January 15, 2009
Edy

I'm finally on-line I hope! Besides not being able to get on, Dec included starting a new full-time job-in a hospital setting as a Diabetes Educator-gosh, is that an eye-opener, a college graduation for our youngest- U of A- in Tucson- I tried to reach Karen but no luck, and Christmas.

I have a monthly Pump support group and several have shared their 'tricks' of wearing the CGM which might be useful to you. Let me say I'm trained on all the CGMs on the market but my group mostly wears the Minimed products. So . . .
Keep your sensors in the frig for consistency and just take out one to let warm up to room temp before putting it on.
Stand up when putting it on.
For awhile they recommended angling it a little steeper than 45 degrees but with thin folks, its a bit better if its a little flatter(shallower-is that a word?) so it does not go as deep. Often when installed deeper, it seems to hurt more and often bleed more.
Once installed, leave the needle in the sensor for about 5 minutes. It will be sticking out so maybe leave it exposed so it does not wiggle around while it gets set in your system.
At this point, cut one of the IV3000 pieces of tape in half, and place 1/2 under the 2 plastic prongs which will shortly hook into the transmitter.
Remove the needle in 5 minutes and apply the other 1/2 over the top of the sensor.
Click the transmitter to it and hopefully the green light flashes 6 times- that means it is adequetly wetted. If it does not blink green, unplug the sensor, kneed the area around the sensor, then re-plug it.
I sure hope this is making sense- it's easier to have a visual of this!!
Typically most folks get more than a week out of one sensor. Some in the group are getting 21 or more days-with very decent accuracy!
The transmitter seems to prefer being charged longer than the suggested 2 hours. So about day 6-8 or so, several detach the transmitter, charge it for several hours, then get another 6-8 days.
At the end of each 3 days, it will say 'sensor end'- VERY QUICKLY -stop what you are doing and tell it 'new sensor' so that you'll have the best chance of continuity. I try to watch that 3rd day and catch it before it says this.

There are quite a variety of tapes that pumpers are wearing -with decent success- If anyone needs that info, I'll be happy to get that info together!

OK- I know this was a little dry(a lot dry) but maybe it will help one of ya'll! (Better get used to it, it's how we talk down here!)

Oh and the reason this is early is I'm heading to the Houston Marathon this weekend-what fun!!! -just 1/2 for me thanks.