Recent Posts in General Discussion

Nov 1, 2014

NilesCrane 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Have been informed on diabetessupport message board that the cellnovo pump is available on NHS so I'm still not sure. I'll ask my diabetic nurse when I see her later this month. I keep you informed.

Nov 1, 2014

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi,

Has anyone in Australia ventured to CGMs?

What is the total cost?
What is the learning curve...and who teaches you?
What is the upside? Downsides?

My pump runs out of guarantee in a few months and am thinking of going with a CGM (also thinking of changing manufacturers!).Have not had a happy experience with the two diabetic educators I have tried and am cautious of this next step. Both CDEs were more interested in building up a client base that they saw every month rather than "educating" you about your pump and how to work with it. AAARRRRGGGHHHHHHHHH!

Helen

Nov 5, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

how old is your pump Helen?

If I remember correctly you had to buy your own pump?

Does that mean you will be getting a new one soon?

It sounds as though your thinking of replacing the pump with a CGM, but obviously that isn't how it works........ Smile

Nov 5, 2014

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi Novorapidboi!

The pump is technically 4 years old although about two years ago I was given an updated version. My private health fund "believes" I still have the original. Here in Australia if you have private health insurance often your health fund will pay for the pump thinking it will cost them less in the long run. So the fund paid the $AUD7000
and if I can persuade them to replace it I will get a new one when mine is 5 years old and technically out of warranty. The pump I have has the CGM function so what I have to buy is the receiver ($AUD810), the transmitter ($AUD580) and a pack of 5 sensors ($AUD410). I am told by the company that the sensors last 7 days but trawling the net tells me that by fiddling with the pump you can persuade it to restart on the existing sensor as if it is new and get another 7 days. People have recorded that they have had them last for as long as 30 days but a significant number report a life of between 20-25 days. Therefore price is expected to be between $12 and $4 a day just for the sensors. Problems with keeping it in place seems to be another issue... The tape gunk etc will add to the cost. So $AUD1000 to start and them the daily cost of the sensors!

Another issue I have is that the companies seem to lose interest in you once they have their money so when I am due for a new one I was thinking of changing to a Medtronic (we seem to have only two types available here).

The health fund will not come to the party with the CGM but I am having increasing difficulty keeping the BGs "flat" and my HbA1c is slowly rising. so I thought I would look at the CGM. Something to do with age/insulin sensitivity? Feeling very frustrated.

Helen

Nov 6, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

What was your last HbA1c?

It seems like a lot of money to me............

I still cant get on board with having a CGM full time unless you need it to identify hypos if your unaware of them.........

The readings you get aren't in real time and you need to calibrate the CGM regularly with blood glucose results.........

They would be good for overnight testing as well especially if your on a pump as you can program your basal every half hour........

so good in the short term yeah..........

but for constant use, I don't see why........... Smile

Nov 6, 2014

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

We are on the old money so it was 7.6.

I spoke to someone with the CGM and her HbA1c has gone from the mid 7s to the low 6s. She has it on all the time and says that once you get used to it you are reluctant to take it off. Does acknowledge the time difference but says it is the trend function that she really likes. Initially was only going to use it to fine tune the basals but now with the specialist's help is thrilled with the increasingly good HbA1cs. Consecutive days with all readings well within target. Failures with the pump and you are alerted to these much more quickly especially during the night.

My hypos are not a problem as I get "silent migraines" when BG gets to about 3.8 and sometimes as early as 4.2. They are the best sort of migraines and totally reliable as a hypo warning. Tesselation pattern in my L eye graduating to blind spots but no pain.

I also think it is a lot of money but I want to be in better health when I am older!

Helen

Nov 16, 2014

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

I started on Omnipod last week after >40 years of injections. Still learning about it and adjusting basal and bolus levels but initial feedback is very positive. I've seen a 30% decrease in insulin usage (TDD), so that will counter some of the additional costs, and having to dispose of any unused insulin every 3 days when the pod is changed. On that subject I expect to reduce the amount I fill the pod with, once I have a clearer idea of amount I'm using in 3 days.

The only problems I'd mention are:

integral meter in PDM uses original Abbott Freestyle (not Lite) strips. As far as I can see it's no longer possible to buy a standalone meter that uses these strips, so any fallback (which was advised in my training) requires carrying another meter and strips
no means of recording correction carbs due to hypo
no means of adding text comments to any entries. As a result I'm still using dafneonline app to record bolus, BS and carb data with comments
no access to data stored in PDM except through provided PC software and pdf format export

Is it worth having? Yes so far. The real test will be with HBA1c readings and improved hypo awareness in future.

Nov 1, 2014 NilesCrane 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Have been informed on diabetessupport message board that the cellnovo pump is available on NHS so I'm still not sure. I'll ask my diabetic nurse when I see her later this month. I keep you informed.

Nov 1, 2014 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi, Has anyone in Australia ventured to CGMs? What is the total cost? What is the learning curve...and who teaches you? What is the upside? Downsides? My pump runs out of guarantee in a few months and am thinking of going with a CGM (also thinking of changing manufacturers!).Have not had a happy experience with the two diabetic educators I have tried and am cautious of this next step. Both CDEs were more interested in building up a client base that they saw every month rather than "educating" you about your pump and how to work with it. AAARRRRGGGHHHHHHHHH! Helen

Nov 5, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps how old is your pump Helen? If I remember correctly you had to buy your own pump? Does that mean you will be getting a new one soon? It sounds as though your thinking of replacing the pump with a CGM, but obviously that isn't how it works........

Nov 5, 2014 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi Novorapidboi! The pump is technically 4 years old although about two years ago I was given an updated version. My private health fund "believes" I still have the original. Here in Australia if you have private health insurance often your health fund will pay for the pump thinking it will cost them less in the long run. So the fund paid the $AUD7000 and if I can persuade them to replace it I will get a new one when mine is 5 years old and technically out of warranty. The pump I have has the CGM function so what I have to buy is the receiver ($AUD810), the transmitter ($AUD580) and a pack of 5 sensors ($AUD410). I am told by the company that the sensors last 7 days but trawling the net tells me that by fiddling with the pump you can persuade it to restart on the existing sensor as if it is new and get another 7 days. People have recorded that they have had them last for as long as 30 days but a significant number report a life of between 20-25 days. Therefore price is expected to be between $12 and $4 a day just for the sensors. Problems with keeping it in place seems to be another issue... The tape gunk etc will add to the cost. So $AUD1000 to start and them the daily cost of the sensors! Another issue I have is that the companies seem to lose interest in you once they have their money so when I am due for a new one I was thinking of changing to a Medtronic (we seem to have only two types available here). The health fund will not come to the party with the CGM but I am having increasing difficulty keeping the BGs "flat" and my HbA1c is slowly rising. so I thought I would look at the CGM. Something to do with age/insulin sensitivity? Feeling very frustrated. Helen

Nov 6, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps What was your last HbA1c? It seems like a lot of money to me............ I still cant get on board with having a CGM full time unless you need it to identify hypos if your unaware of them......... The readings you get aren't in real time and you need to calibrate the CGM regularly with blood glucose results......... They would be good for overnight testing as well especially if your on a pump as you can program your basal every half hour........ so good in the short term yeah.......... but for constant use, I don't see why...........

Nov 6, 2014 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps We are on the old money so it was 7.6. I spoke to someone with the CGM and her HbA1c has gone from the mid 7s to the low 6s. She has it on all the time and says that once you get used to it you are reluctant to take it off. Does acknowledge the time difference but says it is the trend function that she really likes. Initially was only going to use it to fine tune the basals but now with the specialist's help is thrilled with the increasingly good HbA1cs. Consecutive days with all readings well within target. Failures with the pump and you are alerted to these much more quickly especially during the night. My hypos are not a problem as I get "silent migraines" when BG gets to about 3.8 and sometimes as early as 4.2. They are the best sort of migraines and totally reliable as a hypo warning. Tesselation pattern in my L eye graduating to blind spots but no pain. I also think it is a lot of money but I want to be in better health when I am older! Helen

Nov 16, 2014 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps I started on Omnipod last week after >40 years of injections. Still learning about it and adjusting basal and bolus levels but initial feedback is very positive. I've seen a 30% decrease in insulin usage (TDD), so that will counter some of the additional costs, and having to dispose of any unused insulin every 3 days when the pod is changed. On that subject I expect to reduce the amount I fill the pod with, once I have a clearer idea of amount I'm using in 3 days. The only problems I'd mention are: integral meter in PDM uses original Abbott Freestyle (not Lite) strips. As far as I can see it's no longer possible to buy a standalone meter that uses these strips, so any fallback (which was advised in my training) requires carrying another meter and strips no means of recording correction carbs due to hypo no means of adding text comments to any entries. As a result I'm still using dafneonline app to record bolus, BS and carb data with comments no access to data stored in PDM except through provided PC software and pdf format export Is it worth having? Yes so far. The real test will be with HBA1c readings and improved hypo awareness in future.