It’s been AGES since I posted about Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS). This is not because I’ve lost interest: far from it. I am still very much looking foward to the day that all of us T1s have access to (and funding for; because let’s face it, there are very few of us who can afford to run one of these full time at the moment) these cool gadgets.
For those of you who are new to the concept, basically a CGMS is a unit which takes a blood sugar reading as frequently as every five minutes (some of them are slower, some faster). Per the picture on the right, all CGMS which are currently approved and on the market (globally) involve inserting a small sensor under your skin into your interstitial layer, which reads your glucose and sends it to a monitor, or an integrated insulin pump (as in the example to the right).
I’ve often longed for the day that I could have some sort of watch which just told me what my BG was at any given moment. And as you can see from my past experience with hiring one for a month, it was certainly beneficial in seeing what was going on in the night time when blood sugars sometimes act like they’re at a slumber party.
I won’t go over old ground – you can read my “Glucose Watchdog in Action” article for a summary of what I thought generally about using a CGMS (although it was nearly two years ago now). I’ve read several studies which prove that overall BG levels are better in patients with CGMS.
A few of you have asked me where you can get these systems in NZ. Currently, Medica Pacifica* are the only company who hire them – their CGMS product is called the Guardian. You can see a demo of the product here. You can either use the Guardian as a CGMS on its own or have CGMS testing via their Paradigm Veo and Paradigm X22 pumps. The sensors aren’t cheap, but I know particularly for parents you can’t put a price on peace of mind… and a CGMS will alarm when a patient is dropping/rising rapidly, or if they hit a high or low BG reading as set by the user.
The CGMS I hired back in 2008 was a unit called the Dexcom, which Insulin Pumps NZ used to hire out. I understand they’re no longer hiring the units but are likely to be selling them in the future. I’ll keep an eye on this and let you know if this happens.
At all of the conferences in NZ lately the talk has been of insulin pumps… hopefully soon we will move on from this and start to get some traction on CGMS, because this sort of technology is what will help every single one of us, whether we’re on MDI or pumps.
*The number to call for Medica Pacifica is 0800 106 100.
Posted in CGMS, Monitoring, Technology & Equipment
Tagged as CGMS, Guardian, Paradigm Veo, Paradigm X22
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Ruthie wrote
I used a loan CGMS for 3 days when before I was put on a loan pump for pregnancy and it was INCREDIBLE. I can’t rave about CGMS devices enough. They are getting big in the states now too so I’m guessing little old NZ will feel the ripples of that eventually (fingers crossed we do.) Does anyone out there use a pump with a CGMS option built in?? Any comments on this, and what about price etc?
I also found this link … thought some of you might like to see it. Artificial pancreas here we come! This is the next step above real-time pumps (which only take the bloodtesting out of the equation but you still have to bolus accordingly and correct etc) … here, you let the system think for you and control your diabetes while you get busy with living.
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8046715
There’s also more info at http://www.artificalpancreas.com if you haven’t come across that already.
One day, one day people! (Can you hear the drastic hope in my voice?!)
Nic wrote
Interestingly enough, Ruthie I was just over at my Mum and Dad’s today, and their next door neighbour came over (this one: http://www.beingdiabetic.co.nz/2010-03-18/good-on-you-variety-club/) – he has just started on his pump and chose the Paradigm Veo too. He’s heavily into his sport so they’ve got him on the above CGMS for a week or two to keep an eye on what happens. The transmitter for the CGMS costs $2,000 and the sensors cost $80 a week. But he can borrow the transmitter from the hospital when he wants to and pay for the sensors himself, he said.
Will have to have a look at the above links when I have more time, thanks for those!
tash wrote
the wonderful starship are lending us a cgm for a week.
Being that he has turned 2 basal tests are quite tricky! no activity and no carbs? the cgm makes the picture so much clearer
Nic wrote
Way to go Starship! I sometimes wish I could enrol as a patient under Starship. Along with the National Womens Maternity Unit they are two of the clinics which seem to be doing incredible things for us T1s. (I realise I speak with an AKL bias and there are other places in the country which are providing great service too, I’m just not as in the know about them
)
Roy wrote
Has anyone used the Glucose Biographer or Biographer G2 wrist watch? I believe these ceased production in 2005 and it would seem, were never all that successful as a stand alone monitor; although, the sensors were available up until 2007.
A new watch that seems to have come from the Gulcowatch, the Glucon and is due for release in 2011. It seems to be non invasive and will be priced about the same as the range of current monitors and censers.
Ruthie wrote
Roy – are you from the States? (If you don’t mind me asking!) It’s just as much as the Glucon sounds exciting, I fear that we here in little old NZ don’t see these developments quite as fast as our American friends!
Roy wrote
HI Ruthie. Born and raised in Dunedin of English and Shetland stock, which clearly rubs off and is more than a difficult mix at all times and even if you add fifty years of T1 into this chaotic brew, you would still not end up from the states, or anywhere else for that matter, except Dunedin.
I can’t agree entirely on us not seeing developments before they do. The BG meter and the Glucowatch are just two devices that went on sale world wide before they did there, even though they were developed there. The US market potential for a non invasive BG monitor is 3.4 billion dollars.