pump will tell you to replace the sensor after 72 hours of operation, but there are ways to restart the sensor. Note, I'm not recommending this practice, you should abide by the instructions by Minimed. However, since I'm paying for this out of my pocket, it makes it more affordable to stretch them out.

Question: Do you have to calibrate the unit?
Answer: After inserting a new sensor, the unit takes about 2 hours to calibrate. After 2 hours, the pump will tell you to take a finger prick blood sample. The unit takes the reading and calibrates it to the electrical current received by the sensor. It is best to start a new sensor when your blood sugar is not fluctuating. I change mine in the morning, and choose not to eat breakfast until the unit is calibrated. After that initial 2 hour calibration, you are required to take finger prick samples every 12 hours.

Question: Have you had a bad sensor or a sensor error?
Answer: Not yet. I've heard of people having problems, but I have not. The glucose values displayed on my pump have been very close to those via regular glucose testing.

Question: What is the best thing about using the CGMS unit?
Answer: By far, the best thing I've noticed is being able to watch my glucose trends. I can see my glucose increasing after meals, and decreasing when I take insulin. With my body, I've noticed that my insulin isn't reacting until almost a half hour after bolus. So, what I found in the first week, was that my blood glucose was increasing about 1 hour after I eat, and my insulin wasn't lowering it enough. So, I've actually started to take my insulin about 15 minutes before I eat. This has been keeping my levels in line.

More information to come. Please post some questions.