Comments on: A Nurses Review of the Medtronic Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)

By: jewels

jewels — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 23:35:42 +0000

Brian,
Stay with it – my experience keeps improving. The Guardian 3 Sensor has been really reliable once I’ve gotten into the swing of things.
Best,
Jewels

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:03:42 +0000

I tried the CGM a few years ago (medtronic) and the readings were way off. It was frustrating, especially with all the alarms. The calibration timelines are at minimal, inconvenient. It’s been a few years and I am about to upgrade to their new closed loop system, so I thought I would try a CGM today to get back in the swing. I’m already frustrated and about in tears because of the inconvenience of the whole system. The memories are all coming back…inconvenient calibration times, alarms going off, losing sleep because of the alarm, and the itchiness of the site. Doctors treat me like I’m crazy for not using the CGM and having blood sugars in check, they don’t get it.

By: Dean Sever

Dean Sever — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 14:14:25 +0000

I am on the latest Medtronic CGM, I have to agree with the majority of comments, that Medtronic’s has some work to do in getting better accuracy with CGM.

First of all the CGM lasts reliably about 3 days not 6, therefore the bean counting pharmacist thinks you are overdosing when you use twice as many as the Medtronic spec tells them.

Be prepared for many false highs and low alarms, therefore either not using the alarm feature or setting the values way high or low.

Inserting the set is a complicated operation when you are doing it to yourself, particularly placing the sealing tape over and around the sensor properly securing and protecting it.. It is apparent the design team at Medtronic’s has never tried to use the product on themselves.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 21:52:09 +0000

You are so correct. Mine keeps suspending when it shows a low sugar yet when I test , there is such a variance in numbers. Ex. Shut down showing a glucose of 47 after testing , I am 112. This is bad for anyone.
I am going to call Medtronic again

By: jani

jani — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 22:28:54 +0000

I have used the Medtronic CGM for 8 months and am shocked at how inaccurate it is.
Today the meter read 79 but when I did a finger stick my glucose was 32. The scary thing is that I was just driving before I did a finger stick to verify the number. If I am within 1 hr of calibrating the reading is fairly accurate but outside of that 1 hr. window it has a huge range of being off the mark. Have not noticed any difference based on the number of days the sensor has been worn.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 19:50:15 +0000

I have had similar issues with the Medtronic cgm. I wanted one for bicycling and seasonal basal calibration. when I have my pump in my jersey pocket, I have to wear it as close as possible to the transmitter which leaves the pump hanging to the side a little more than I would like which could result in the pump getting damaged if I crash. riding I loose connection about 30% of the time, probably because I am passing by something that creates enough interference that the transmitter cannot break through.
the main problem, I think, is the fact that minimed sold out to Medtronic. I work in the manufacturing sector so I am fully aware of what results. “cost savings measures” can result in less than reliable products. I have had trouble, with my batch of cgm sensors that I bought in 2013, while installing. the insertion needle proves to be difficult to remove which could be the cause of some of my failed sensors. perhaps some of the reactive chemicals are stripped away with the needle removal or the metal of the sensor itself gets bent enough to create resistance that would cause erroneous readings. just guessing.
the new design of the infusion sets with the integrated tapes are difficult to install without the tape bunching up. didn’t have that with the 317 infusion sets which they stopped making recently.
if I could afford to switch I would, at least for the cgm

By: tina

tina — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 01:35:25 +0000

I have the Medtronic CGM and it seems to work half the time: half really well and the other half is frustrating. My sensor seems to have ‘weak signal’ problems all the time. I am always trying to stuff my pump into my clothing as close to the sensor as possible, and sometimes this works, but only for a little while. I found this website because the sensor I inserted about 24 hrs ago has been nothing but pure frustration (weak signal!) so I was searching for forums/reviews. I have called the manufacturer and followed their tips, but haven’t seen huge improvements. In any case, there is no way that I can follow the advice to wear this in my abdomen all the time because the insertion needle hurts. A lot. I am going to look into the Dexcom sensor–hopefully insurance will pick it up. As for the Medtronic CGM, some days it seems like the number it reads is only accurate in telling me what my blood sugar is not.

By: jewels

jewels — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:22:11 +0000

Courtney,
My daughter and I both have been using a Dexcom for the past year with great success. Here is my review of the G4, their most recent model. http://www.shesugar.org/insulin-pumps-and-cgms/dexcom-g4-platinum-continuous-glucose-monitor-nurses-review-type-1-diabetes/ It is a self insertion system which sounds like what you are most comfortable using. Best! Jewels

By: Courtney

Courtney — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:58:31 +0000

Hi, thank you for your reviews of the medtronic CGM system. I’ve been diabetic for nearly 16 years, and pumping for ten. Recently I’ve been thinking about trying out the CGM because for some reason, highs and lows don’t seem to wake me up anymore during the night. I have a few questions, if you’d be willing to answer. I like being able to ask other diabetics instead of just doctors and sales reps. How much bigger is the CGM needle than a regular set needle? ‘Right now I’m using the silhouette because I hate spring-loaded things with a passion (sometimes I can do the Mios, but I prefer manual insertion). Would it be possible to insert it manually? I’ve been reading other reviews, and now I’m actually considering a Dexcom, even though it wouldn’t have the convenience the Medtronic does.

By: jewels

jewels — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:24:23 +0000

Vikki, thank you for your input. My daughter and I use the Dexcom system now and the issues you mention with calibration don’t happen with the Dex. They actually recommend that you calibrate during times of change (convenient). We never have sensors expire because we love our system so much and the accuracy is outstanding that we run out of product every 3 months (a good problem). There is another gadget (the receiver) which is a bit cumbersome but the correct results are worth it. The next generation will be cell phone compatible too. Here is my full review of the Dexcom G4 http://www.shesugar.org/insulin-pumps-and-cgms/dexcom-g4-platinum-continuous-glucose-monitor-nurses-review-type-1-diabetes/
I must say that user error is only a portion of the problems that exist with the Medtronic CGM unfortunately. Their next model is coming out soon in the U.S. with many technical improvements so hopefully customers will be happier with their product. Best! Jewels