I apologize for my long absence and unfortunately I don’t have a good excuse. Life happened and family stuff took priority. But I really missed being away and hope to say that it will never happen again. But I can’t promise that otherwise I’d be stretching the truth so far it would SNAP!!!! But I’m excited to be back and LOTS has happened both in the D Tech World and my personal world. So let’s get started!!!!!
As many of u r aware, Dexcom G4 came out with their Share Technology incorporating a smart phone into Continuous Glucose Monitoring capability!!! I think this is so exciting!!! The NightScout capability has been out for a while and is equally amazing but for people like me who don’t possess the capabilities to set up the NightScout, despite the people involved offering all the help one could ever want (I still couldn’t do it). Dexcom Share has brought a new level of BG monitoring in a real-time fashion.
For care givers of children and seniors, I think this is a level of monitoring that wasn’t available to a wide base of people until now. For those who are not familiar w Dexcom Share, it is a CGM system that allows the Dexcom sensor wearer thru a cell phone APP, now available for both iPhone & Android, that thru low energy Bluetooth capability which sends the BG info in real time from the sensor to the Dexcom receiver to the PWD’s cellphone and then to the infamous “CLOUD” which then allows the “followers” the PWD has invited to receive the BG info on their cellphone after they have obtained the followers cellphone app.
I think this is HUGE!!! I upgraded to Dexcom Share even though I only have 2 people following me. I’m very independent in my BG management, like many of u, but I have to say, having someone know my BG at any point in time has kept me on my toes!! Like any human being, I tend to take the easy way out of anything if given the choice…OK, I’ll admit it!!!! I get LAZY at times!!! But w someone aware of what my numbers are doing, I’m more likely to pre-bolus before a snack that I would if no one was looking!! I’d still bolus but the allure of my sweet treat would make me quickly devour it without waiting for my insulin to start working. But now knowing someone is looking at points thruout the day, I tend to pre-bolus and wait for the dip in my CGM before I actually start eating my sweet indulgence!!! So even though I’m not a caregiver of a child, it’s still a great advancement to my day to day management.
And very exciting news for Dexcom as well is that they have received FDA approval for the G5 Dexcom CGM which eliminates the need for the receiver between the sensor and the cellphone. This advancement takes the sesor reading thru Bluetooth low energy again right to the PWD’s phone and then it goes to the “CLOUD” again and then out to the chosen followers. Very big news!!!!! And Dexcom was surprised because they got approval much more quickly than expected As a result Dexcom is not ready to ship the new G5 yet but has stated they’re hoping to be shipping by the end of September/beginning of October. If u purchased ur G4 in August 2015, u’ll be able to get a free upgrade, but the rest of us will either have to wait until the next end of warranty date to upgrade or purchase out of pocket. I’m not aware what the out of pocket cost would be. I haven’t seen that published anywhere. Stay tuned!!!!
And,on the FDA approval front, Tandem T Slim received FDA approval for integration of the Dexcom G4 CGM. Although, I just spoke to a Tandem rep and the T Flex is not included in this approval. But stay tuned!!!!
OK, that’s it for Diabetes related Breaking News!!!! I’ll end this here but I’m looking forward to my next posting which will outline my attendance at this August’s American Diabetes Educators Association”s 2015 conference in New Orleans which Was AWESOME and VERY EXCITING.
As always, CHECK, Don’t Guess!!! Have a GREAT Wednesday!!!
muddybrooks 