Libre 1> 2 > dexcom g6 > what next?

[rachelshane]

I’m looking for some real life advice please!

I was very lucky and happy to be given libre 1 on prescription a couple of years ago. I purchased a bubblan Bluetooth receiver and watlaa watch. For me it was a great system. The watch worked stand alone so my mobile phone battery didn’t run down so fast.
I also had a reader for the libre 1 that also allowed me to test ketones in my blood.

Libre 1 was being discontinued by end of 2022- so my gp moved me to libre 2. I was no longer able to use my Bluetooth and watch so convenience went out the window.

My diabetes specialist nurse advised me that dexcom g6 was my replacement continuous glucose monitoring system. I had an appointment and technology lesson- and on my 4th one now.

My review of dexcom g6-

- 10 days duration drives me mad. It never needs changing on a convenient day- and the countdown time til sensor end is not accurate.
- I cannot find a way to make my watlaa watch work with it. So it is now defunct as is my bubblan so need to find a suitable forum to sell them on now as there is limited compatibility.
- the numbers seem more stable but I don’t like how the app views and how the data reports. I find it difficult to interpret and manage.

Also looking ahead in this year- my insulin pump needs to be changed. I have a Medtronic currently and get on with it fine. I think I’m being offered a tslim, another Medtronic or omnipod.
Are they all close loop options?
I don’t know if the guardian is available on the nhs- if that is 10 day duration?

Really struggling to find a system that fits with what I want from it.

Please share your advice.

My ideals are:

- Monitor that projects blood glucose onto a smart watch without phone in vicinity. Stand-alone.

- 14 days duration

- easy to use pump for a slight technophobe- I’d like it to have a belt clip for convenience to wear.

- I also make and sell my own patches- ideal4diabetes on Etsy / shabbychicrach on eBay. They help keep my sensor in place- as I play netball and fidget when I’m asleep so like to wear them for piece of mind. I like to wear them. The chunky dexcom g6 just irritates me although it can be placed almost anywhere!!!

All advice and help is much appreciated!!!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Tandem tSlim works with Dex G6 (which is why I self fund)

Dex G7 is smaller, newer, and (amazingly) cheaper. @mikeyB has just switched to that as a standalone CGM. But at the moment the tSlim software won’t work with G7, so hybrid closed loop would be out on G7. Still 10 day though.

@SB2015 uses MM780 with Guardian G4. G4 is 7 day wear. As far as I understand it the cost is roughly equivalent between Dex G6 and Medtronic G4, so of your clinic supports both, I would imagine you could try to get the Medtronic system of that seems better to you?

There have been long-running rumours about Libre 3 and a new Omnipod, but I don’t know when that might be available.

 

[helli]

If you liked the system you used with Libre 1, have you looked at xDrip for the Dexcom?

 

[SB2015]

I use the Medtronic 780G with the Gaurdian4 sensors which I self fund.

As @everydayupsanddowns says this is a 7 day sensor, which in theory I can change on the same day each week. However if one fails (which is always replaced) it shift the changeover.

I use closed loop. That means my pump and sensor have a chat every 5 min and use an algorithm to make adjustments to the basal insulin as necessary. In general I do nothing about the basal and let it get on with it. I can raise the target when I am about to do extended exercise, and for shorter periods I make adjustments to my carbs info if necessary. I have learnt to tweak to get it to do what I want it to do

It links to my phone without me doing anything. I have not tried to use a watch with it.

Happy to answer any questions that you have.

 

[SB2015]

Ps
The cost of the Medtronic sensors looks a little higher than the Dexcom but our transmitters last a full year (and beyond usually but then not under guarantee). I think that they are about the same overall.