I have been using insulin for more than 35 years, and I started using
a Medtronic Pump and Sensor one year ago. When I went through free
sensor training before I started using the Medtronic sensor, they
told me same thing you heard from support, do not calibrate your
sensor if blood sugar is changing quickly, or if too high. Best
calibration is when blood sugar is stable and in normal range.

How do you do this? First, set your pump Utilities, Meter Options,
to OFF when you have a sensor. That way you can use the same BD-
Medtronic Minimed Paradigm Link BUT it will not automatically
calibrate your sensor. Then put in a new sensor right after a meal
(Breakfast or Lunch, NOT DINNER). Do not eat your next meal until
the 2 hour waiting time is up. That way you can do the FIRST
calibration pre-meal, when your blood sugar is at the low "ideal"
point, and when it should be stable.

Your second calibration is due 4 hours after the first, but it can be
done earlier! Best not to do it immediately, but if you expect to
not have a good blood sugar in 4 hours, what about 2 or 3 hours?

With good calibration, I have found the Medtronic sensor to be very
accurate (within 1 or 2 points of finger stick blood readings). When
my calibrations are at "bad times" (higher than "normal 70-120" or
changing, then it is not so accurate, but it gets better when doing
the re-calibrations which are required at least every 12 hours.
IDEALLY, figure 2-3 calibrations per 24 hour period works best. Do
those calibration based on your own schedule to get times when the
blood sugar is stable, and in or close to the normal 70-120 mg/dl
range.

I prefer the Medtronic system because I have to carry my pump with me
at all times. Why should I have to carry a SEPERATE Sensor Display?
Using a Medtronic sensor means that I can see my current blood sugar
ANYTIME I have a question about it on my pump, and can see the effect
in real time of calculating exercise carb/insulin amounts. My doctor
and I have found my A1C readings much better in the last year after
going onto the pump and sensor instead of 5 insulin injections per
day.

Regards, Fred Goldberg

> ----- הודעה מקורית -----
> מאת: Yerachmiel Bruchya Altman <yerachmiel@...>
> תאריך: יום א', יולי 15, 2007 16:51
> נושא: [JewishIP] The wonders of sensor technology:
> אל: Insulin-Pumpers <insulin-pumpers@...>,
FriendsWithDiabetes@yahoogroups.com, JewishDiabetes@yahoogroups.com,
JewishInsulinPumpers <JewishInsulinPumpers@yahoogroups.com>
> העתק: Joel Weinstock <chasidicjew@...>, Chula Ruchel Altman
<haltman@...>, "Cortina, Gabe [ITG]" <gabriel.cortina@...>, "Harry H.
Elias" <hhelias@...>, "Hong, Peter" <peter.hong@...>, Jason Gershman
<Jason@...>, "Luria, Mordechai" <msluria@...>, "Luria, Mordechai"
<msluria@...>, "Meisels, Rabbi" <RabbiMeisels@...>, "MiniMed,
Medtronic" <minimedeconnections@...>, Robert Altman
<robertaltman@...>, "Schwartz, Kevin" <kschwartz@...>
>
> > PLEASE do NOT read this as a warning against using the sensor. I
> > am VERY in
> > favor of it: I am just more and more aware that the 'warnings'
> > from Minimed
> > on taking a finger stick to 'check' the blood sugar if it is out
> > of range is
> > VERY important and not just a 'safety check' (at least not yet)!!
> >
> > I called Minimed on Wed. (last week) about repeated horrible
> > results with
> > the sensor. After the 'standard' questions (time between
removing
> > fromfridge and inserting, time between insertion and hooking up
> > the transmitter,
> > distance from catheter, 'look' and 'feel' of the insertion site)
I
> > was asked
> > if I use the LINK meter (and have it communicating with the
pump).
> > I
> > answered "Of Course, it's great".
> >
> > I was then told that
> >
> > 1] Taking more than four tests a day which are 'reported' to
> > the pump
> > MESSES UP the calibration!
> >
> > 2] Taking calibration tests when the sugar is either 'out of
> > range' or
> > 'changing even semi-rapidly' will
> >
> > mess up the calculations the pump makes towards calibrating
the
> > sensor.
> >
> > 3] One should NOT use the LINK with the pump if they're using
> > the sensor
> > (or at least turn off the communication
> >
> > mode).
> >
> > I am thinking of having two 'main' meters: one a link and one a
> > logic (and
> > another a freestyle, as the link's reported blood sugars have led
> > me to
> > thank G-d I only have 10 fingers to try to duplicate a reading on
> > (lastnight got a 20, 65 and an 87 within four minutes from three
> > VERY clean and
> > nice sample sized fingers)!!
> >
> >
> > I don't know how other people are handling the sensor but I've
also
> > discovered that PLACEMENT could make major differences in how
long
> > they last
> > AND how accurate they are:
> >
> > I put one in the leg after four straight NO GOODS (results off,
> > bleeding,etc). The one in my thigh is going on it's fifth or
> > sixth day, happily
> > reporting results in a 'reproducible' way (using both freestyle
> > and BD to
> > check).
> >
> > Yerachmiel Altman
> >
> > {Who, having now achieved 26 years of pumping and approaching his
> > 46th year
> > anniversary of diabetes, is ready for the next big challenge
> > (convincingmyself that the sensor results are good enough that I
> > would WANT to close
> > the loop)}