Tip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger...

Monday, January 26, 2009 | 7 comment(s)

...à la Stephen Colbert.

I've got some kudos
Not the Snackbar

Kudos Snackbars...Mmmmm
But (oh!) did I love to make lunch-time trades for these little devils in elementary school!

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and complaints about Dexcom that I'd like to air.

First, the complement: Before the holidays, I had two Dexcom sensors fail on me in rapid succession. One sensor lasted all of six hours! I waited a day or two to put in the next sensor because I definitely wanted some Dex coverage over the holidays. So I put the next sensor (my last sensor as well) in on the day before Christmas. This one lasted all of 3 days before it went kaput.

I called my very friendly Dexcom rep when I got back into the office after my holiday and let him know what had happened. He said: "Always call the tech support!".

So that's what I did.

I tell you, I have never (ever) had such friendly and helpful support with anything. The rep I spoke to asked a few questions, apologized for the inconvenience and sent 2 sensors out to me right away.

I was extremely impressed and feel they certainly deserve serious props
I've always wondered what that meant
Turns out, it's slang for "proper respect".

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for their service.

Unfortunately, these warm Dexcom feelings were recently washed away.

One night last week I woke up with only the faintest of sensations that something wasn't *quite* right. I look at my Dex and see that I'm flat and in the normal range (I think Dex said 130 something. I tested with my OneTouch, and (lo and behold!) I was at 42 (there's that number again, of course, I didn't panic). I tested again to make sure that wasn't a mistake and it came back at 43 (then, perhaps, I started to panic a little).

Quite a disappointment with the Dex, but it gets worse:

THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE VERY NEXT NIGHT.
In case you're curious
I've been biking to work in frigid weather (e.g., 10 degrees in the morning was my coldest ride so far). I think working so hard in the cold weather was causing these serious low blood sugars in the middle of the night. I need to figure out how to reduce my basal rates over night to hopefully prevent this from happening. (NB: I know *how* to do it, I just mean the inevitable trial-and-error of doing it *right* -- Oh, the bane of my existence).

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This time I woke up feeling a little off, I looked at Dex (it said 116 and flat), I tested and it came back at 34(!!!).

Two back-to-back scary lows with only the faintest of sensations and not a buzz or beep from the Dexcom receiver on my night stand.

Seriously:
Isn't that the WHOLE POINT of having this thing?

7 Comment(s):

Blogger ..M.. said...

I just LOVE having you back :)

Blogger Unknown said...

So I see you are (were?) back! I missed reading your posts man. I can say that someone has been standing on my fastforward button too, and I'm not very appreciative either. I'm doing a 3-day CGMS trial with my new endo in two weeks, so I'm hoping for good things in that department. I'm sorry to hear (read?) about your midnight madness, I hope Dex is just playing a little short game of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on ya. =)

But seriously, 10degree bike rides? Woof.

Anonymous New Treatment said...

Dex is unreliable. I have several people in my diabetes group air similar experiences with Dex. I was set on getting one myself but after the complaints, I don't want to risk it. I am not good at controlling panic.

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