[Ronnie]

I haven't been here for quiet some time but I need some advice. My husband is using the Enlite sensors with the Medtronic 530G pump.
I get home from work at 11:30 PM, His pump is usually already in suspend and has been for an hour or more.
Problem #1 He can't hear the alarm. It is very high pitched. ( I know its really the pump alarming not the sensor. Just thought I'd mention this while I am ranting)

Problem#2 ( the real issue) Ronnie is awakened multiple times a night by this totally inaccurate piece of #&$%#. Yes I know it is not giving a bg but is giving an interstitial fluid sugar reading. The readings may be as much as 50 points off either too high or too low. Last night it read 51 but the BG was 96. The last 2 sensors only worked well for 2 days.
Different alarms given over the last few months: lost sensor, weak signal, calibration error.
Just to remind y'all of our situation. My husband is Type 1, He had a massive brain Hemorrhage in Jan 2013. From the hemorrhage, he has Aphasia ( a communication difficulty affecting speech, reading , writing, and cognition but leaving intellect intact). I manage most of Ronnie's diet and insulin. My son inserts most of the sensors in the belly area. He uses the thighs and upper arms for the infusion sites. Ronnie now weighs 156 and is 5'9" tall. Not much fat anywhere except a little pot belly.
We need do get some sleep and I need these sensors to be some help. I am ready to turn off the sensor and to go back to sleeping with my hand on his chest to feel the change in Ronnie's heart rate when his BG goes low.

 

[Roxanne0312]

I'm sorry your having so much trouble.

I find my enlites sensors are right on the dot these days.

The secret is the calibration. Make sure you don't calibrate when the blood glucose is trending up or down. That's when you seen the up and down arrows. Don't calibrate too frequently. 3 times a day is sufficient.

Medtronic customer support is really good about helping with this. If you call them, please have them replace the sensors that don't last a full six days. They have replaced quite a few of mine due to the bleeding I get when I insert them. They will ask for the messed up one back as part as their quality control issues.

Don't give up, it will get better.

 

[Ronnie]

Roxanne, we may be over calibrating. It seems that early on with these sensors we got pretty good readings with just calibrating twice a day but knowing we were supposed to calibrate at each meal, I increased the # of calibrations and then as readings got more outrageous, I calibrated more. We will try to alte the # of calibrations. I do have my son and daughter-in-law helping and they have their own ideas of how things should be done. That is not to say they have not been tremendous help and saved our rears in the turmoil since his illness started.
Thank you.
Lindy

I'm sorry your having so much trouble.

I find my enlites sensors are right on the dot these days.

The secret is the calibration. Make sure you don't calibrate when the blood glucose is trending up or down. That's when you seen the up and down arrows. Don't calibrate too frequently. 3 times a day is sufficient.

Medtronic customer support is really good about helping with this. If you call them, please have them replace the sensors that don't last a full six days. They have replaced quite a few of mine due to the bleeding I get when I insert them. They will ask for the messed up one back as part as their quality control issues.

Don't give up, it will get better.

 

[Roxanne0312]

You don't need to calibrate before each meal. Calibrate when you know the blood glucose is stable. I do twice a day and if the calibration comes due in the middle of the am to wake me up, I will calibrate before I go to bed. So at the maximum 3 times a day.

 

[Vhm1]

What is his BMI? Weight/height?

I have a Dex and have talked to their reps multiple times. I was told my BMI is low and low weight/fat is an issue. 20% deviation is a norm. But my Dex beeps at 55. I test and I'm 80s. That's more than 20%. Again, "your BMI is low...." That's what Dex reps say.

Annoying. Wakes me at night! Empathy and understanding for your situation.

 

[Ronnie]

I just wanted to add that Medtronic decided that Ronnie's transmitter is malfunctioning. they will ship us a new one. I also wondered if the BMI is not the culprit for Ronnie. His endocrinologist thinks his weight is good at 154 but our GP is of the opinion that his BMI is too low. Of course his GP also would like us to take Statins also which we wont so I do not have a lot of faith in him anymore.
Belinda/Lindy For ROnnie.

 

[Ronnie]

Just to update this thread. The new transmitter has arrived and I am resisting calibrating more that 2x per day but I noticed my son is not listening and is calibrating (for Ronnie) before supper and at bed time. So I am resisting the urge to calibrate other than morning when stable. My son did adjust the basal rate and things have leveled off and he didn't have any hypo's today. Whew. I sure need the relief and I am sure Ronnie did also. Thank everyone for the wise counsel.
Belinda/Lindy for Ronnie