Welcome to my first entry to the Diabetes Sucks! blog. My name is David and after having Type 1 diabetes for 15 years and on a pump for over 5 years, I was inspired to start this blog to discuss my daily findings of use of MiniMed’s Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS).
Although the name of the website is crude, it serves as a reminder of the reality of the disease. It is my intention that through this blog, I might assist others who are using the MiniLink CGMS. It is might belief that it is quite an extraordinary piece of technology.
I just saw a piece on the television show DLife regarding new technologies. One comment by Nicole Johnson Baker was that “CGMS are not there yet.” But I argue that they are quite here! I am finding it an amazing tool in controlling my blood glucose. I have been monitoring the technology and when I first saw MiniMed’s first CGMS product, I was intrigued. But I did not run out to purchase it. However, after seeing the small size of the transmitter (the portion that connects to the sensor) and after speaking to people using it, I was compelled to give it a try and purchase the “starter kit.” The starter kit included 10 sensors, the transmitter and the charger. The cost was $1000 but I had a $500 credit in my account for a pump I returned after its warranty was over. My insurance company will pay for a new pump every four years.
However, there are some things one should know prior to starting using it.
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This is yet another item you must have connected to your body. -
Readings usually lag around 20 minutes to your actual blood glucose reading. I actually found the lag was around 15 minutes.
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Most insurance companies will not pay for it as of yet. The sensors are $35 each. The longest I have continuously worn the same sensor was for 7 days but I have heard others wearing it for three times longer.
In the coming entries, I will report on the pros and cons of the device. But I will say right from the onset, I am extremely positive regarding the device. Because it is such a powerful tool, I have set my self a personal goal to get my A1c reading fro 7 to 6.5 in the next six months.
There is truly so much I have learned in just the past few weeks and I hope to share these things each day.
