She be a well read pup, too, though a wee bit more scraggy bearded these days.
(Also, the book she be readin' be available from Amazon.com, if'n ye be interested.)
Okay, I could go on but I won't (at least with the shameless self promotion.)
I've been using the Medtronic/ Minimed Paradigm Revel (aka, my tricked out insulin pump with CGM) for about three months now, and I think that I have given it a long enough run to be able to adequately, and even objectively, compare it to the Dexcom CGM that it replaced....yeah, they both kind of have issues.
Let's back up to this morning. I have been on the verge of a breakdown for a couple weeks now. First my car goes engine up, then the insurance is changed on us in a very bold and seemingly underhanded way, then my husband's truck pulls the same engine trick my car did, and then our toilet cracks like it was made out of very cheap porcelain. Add this to the various odds and ends that have been piling up, and I was due. So this morning when I was changing my sensor and started to bleed I had a total meltdown.
Who's crazy now?
I know what you're thinking. "You have been sticking yourself with needles for decades. You check your blood sugar at least two or three times a day. You have two doohickeys in your abdomen at all times. What's a little blood? A little blood is nothing!" And you're right, but I'm not talking about a little blood. I was gushing. Maybe I haven't mentioned this, but I freak out at the sight of more than a little drop of blood and we are not taking about a little drop here. Anyway, I started to cry, which freaked out my husband, and then I said, "I never thought I'd say this, but I miss my Dex meter," which may have freaked him out even more because I really hated that thing.
However, it's been a couple months since I switched devices, and I think it's a good time to lay out the pros and cons of each one, even though I don't think that either has shown an overall clear superiority.
Let's start with the Dex. As a refresher, here's what it looks like:
Not one of my better days, this.
Pros (and yes there are some): 1) it was overall more accurate, 2) the software was easy to use and understand, which made making adjustments to my insulin settings easy, 3) one sensor lasted for 7-10 days, and 4) I never had problems inserting the sensor.
Cons: 1) I lost it all the damn time because it just clipped onto a pocket (or fell out of them more often than not), 2) Dexcom's customer service left much to be desired (I think taking $1600 out of someone's checking account without contacting them first and then taking three weeks to put it back counts as some of the worst customer service ever, and I've had waitresses spill beer on me.), 3) My insurance didn't cover the sensors, hence the $1600 co-pay they didn't clear with me first, 4) the sensors were kinda big and 5) each sensor came with its own plastic inserter, so I was throwing out a lot of medical waste.
And now let's look at the Revel:
Imagine a little sensor icon next to the clock, and this is it.
Pros: 1) It's one device instead of two, so I don't lose it, 2) It's covered by my insurance, 3.) If I need to make an out-of-the-ordinary $5 co-pay Medtronic calls my house and my cell phone, leaves me a message, and doesn't ship until I call back and confirm it is okay. In other words, they have excellent customer service, 4) Because it's all in one, the CGM actually works with my pump which makes it faster and easier to take care of highs and lows, and 5) Each sensor can be inserted using a reusable device, so there's less waste.
Cons: 1)I have no idea how the software works because it doesn't work with Windows 8, and that's what I've got on my laptop, 2) each sensor only lasts 3-4 days, so I'm sticking myself more often, 3) I sometimes have to stick myself 2-3 times and use more than one sensor to actually get one working, which means I'm sticking myself way more often and 4) It's not as accurate as the Dexcom. And 5) it beeps ALL THE BLEEPING TIME...but I set it to do that, so it's not really a con.
When it comes to my health I know I should be looking more at how these devices affect my health. And I think, honestly, I was in better health with the Dexcom. However, the bottom line is actually the bottom line, and there's no way that I, or anyone I know, can afford a $1600 co-payment for sensors every three months. And as irritating as the constant sensor replacement is, it was far more frustrating to lose a device that cost four thousand dollars because it wouldn't stay in my pocket a couple times a week
To be blunt, the Medtronic Revel is better than nothing, and overall less irritating than the Dexcom, but if I could afford to use the Dexcom, I probably still would. I guess.
So there ye have it, me hearties. No true consensus to be found amongst the crew, and we're still floatin' upon the Seas at Her whim, with nawt e'en a breeze to lead us to our fates. It's as if we be cursed to sail on to the horizon without a map and compass...
Okay, I'll really stop now....maybe.
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