Still on Backorder

One week, and my diabetes glucose sensors are still on backorder. I ran out of sensors 7 days ago, so I'm back to full time finger stick'n. I really forgot how tough it was to control the blood glucose levels with only 'Point in time" finger sticks. So, I'm going to rant a bit.
Let me clarify this point. The finger sticks only tell you where you are. You have no idea where you've been, or where you are going. Kind of like a police officer radar'ing traffic. He may stop you for traveling 75 mph, but he doesn't know you WERE going 95 mph before you slammed on the brakes.

With the real time blood sugar monitoring system, you see the trends of your blood sugar levels. So, yesterday I tested my sugar (since I'm out of sensors) and noticed my sugar was 200. What I didn't know was if my levels were dropping quickly, staying steady, or increasing quickly. You just aren't 100% on how to react. Give a bolus, stay put, or prepare of a low blood sugar.

Let's give a short quiz.

If you took your blood sugar and at Noon and it was 200, what would you do?

a. Bolus
b. Do nothing
c. Prepare for a low blood sugar level

Now, let me add a bit of background to this scenario: At 11:30 am, your sugar was 300, at 11:45 am it was 250 and noon it was 200. Would this change your action plan...you bet it would. This is what the continuous glucose monitoring systems provide you...the history and the ability to see if you are trending up, down or staying consistent.

Please, please, I hope my sensors come in soon.....................

Sensor Error FAQ

Glucose Sensor Error? What do I do now?

After having my minimed paradigm real time glucose meter for about 5 months, I'm already becoming pretty good at getting those darn sensors to work for about 7-8 days. Let's face it, these little buggers are expensive and my absolute last option is to discard the sensor prior to me getting the mileage from it. Listed below are some of the errors my pump has reported, and how I went about getting them to work: (Please remember, that I am sharing my experiences!!!! I am NOT a doctor or a minimed representative. Read at your own risk)

Sensor Calibration Error: This one can be tricky. This usually occurs when your minimed pump glucose readings are "way" out of wack with your recent finger stick. Now, this can be the death of a good sensor. But, like I said earlier, I always try to work it out. For example, your minimed unit is reading a 140 glucose level, and your finger prick reads 220. After entering in the calibration reading of 220, you meter could come back with a calibration error. At this point I usually tell the meter to start a "New Sensor". After going through the abbreviated calibration (doesn't take 2 hours), the sensor usually works just fine. After this, I tend to finger check more often to ensure the pump and meter values are functioning correctly. If this doesn't work, and the calibration error continues, your only choice is to discard the sensor.

Sensor Error: Just the other day, I was going through the 2 hour calibration timeframe, when my pump chirped at me....Sensor Error. Boy, this was my first day on this sensor, and I wasn't going to through in the towel yet. When this occurs, I usually can tell the pump to start a "New Sensor" and things will work just fine.

Lost or Weak Signal: This has to be my favorite (kidding) error of them all. The transmitter is supposed to have a 4-6 foot wireless range, but I'll be darned if I get 1 foot at the most. I have found that if my PDA phone has the wi-fi networking turned on, it disrupts my sensor to pump connection. If this is not the case for me, sometimes I actually apply some pressure to the sensor infusion site for a couple of minutes. I've actually seen the transmitter green light blink. This tells me that the sensor wire was not seated correctly.

I will share some more experiences shortly. 9 out of 10 times, I'm able to recover from my sensor's errors. I look forward to insurance coverage!

Sensors are on Backorder?

Well, this is not good. I just placed an order for a refill of minimed Medtronic glucose sensors for my Minimed Real Time system (CGMS). Minimed just notified me that the sensors are on BACKORDER...yes you heard me correctly....BACKORDER! One more time... a medical device supply is on BACKORDER. The personal sales representative had NO idea on when they would be available, but thought it could be a month or so.

Anyone that is seriously considering moving to a real time glucose system, should really think twice about Minimed. I have to admit, I've been very pleased with the unit itself, but what good is the unit, if you can't get the sensors.

Not only did I sit on a three month waiting list to get the sensors in the first place, now it appears that Minimed can't keep up with demand. I cannot express in words, how unhappy and frustrated I am with this. If you can't service your existing customers with supplies, then stop selling new units.

Here is the other insane aspect of this: The battery transmitter is only good for 6 months, and after than timeframe it begins to loss the ability to hold an charge. I will now have a possible one month timeframe gap, of when my transmitter will be sitting idle awaiting more sensors. Even more frustrating, is that once your transmitter die's, you have to spend $900 on a new one. Don't forget the fact, that I also pay about $200 a month out of my own pocket for the glucose sensors.

I currently have a call to Minimed management to address my concern. I will keep you posted.

First A1C

Just went to my doctor and received the results of my A1C. In just 2 months, I dropped my value from a 7.5 to a 6.9. This is incredible to me. I was also one of the first patients my doctor has on the CGMS, and we was able to review my new daily reports with ease. He offered suggestions that would not have been possible without knowing your values every 5 minutes.

The coolest thing I have noticed is my levels during exercise. I've begun to roadbike in the morning. I assumed that my levels would drop heavily during biking. What I've uncovered is excactly the opposite. If I started biking at a 140 glucose, my levels would actually rise a bit and level off. For some reason, after biking 10 miles, my body doesn't drop in glucose.

I will also begin to share my experience with trying to get my insurance company to pay for the sensors. They are just getting submitted this week. I'm able to use a sensor for about 7 days, but havent' been able to go much longer than that. This allows me to spend only $150 a month on 4 sensors. Not bad for the freedom it delivers.
Please leave a comment if you'd like to share your thoughts.