[Diabetes-talk] DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system...

Wed Feb 10 23:55:31 UTC 2016

I am in the process of upgrading from the G4 to the G5. The G4 still required you to have the Dexcom box which was not accessible to us and then you could connect through the Dexcom Share app on the iPhone. With the G5 we don't have to use the extra box. Being a long-time pump wearer, my issue is where to put the sensors. But people report that they actually last a very long time. The G4 transmitters lasted six months. I have figured out that the graphs on the G5 do exist as raw data so it shouldn't be very hard to somehow give us access to that data. I have an iPhone 6S but don't have the Apple watch. Since you can't really run the app in the background, it is a bit of a battery drain on the phone though. Not yet sure how far away from the phone I'll be able to get yet. I'm going through the insurance evaluation right now. 
As for MediCare, the last I heard there was a bill in congress which I think had gotten through the health committee, adding CGM to Medicare. Ridiculous that it took so long. I don't know the final result but there's a guy in New York that really took this one on so if it hasn't changed yet, I'm sure it's coming soon.
I don't have a problem with surprise lows but I'm trying to manage highs, what happens after meals, during stress and so on. I'm starting to get a bit worried about some places on my body that have had cannulas inserted for the past 25 years and aren't always happy these days so I want to catch any problems quicker than I am right now. 
In any case, I'm certainly adding my voice to those attempting to persuade Dexcom to make that raw data available in a form we can access in order to get the pattern information. For those who have trouble with lows, if you have a spouse or trusted friend, the Dexcom Share is really good because that special person would see your readings and get your alarms. Then if they couldn't rouse you on the phone, they could get help. I know lots of people, sighted, who make use of this feature.
And yes Bridgit, inserting the sensor is like inserting a cannula. It's smaller though and stays in longer. The biggest problem that can occur is alarm fatigue. Most people learn to be more conservative with alarm settings because man they can it annoy the bleep out of you sometimes. 
I have no experience with the Medtronix and the iPhone. I've only seen the version that is a part of their pump. Their alarms were much harder to shut up once they went off and my friends here seemed to get a lot of bad sensors. But I have no first hand knowledge or experience. 
So I should be able to chime in more on the G5 in a few weeks.
Thanks, Ed.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of ed worrell via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 7:22 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Cc: ed worrell
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system...

Hello Tamera,

I can manage the entire process independently. Checking my BG, changing sensors (this is a little sketchy though), inserting the transmitter in the sensor, pairing the transmitter with the app on the phone(You do have to line up a QR code on the box for the Transmitter, and scan it using the camera on the back of the iPhone). I did have my sighted wife help me out the first couple of times replacing the sensor, and the first time pairing the transmitter. I will be pretty honest though, with removing the plastic backing off of the sticky part of the sensors it is a little tricky. This is just because of poor design for the pull tabs though. The app is mostly accessible with VoiceOver on the iPhone. There are some very strangely labeled buttons, and the history graph isn’t read by VoiceOver. To get your readings history, you can sync the DexCom app with Apple health and you can get a complete overview of your BG levels. 

On a very nerdy side note if you set up sharing with the DexCom share app, you can install the app on your Apple watch and have your BG levels on your wrist. I found this neat work around. I use it to check my BG on the go, or at a restaurant, etc.

I hope that this helps.

Ed Worrell..
> On Feb 9, 2016, at 10:12 PM, Tam via Diabetes-talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Ed,
> Can you manage the system totally on your own? No need for sighted assistance in calibrating or what?
> Tamera
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of ed worrell via Diabetes-talk
> Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2016 9:22 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Cc: ed worrell
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system...
> 
> Hello Bridget,
> 
> Yes the sensor is inserted in the first layer of your skin. The sensor has a little flexible needle that is embedded, it feels a little strange at first. It is something that you get used to pretty fast. The bluetooth or wireless transmitter is placed in the sensor in a little cradle, it just clicks into place. The transmitter connects to your iPhone via bluetooth. You have to download the DexCom G5 Mobile app from the app store. Connect the transmitter following the steps outlined in the app when you first start it. You will replace the sensor once a week, and it will take about 2 hours for it to warm up to get your first reading in the app, this will happen every time you have to replace the sensor. I have not had to replace the Transmitter as of yet, but I think that I will have to in the next couple of weeks. Each Transmitter has a life span of about 3 months.
> 
> Out of pocket cost is ridiculous. For the starter kit it is like $1200. With insurance it was right around $150 for the starter kit. After that for the sensors cost about $35 with insurance, and about $350 without. This price is for a months worth of sensors. Every Six months you  will have to purchase the wireless transmitters I think that is where the extra $115 or so came from when I ordered my first supply of equipment. These prices may very as I don’t know what your insurance would cover. You can call the number on the website and they might be able to tell you what it might cost with your insurance, I am not sure about this though.
> 
> I hope that this helps,
> 
> ed Worrell 
>> On Feb 9, 2016, at 9:08 AM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Thanks, this is incredibly helpful. My endo and I have been discussing a continueal testing glucometer, but accessibility is always the bummer. At least I could have a device alerting me when I drop too low (which is my problem, especially at night) but if this app works, it would be fantastic.
>> 
>> Okay, I'm not technologically advanced at all. Not even remedial. So an external testing device connects to you physically then has a wireless capability connecting to the iPhone, correct? Do you have any idea of cost or if insurance can cover some of it?
>> 
>> Thanks.
>> 
>> Bridgit
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of ed worrell via Diabetes-talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2016 10:02 AM
>> To: Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: ed worrell <ntnmprt at hotmail.com>
>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system...
>> 
>> Hello Listers,
>> 
>> I am new to the list and I thought that I would share my thoughts on the DexCom G5 Mobile System. The DexCom G5 works with Android and iPhone smartphones. It is a true wireless CGM (Continues Glucose Monitor)  System. I have been using it with my iPhone 6S+ for the last 3 Months or so. My A1C has dropped 2.5 points in the last 3 months. Yea! I am now hovering around 7.0 to 7.3...!! The system checks your blood glucose every 5 minutes. It will give you alerts for high BG, Low BG, Quick Rise Alerts, Quick lowering Alerts. Both Quick rise, and Lowering Alerts have to be rising/lowering at a rate of 3MG/Dl per minute for it to detect it’s going either direction to quickly. You have to calibrate the sensor a minimum twice a day. The app is usable by VoiceOver users on the iPhone, but I am not really sure about the accessibility of the Android app as I can’t tare myself away from the iOS eco-system to try… The only thing that is not accessible to VoiceOver users is the Graph at the bottom of the screen, and the Arrow this tells you what direction your BG is going, (i.e. arrow pointing right means your BG is level, Arrow to the right and up means it is going up slowly, arrow pointing straight up means that your BG is rising quickly, and vise versa for down, and to the right, and straight down). (This button is labeled as Circle button) is not read by Voiceover other than the label of the button. I have contacted DexCom and they said that they would look into the accessibility issues. Sorry for the long post. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I have included the link to the company page.
>> 
>> http:://www.dexcom.com
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Ed Worrell
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