Dexcom G6

[Adam 48]

Hi all, my daughter has today been fitted with the Dexcom G6. Obviously we've been reading up on it, but would appreciate some first hand reviews /advise.
Thank You

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Have you got the follow app set up? It means you can see what her numbers are and get alarms etc without bugging her. If you have an Apple phone and put it on do not disturb overnight you can link to Sugarmate and make it one of your favourites so you get calls in the night if she’s hypo.

We don’t have high alarms on her phone as we correct highs at meals but do have hypo alarms. On ours we can set various alarms so we’re notified what’s going on.

Is it linked to a pump?

We generally like it but it is tempting to check in every time you’re on your phone and can make you hyper alert so keep an eye on your anxiety levels and try not to micro manage her levels just because you can see what’s happening.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope you get on well with it @Adam 48

I’ve been using it since last year, and I think it’s the sensor which suits me best of all the ones I’ve tried. I love that it doesn’t need calibrating, but you *can* calibrate if you ever need to.

Hope you find it gives you helpful information, and makes it easier to roll with the ebb and flow of diabetes.

Just remember that the results will be most helpful where BGs are relatively stable. Where things are moving rapidly or switching direction, the sensor lag can mean you have to be careful not to overreact (eg double-treating a low because the sensor is showing the level from 10 minutes ago)

Good luck! Dexcom G6 really helps me live more confidently with T1 and I hope it helps you and your daughter do the same 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

The only issues I have with the G6 is how inaccurate it is when on the low side or when out of range (above 10) if a set has failed (pump) I can be sitting at 4.5 and it starts shouting at me that I'm dangerously low as down to 3.1 and dropping fast! So checks meter yet again to find still sitting at 4.5.

Customer service is fabulous though.

 

[Adam 48]

Thank you for your replies. It is not yet linked to her Tandem, they are doing that next week : but she has it linked to her phone and apple watch, and my wife and I have the follower app. Really hope it works out and my daughter can get on with life without thinking about her diabetes as much as she does currently!

 

[SB2015]

I am using a different system (Medtronic 780) but it follows the same principles as the Tandem with the Dexcom. I took a good while to get used to letting the pump do it’s automatic correction, but I now definitely think a lot less about my Diabetes. I find that the pump sorts out my levels if I was a bit out with the carbs, if I get a bit stressed it brings me back in range without my intervention, ….

It may take a bit of time to get things settled once she is linking the sensor to the pump, but then I hope that it works out well for your daughter.

 

[Adam 48]

I am using a different system (Medtronic 780) but it follows the same principles as the Tandem with the Dexcom. I took a good while to get used to letting the pump do it’s automatic correction, but I now definitely think a lot less about my Diabetes. I find that the pump sorts out my levels if I was a bit out with the carbs, if I get a bit stressed it brings me back in range without my intervention, ….

It may take a bit of time to get things settled once she is linking the sensor to the pump, but then I hope that it works out well for your daughter.

Thank you, I'm sure it'll work out OK. I must admit though, we are slightly concerned with putting full trust in the Dexcom and pump when it is linked, which is what our Diabetic Nurse has told us we must do. For certain meals, eg pasta, rice, we have always split the insulin. Our nurse has told us unless it's a high fat meal, to not do this. After two years of analysing each meal and how we should administer the insulin, to "all in one go"... That is going to take a bit of getting used to!

 

[Adam 48]

Also, another question regarding the Dexcom, which I have felt awkward asking our Diab team...up until 3 weeks ago, they were adamant that Erin didn't "meet the criteria" to have the G6. Fair enough, but as we have the Tandem, it seemed to make sense to have a sensor that links to it? We said that we would fund it ourselves, and they still seemed not keen? What seemed to change their attitude, was when they looked at how often my daughter scanned her Libre during a typical school day? And, in that appointment the designated psychiatrist was present via zoom... I could be over thinking it, but I feel that the amount of scanning Erin was doing, prompted the change of position?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Our nurse has told us unless it's a high fat meal, to not do this. After two years of analysing each meal and how we should administer the insulin, to "all in one go"... That is going to take a bit of getting used to!

That’s slightly surprising advice to my mind. I do agree that to begin with it’s important to allow some weeks where you pretty much let CIQ do its thing, so that you can see how it copes, but I wasn’t told that extended to abandoning tried and tested (and successful) dosing strategies for slow release meals.

If you do experiment with ‘all up front’ keep a close eye on BGs, and see whether some sort of extended bolus might be worth trying? It’s still an option when Control IQ is running.

 

[Adam 48]

Hi, yes we were a bit disconcerted when they said this. I'm not criticising our Diab team at all, they've been excellent since day one. But they said unless it's a meal of say fish and chips or pizza (Erin eats neither of these) to administer the full amount of insulin. We're going to have to have a chat amongst ourselves before doing this, I'm not on board with it to be fair!

 

[Thebearcametoo]

We do split bolus for things like pasta when we remember. In theory the algorithm works and it certainly cuts out a lot of hypos for us but it doesn’t stop all of them. It’s not a bad idea to begin with to see how well the algorithm works for her and then adjust how your manage the pump once you have that info. The pump dexcom combo is amazing but it does need babysitting a fair bit. It’s not straight forward plug and play.

 

[SB2015]

It’s still an option when Control IQ is running

Again it shows that the TSlim seems to be a step up from the 780 with offering this option, as well as the ability to base auto basal rates on your own reductions Where you know they are needed.
I shall be interested to see how Medtronic respond to the competition.

I find that with all pumps there is a difference between the theory and the practice. As you say @Adam 48 it is sharing our tips and tricks on what works for each of us, that gives each of us a wider set of options to try.

I look forward to hearing how things go.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Again it shows that the TSlim seems to be a step up from the 780 with offering this option, as well as the ability to base auto basal rates on your own reductions Where you know they are needed.
I shall be interested to see how Medtronic respond to the competition.

Makes me wonder if the clinic are more used to the Medtronic ‘automode‘ where leaving it to do its thing is more important?

 

[SB2015]

Makes me wonder if the clinic are more used to the Medtronic ‘automode‘ where leaving it to do its thing is more important?

That does sound quite likely.

Sometimes the nurses seem to be one phase behind, for example I get responses from them which would be relevant for the Medtronic 670 but no longer apply to the 780. At least I now know enough about my system to realise this. Certainly I am now able to let the pump just get on with its job the majority of the time. It still needs a bit of help when doing exercise.