Messages In This Digest (4 Messages)
- 1a.
- Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor From: tm_pearson
- 1b.
- Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor From: Brandy Beeson
- 1c.
- Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor From: tm_pearson
- 2a.
- Re: is it just bad luck??? From: tm_pearson
Messages
- 1a.
-
Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor
Posted by: "tm_pearson" Todd_Pearson@pacbell.net tm_pearson
Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:58 am (PST)
Hey Liz,
This sensor has actually been IN and WET for almost 3 days. And its been very secure and IN PLACE under an IV3000 tape.
Guess my question would be is this...what is this Isig thing?? I don't quite understand what it is used for and what it will tell me so that I can understand it.
--- In diabetescgms@yahoogroups. , Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@com ...> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message ----
>
> > From: tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@...>
>
> > My pump and tranmitter are withing like 2" of each other as I wear my pump on my
> > belt and my sensor is in my side right next to the pump. So, my question is
> > this....if they are so CLOSE to each other WHY did I get a Weak Signal and then
> > lose the signal completely? Seems like to me a faulty transmitter, but when I
> > called MM 24hr hotline, I got someone who was a total idiot and keep making me
> > do things twice that he already asked me to do above. I finally hung up on him
> > and decided to asked the group here, because this is where the REAL GOOD tech
> > support is. So, can anyone answer the above for me. Am I missing something or do
> > I just think I got a LEMON transmitter?
>
>
> Have you been checking the isig? You can also get Weak Signal and Lost Sensor/Bad Sensor alarms if the sensor isn't wet enough. This can be due to not having enough time to sit in the interstitial fluid before you try to calibrate, the sensor wasn't inserted at a deep enough angle or it's just not in a good place. Any of those will result in a low isign and lots of alarms. The first thing to try is to just let the sensor sit and get good & wet before turning it on to calibrate.
>
> Was everything taped securely? You don't want the sensor to be able to move or pull out of your skin even a tiny bit, as that will also mess it up.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Liz
> Type 1 dx 4/1987
> Minimed 722 + CGMS
>
- 1b.
-
Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor
Posted by: "Brandy Beeson" volleyheels13@yahoo.com volleyheels13
Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:57 am (PST)
Hey Todd,
For what it is worth I wanted to throw a thought or two in there. The IV3000 is good in that it keeps the transmitter secure, but it does not keep the sensor secure. I figured this out because I wear my sensor in my upper thigh and I can watch the canula move in and out a little (doesn't come all the way out) when I bend and extend my leg. Now this doesn't cause me to lose signal but it is a possibility. Also, do you think you might have your transmitter and pump too close. I know that they say they need to be a good distance apart because if they are too close it won't pick it up. I wear mine about 6 - 10" away from each other and get great results. I have had my sensor for only 6 months and it has taken me about this long to figure out what works best for me. I tried my stomach and I just couldn't get it to work there for me. I had more problems there for some reason. The tops of my thighs, on the outside of my legs about 4 - 6"
down from my hip is where I wear mine. The last one I had in, I just took it out after 21 days because I was starting to worry about getting an infection or the skin breaking down. It was still going strong but my mind wouldn't let go! I am really sorry you are having all these problems, but hopefully you can get them solved and start enjoying the CGMS. Oh and here is my very limited explanation of the ISIG. Basically it is the "difference" between your blood glucose and the sensor glucose. So, you take what your actual blood sugar is (by checking) and divide it by the ISIG number. The ISIG number is found on your fourth screen under sensor age. You should always get a number between 1 and 20. If you get a number over 20 or under 1, DO NOT CALIBRATE. This will cause you to get a bad sensor message and eventually kick out the sensor you are wearing, causing you to insert a new one. If I get a number over 20, it generally means my
BS is high so I will bolus for the high and then once my blood sugar has come down and is no longer moving (no arrows) I will calibrate. Now if it is over 20 and your BS is 100, then I calibrate by entering the BS that is closest to the ISIG # times 20. For example, my BS was 118 and my ISIG number was 5.2. I couldn't just calibrate because it would have kicked the number out and given me a bad sensor. So I just calibrated it saying my BS was 104. By the time the transmitter and sensor got finished calibrating what I entered, it actually showed up on my pump that my BS was 116. So it corrected itself. This may not happen all the time, but it has worked for me so far.
Okay I'll shut up now. Sorry I rambled but hopefully it helped a little!!! Good Luck!
Brandy
dx 2/9/2004
MM722/CGMS
--- On Wed, 12/23/09, tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@pacbell.net > wrote:
From: tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@pacbell.net >
Subject: [diabetescgms] Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor
To: diabetescgms@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 3:55 AM
Hey Liz,
This sensor has actually been IN and WET for almost 3 days. And its been very secure and IN PLACE under an IV3000 tape.
Guess my question would be is this...what is this Isig thing?? I don't quite understand what it is used for and what it will tell me so that I can understand it.
--- In diabetescgms@ yahoogroups. com, Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@ ...> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message ----
>
> > From: tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@ ...>
>
> > My pump and tranmitter are withing like 2" of each other as I wear my pump on my
> > belt and my sensor is in my side right next to the pump. So, my question is
> > this....if they are so CLOSE to each other WHY did I get a Weak Signal and then
> > lose the signal completely? Seems like to me a faulty transmitter, but when I
> > called MM 24hr hotline, I got someone who was a total idiot and keep making me
> > do things twice that he already asked me to do above. I finally hung up on him
> > and decided to asked the group here, because this is where the REAL GOOD tech
> > support is. So, can anyone answer the above for me. Am I missing something or do
> > I just think I got a LEMON transmitter?
>
>
> Have you been checking the isig? You can also get Weak Signal and Lost Sensor/Bad Sensor alarms if the sensor isn't wet enough. This can be due to not having enough time to sit in the interstitial fluid before you try to calibrate, the sensor wasn't inserted at a deep enough angle or it's just not in a good place. Any of those will result in a low isign and lots of alarms. The first thing to try is to just let the sensor sit and get good & wet before turning it on to calibrate.
>
> Was everything taped securely? You don't want the sensor to be able to move or pull out of your skin even a tiny bit, as that will also mess it up.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Liz
> Type 1 dx 4/1987
> Minimed 722 + CGMS
>
- 1c.
-
Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor
Posted by: "tm_pearson" Todd_Pearson@pacbell.net tm_pearson
Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:32 pm (PST)
Thanks for all the info Brandy. I actually throw a piece of tape over the sensor first then tape it down with IV3000 and the reason I use the IV3000 is because I get a 100ct box with my pump supplies so it's there and it works for me, but we'll have to see if it holds up in the summertime, as I love to hike and be outdoors. As for the pump and transmitter being so close, I really don't think it matters to much...really because it's broadcasting in the 900Mhz range and that isn't really going to affect it much. But, if anything does affect it, it's one of the things I do like about MM CGMS that it stores values up to 40 minutes.
I've always been on and used the Dexcom from clinical trails and after FDA approval. Love the Dex! BUT...I carry enough stuff on my batman utility belt....yes, I'm a Geek....:). So, I wanted one less thing to carry around with me on my belt. So, for now it works for me.
Thanks for the ISIG explanation. I pretty much understood it all. My main goal with the CGMS is to watch how well my Symlin is working and of course adjust my Insulin as needed on my pump. Need to get my A1C down to under 7% as my last was 7.3% but my goal is down as close to 6% as I can get. I remember my BEST A1C was 10 years ago and it was 5.7% yes, I had lots of LOWS!
Okay, enough babbling here. Thanks again and Merry Christmas.
Todd
dx 12/1986
MM722+CGMS
--- In diabetescgms@yahoogroups. , Brandy Beeson <volleyheels13@com ...> wrote:
>
> Hey Todd,
>
> For what it is worth I wanted to throw a thought or two in there. The IV3000 is good in that it keeps the transmitter secure, but it does not keep the sensor secure. I figured this out because I wear my sensor in my upper thigh and I can watch the canula move in and out a little (doesn't come all the way out) when I bend and extend my leg. Now this doesn't cause me to lose signal but it is a possibility. Also, do you think you might have your transmitter and pump too close. I know that they say they need to be a good distance apart because if they are too close it won't pick it up. I wear mine about 6 - 10" away from each other and get great results. I have had my sensor for only 6 months and it has taken me about this long to figure out what works best for me. I tried my stomach and I just couldn't get it to work there for me. I had more problems there for some reason. The tops of my thighs, on the outside of my legs about 4 - 6"
> down from my hip is where I wear mine. The last one I had in, I just took it out after 21 days because I was starting to worry about getting an infection or the skin breaking down. It was still going strong but my mind wouldn't let go! I am really sorry you are having all these problems, but hopefully you can get them solved and start enjoying the CGMS. Oh and here is my very limited explanation of the ISIG. Basically it is the "difference" between your blood glucose and the sensor glucose. So, you take what your actual blood sugar is (by checking) and divide it by the ISIG number. The ISIG number is found on your fourth screen under sensor age.  You should always get a number between 1 and 20. If you get a number over 20 or under 1, DO NOT CALIBRATE. This will cause you to get a bad sensor message and eventually kick out the sensor you are wearing, causing you to insert a new one. If I get a number over 20, it generally means my
> BS is high so I will bolus for the high and then once my blood sugar has come down and is no longer moving (no arrows) I will calibrate. Now if it is over 20 and your BS is 100, then I calibrate by entering the BS that is closest to the ISIG # times 20. For example, my BS was 118 and my ISIG number was 5.2. I couldn't just calibrate because it would have kicked the number out and given me a bad sensor. So I just calibrated it saying my BS was 104. By the time the transmitter and sensor got finished calibrating what I entered, it actually showed up on my pump that my BS was 116. So it corrected itself. This may not happen all the time, but it has worked for me so far.Â
>
> Okay I'll shut up now. Sorry I rambled but hopefully it helped a little!!! Good Luck!Â
>
> Brandy
> dx 2/9/2004
> MM722/CGMS
>
>
>
> --- On Wed, 12/23/09, tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@...> wrote:
>
> From: tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@...>
> Subject: [diabetescgms] Re: Weak Signal/Loss Sensor
> To: diabetescgms@yahoogroups. com
> Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 3:55 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Â
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hey Liz,
>
>
>
> This sensor has actually been IN and WET for almost 3 days. And its been very secure and IN PLACE under an IV3000 tape.
>
>
>
> Guess my question would be is this...what is this Isig thing?? I don't quite understand what it is used for and what it will tell me so that I can understand it.
>
>
>
> --- In diabetescgms@ yahoogroups. com, Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@ ...> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > ----- Original Message ----
>
> >
>
> > > From: tm_pearson <Todd_Pearson@ ...>
>
> >
>
> > > My pump and tranmitter are withing like 2" of each other as I wear my pump on my
>
> > > belt and my sensor is in my side right next to the pump. So, my question is
>
> > > this....if they are so CLOSE to each other WHY did I get a Weak Signal and then
>
> > > lose the signal completely? Seems like to me a faulty transmitter, but when I
>
> > > called MM 24hr hotline, I got someone who was a total idiot and keep making me
>
> > > do things twice that he already asked me to do above. I finally hung up on him
>
> > > and decided to asked the group here, because this is where the REAL GOOD tech
>
> > > support is. So, can anyone answer the above for me. Am I missing something or do
>
> > > I just think I got a LEMON transmitter?
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Have you been checking the isig? You can also get Weak Signal and Lost Sensor/Bad Sensor alarms if the sensor isn't wet enough. This can be due to not having enough time to sit in the interstitial fluid before you try to calibrate, the sensor wasn't inserted at a deep enough angle or it's just not in a good place. Any of those will result in a low isign and lots of alarms. The first thing to try is to just let the sensor sit and get good & wet before turning it on to calibrate.
>
> >
>
> > Was everything taped securely? You don't want the sensor to be able to move or pull out of your skin even a tiny bit, as that will also mess it up.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > --
>
> > Liz
>
> > Type 1 dx 4/1987
>
> > Minimed 722 + CGMS
>
> >
>
- 2a.
-
Re: is it just bad luck???
Posted by: "tm_pearson" Todd_Pearson@pacbell.net tm_pearson
Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:52 pm (PST)
Jeff, I've been thru many trials with the DEX and of course when each company puts on a new trial they of course are trying to make things better in their product as well as try new things to see how they work. But, because we ALL react differently to INTRUSIONS within out bodies, it is very possible that your body is fighting the sensor.
When our bodies detect an intrusion such as an object entering in thru our skin, because believe it or not, we are fighting off STUFF 24/7 from entering our skin. Anyhow, when your body sees the sensor it sees it as an object that doesn't belong and then this activates a specific type of White Blood Cell called "neutrophils". So, what happens is they flood the area when it thinks an infection/attack is taking place and they will attack or COVER the sensor to protect it from spreading. So, in essence it's covering/attacking the sensor from doing its job. Now, not everyone bodies will do this right away. It just so happens that your might be doing this immediately and they are just not lasting inside of you. Again, we are human and how are bodies does or fights things is different in each one of us. Hope that helps you out some.
This is ONE reason why you HAVE to have a good team of CDE on your time. Because I GOOD Dr or team player will understand that there are SO MANY varibles in to play when it comes to not only a CGMS, but being on an insulin pump as well.
Hope the above helps you out.
Todd
dx 12/1986
MM722+CGMS
--- In diabetescgms@yahoogroups. , "Jeff Nathan, Award-Winning Author" <jeff@...> wrote:com
>
> I am in a trial with Dexcom and I have just had 2 sensors fail in 3
> days---the first, within 36 hours of insertion and the second, within 24
> hours of insertion. I guess it's possible that they gave them to me out of
> the same bad lot, but I'm wondering if anyone has heard of a person being
> physiologically incompatible with the technology or if there are any other
> ideas from the group. I have a 3rd sensor arriving tomorrow and now I'll be
> overlapping my Dex trial with my Medtronic trial (which is actually a
> brilliant idea that I wish I had thought of on my own - see the 2
> technologies react to exactly the same circumstances at the same time---THIS
> is the way to compare them).
>
>
>
> Anyway, I was just hoping to get thoughts and experiences from you folks.
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> Warm regards,
>
>
>
> -jeff toll-free: 1-888-967-3386
>
> Award-Winning Children's Author, Jeff Nathan, presents
>
> CurricuLaughs
>
> Curriculum-tied Language Arts Education through HUMOR
>
> "... by far, the best set of presentations I have seen in our school system
> ."
>
> Dr. Marc Kerble Assistant Superintendent Winchester Schools
> Winchester, MA
>
> ". a student said it best. "You Rock!" From the mouth of babes, Jeff you
> were sensational. Thank you ever so much!"
>
> Kristine O. Murray Media Enrichment Specialist Maghakian Memorial
> School Brookline, NH
>
>
>
> see these and other raving testimonials at
> <http://www.IncredibleAssemblies. > www.IncredibleAssemcom blies.com
>
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