[Diabetes-talk] setting up the DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system

Tam Fidano at comcast.net
Tue Mar 8 04:50:06 UTC 2016 

Thanks, I got it going!
Very interesting! Fun to find it is tracking exactly what my prodigy checks out
!
Although now  the second day, find some off? I have yet to look on how many times or when one might recalibrate.
Unfortunately, I have to find out about  supplemental to  medicare as I will be gong on in the next few months.. anyone able to get Dexcom on going supplies under a medicare supplement?
Thanks, Tamera

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of ed worrell via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2016 7:50 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Cc: ed worrell
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] setting up the DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system

Hello Tamera,

I assume that you are trying to find the barcode on the bottom of the transmitter? If not you need to find the box for the transmitter, and place your iPhone camera against the right edge of the box and lift up slowly and the camera will snap the picture automatically, but only after you have activated the take picture button. If you have successfully captured the barcode you will be taken to the next screen.
I hope this helps…

Ed
> On Mar 3, 2016, at 4:52 PM, Tam via Diabetes-talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Anyone have directions to where I might locate that bar code on bottom 
> of box, for set up? I am at the take photo screen, and understand  
> it's on the bottom of box but any assistance  on directions to find 
> this would be appreciated?
> Tamera
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2016 12:21 PM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] DexCom G5 Mobile CGM system
> 
> Hello Ed and all interested in CGM, pumps and accessibility,
> 
> Fair warning, this is a lengthy post... 
> 
> Ed - I am also using the DexCom G5 Mobile system(G5 stands for fifth 
> generation), and have been since it first became available as an 
> upgrade to the prior system late last year. I am late in providing an 
> update to this list, and for that I apologize. The DexCom G5 Mobile is 
> quite a breakthrough in terms of accessibility over their previous DexCom G4 Share system.
> 
> As you describe, nearly all aspects of the day-to-day use of the 
> system, including setup and calibration can be managed by someone who 
> is blind. I'm glad to hear that your A1C has fallen into a healthier 
> range since you began to use the CGM. Mine did also, and in general, 
> the statistic I've heard reported is that on average, a person's A1C 
> will lower one full point when using a CGM consistently.
> 
> Hang in there with pulling the plastic covers off the adhesive. In the 
> beginning I had some issues as well, but now very confidently handle 
> applying the sensors to my skin. I've included at the end of this 
> email a lengthy description of how I go about putting on my sensors.
> 
> Not being able to detect a low blood sugar before it is dangerously 
> low is known as hypoglycemia unawareness, and if your insurance covers 
> CGM use, having hypoglycemia unawareness gets you automatic approval 
> for use of the CGM. CGM can truly be a life saver, and I know both my 
> wife and I sleep much easier now.
> 
> Now, in terms of the Medtronic system, they are marketing the Minimed 
> 530G (I think the G stands for Guardian). This is a combination 
> insulin pump and CGM system. It still requires you to have two items 
> inserted under your skin, the canula for the pump and the sensor for 
> the CGM, but the pump unit handles both the display and input for both 
> the pump and the CGM. The feature that sets this pump and CGM system 
> apart is that the pump pays attention to the CGM readings, and when 
> the CGM indicates you are going low, if you do not respond, it 
> automatically turns off the pumps basil insulin delivery for up to two 
> hours. This is the first time ever in the US a pump has been approved 
> that takes data from a CGM and makes a decision for the human wearing the pump. That in and of itself is a landmark accomplishment.
> 
> In terms of accessibility, They offer a system named Minimed Connect, 
> which can be used in conjunction with an iPhone or iPad app to display 
> information about the Minimed 530G pump and CGM on your phone. By the 
> way, I believe one must purchase the Medtronic Connect system to have 
> the iPhone app display the CGM and pump information; for DexCom the 
> system connects to the iPhone at no additional charge. I spoke with 
> another blind person who uses it. It does have a few advantages over 
> the DexCom G5 Mobile system if you use a pump, because the Connect app 
> lets you get information from your pump as well in an accessible form. 
> I use a pump, and I always have to ask others to tell me how much 
> insulin is left in my cartridge, how much insulin is still active in my body since my last bolus, and what my pump battery level is.
> With the Minimed Connect system, the blind person can now access that 
> data, along with the CGM current reading, right from the iPhone app. 
> The availability of the pump information on the app is a first, as far 
> as I know, for any pump.
> 
> That being said, just from the CGM pperspective, the Minimed Connect 
> falls way behind the functionality available via the app for the 
> DexCom g5 Mobile system. As I said earlier, the Minimed Connect app 
> only lets one view the data from the app; you cannot interact with the pump or the CGM via the app.
> So, with the DexCom G5 Mobile, you can use the app to start and stop 
> your sensors, enter your twice-daily calibration values, set all your 
> individual alert levels and sounds for your high and low thresholds, 
> and you can even enter your diabetes-related activity into the app, 
> such as how much insulin you just took, how much carb you just ate, 
> how much exercise you just did, and other items such recording that you are ill.
> 
> All that data, in conjunction with the blood glucose readings from the 
> CGM, can help you and your diabetes health team determine how to best 
> adjust your particular carb to insulin ratios, basil levels on your pump, etc.
> 
> On the Minimed system, all the functionality I just described for the 
> DexCom has to be entered on the Minimed pump system, which is 
> absolutely not accessible.
> 
> Another advantage of the DexCom system is that all you need to carry 
> with you is your iPhone. The DexCom sensor you wear on your body 
> transmits the information directly to your phone. On the Minimed 
> system, you have to carry another small device with you, named the 
> uploader, which is about the size of an automobile key fob. The 
> Minimed transmitter on your body first sends the information to the 
> uploader, and it in turn sends it to the phone. So, it is small, but 
> the uploader requires charging, and it is one more item to remember, and potentially to forget.
> 
> Finally, a wonderful advantage of these new CGM systems is that they 
> also automatically send the blood glucose data to the CGM company 
> (either DexCom or Medtronic) where it can be viewed by you or your 
> doctor. The web-based DexCom product for viewing your data, 
> identifying blood glucose trends, and tracking how you re doing is 
> called Clarity. As I said earlier, the Medtronic name is Minimed Connect. DexCom offers Clarity for free.
> 
> So, when I see my endocrinologist, she can call up my data from the 
> DexCom site. I do not need to have my CGM uploaded to her PC in her 
> office, nor do I need to give her my blood sugar logs. For better, or 
> worse, my life as a diabetic is available to her, in living color.
> 
> Of course, there are many privacy safeguards in place. Your physician 
> can never see your data unless you provide them access, and you can 
> limit how long they have access. If you provide your doctor ongoing 
> access, for three months or six months, for example, they can log in 
> and see your data even whenyou are not at the office. And, the clarity 
> system also let's you simply email a report to your doctor.
> 
> I hope that soon, everyone on this list that can take advantage of a 
> CGM can start using one. . I'm encouraged that at some point Medicare 
> may start covering them.
> 
> All the best,
> Tom Ley
> What follows next is a description of how I put on a sensor. 
> 
> 
> How I put on a new DexCom G5 Mobile sensor without sight First, I find 
> that often, the sensors come out of the large sealed plastic coverings 
> such that the adhesive oval area is curled downward, so the adhesive 
> is not flat. I make sure I bend up the oval shaped adhesive area all 
> the way around until it is flat again.
> 
> The covering over the adhesive is made of two pieces, each piece 
> covering half of the adhesive. The two tabs you pull on are right next 
> to each other, in the middle of one of the long sides of the oval.
> 
> I usually start off by holding the sensor by the adhesive area with 
> the fingers on my right hand, holding on the right side of the adhesive area.
> When I hold it like this, the bottom of the adhesive area is facing 
> me, with the long body of the sensor that contains the inserter kind 
> of falling back and down away from me to the right.
> 
> Then I find the tab for the left half of the adhesive with my left 
> hand, and making sure my right hand is only grasping the right side, I 
> pull the tab on the left side toward  me and down to remove it. 
> Lacking another hand, I usually put the piece I just removed between 
> my lips to hold it until I'm done.
> 
> Then, I very lightly grasp the now exposed sticky adhesive part with 
> the tips of my left fingers. I grasp the smallest part I can, about in 
> the same place the tab was that I just removed. And, I can now let go 
> of the sensor with my right hand.
> 
> It is important not to get the adhesive stuck to your clothes or 
> anything else. I hold it away from my body. I might say also that I 
> always stand when I put on a new sensor.
> 
> Now, I use my right hand to find the tab for the other half and pull 
> it toward me and down until it separates. I then hold this one between 
> my lips as well. I'm sure it would make for some humorous watching if 
> anyone videoed me while I was doing this!
> 
> Now, the entire adhesive is exposed, and I'm holding on to the 
> adhesive with my left fingers, but just the smallest part is sticking 
> to my fingers. Now, I grasp the body of the sensor inserter with my 
> right hand, and very carefully unstick mhy fingers from the adhesive. 
> If done carfully, none of the adhesive will be sticking to itself, or anything else.
> 
> Next, I carefully use my right hand to maneuver the sensor to the 
> place on my abdomen I plan to insert and touch the adhesive to my 
> skin. Then I qquickly run my finger over the adhesive to make sure it 
> is well attached all around.
> 
> Hope this helps!
> 
> Tom
> 
> 
> 
> 
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