[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

graflynn

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of getting the dexcom CGM for my animas vibe pump. I've been told that I need to order the sensors directly from animas but I think that they might be available on the lti.

Is anyone out there getting their CGM sensors through the lti?

Thanks in advance.

cocker5

graflynn wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of getting the dexcom CGM for my animas vibe pump. I've been told that I need to order the sensors directly from animas but I think that they might be available on the lti.

Is anyone out there getting their CGM sensors through the lti?

Thanks in advance.

As far as i know the HSE are looking into the Dexcom under the LTI but its not approved as of yet.

Are you self funding the Dexcom unit itself?

My husband has the Dexcom (all self funded) and finds it a god send TBH.... he's trying to get it under LTI but as of yet its not approved....

He buys all his stuff through another UK company

graflynn

cocker5 wrote: »

As far as i know the HSE are looking into the Dexcom under the LTI but its not approved as of yet.

Are you self funding the Dexcom unit itself?

My husband has the Dexcom (all self funded) and finds it a god send TBH.... he's trying to get it under LTI but as of yet its not approved....

He buys all his stuff through another UK company

Hi Cocker5,
I'm getting the CGM through the HSE, and it will be the Dexcom, as this is the one that is compatible with my insulin pump (Animas).

It might be worth it for your husband to contact Animas Ireland 1800 812 715. They seem to distribute the Dexcom in Ireland and may be able to give you more help with the application process. I did have the contact info for the Irish sales rep but she is on a sabbatical until August and the other lady who helped me has been relocated.

I'll keep you posted though on my progress on getting the sensors.
Grainne

cocker5

graflynn wrote: »

Hi Cocker5,
I'm getting the CGM through the HSE, and it will be the Dexcom, as this is the one that is compatible with my insulin pump (Animas).

It might be worth it for your husband to contact Animas Ireland 1800 812 715. They seem to distribute the Dexcom in Ireland and may be able to give you more help with the application process. I did have the contact info for the Irish sales rep but she is on a sabbatical until August and the other lady who helped me has been relocated.

I'll keep you posted though on my progress on getting the sensors.
Grainne

Hi Grainne,

Thats for the post.

Can I ask are the HSE suppling you with the transmitter? as with the Animas you will only need the transmitter and sensor and not the little unit itself as the Animas will show all the details you need on its screen etc?

As my husband has the entire dexcom unit, sensors, transmitter and receiver





Think you will only need the transmitter and not the receiver (the black thing above etc) as your pump will show you the readings... my husband is waiting on the pump etc.

He was told by Vincents that at the moment they are looking at the Dexcom but its not yet approved but maybe by the end of 2014, as it has to be approved here in Irealnd etc.

But go for it, he finds the dexcom excellent, hes very active, skiing, swimming etc and finds it a great help.

Let me know if you get anywhere with the LTI and the dexcom and if we get anywhere we will kep
ep you posted also.

Thanks again X

robinph

I'm waiting for approval of a trial of the Dexcom sensor to go with my Animas pump. Unfortunately there is no chance of getting any CGM stuff for free on the NHS, so it's just down to how nicely the specialist nurse can talk to the Animas rep as to if I get a chance to use one temporarily.

Would be really handy to have I think, but not sure if I can justify the expense.

cocker5

robinph wrote: »

I'm waiting for approval of a trial of the Dexcom sensor to go with my Animas pump. Unfortunately there is no chance of getting any CGM stuff for free on the NHS, so it's just down to how nicely the specialist nurse can talk to the Animas rep as to if I get a chance to use one temporarily.

Would be really handy to have I think, but not sure if I can justify the expense.

I have to be honest and say we would cut back on everything before my other half would do without his GCM, while it is an expense... we paid for the enitire packages ourselves, its become the norm andother bill etc and even though its not covered by the HSE here he wont be going without it.

yes its alot but the piece of mind i gives is unmeasurable IMO, we were able to go skiing 3 months after his diagnoses, this would have been impossible without the Dexcom. Infact its the main reason he got one to begin with but now its part of everyday life its not something we will be giving up regardless of who pays for it.

if you are active, my other half plays alot of squash, running etc swimming etc the GCM is a great help, while yes he still pricks his finger etc, instead of it being 15 - 20 times a day its a 5/7 etc.

Its great for preventing a hypo, or stopping your bloods going too high etc - personally we find it invaluable

5live

Pioneering fake pancreas helps Type1 diabetics

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/pioneering-fake-pancreas-helps-type-1-diabetics-30356795.html

stinkybum

cocker5 wrote: »

yes its alot but the piece of mind i gives is unmeasurable IMO, we were able to go skiing 3 months after his diagnoses, this would have been impossible without the Dexcom. Infact its the main reason he got one to begin with but now its part of everyday life its not something we will be giving up regardless of who pays for it.

Do you mind me asking how much you spend a month on it and what the initial outlay was. I used my friends one once for a few weeks and it did me the world of good. I'd consider paying for it if I knew how much.
If you want to PM me, thats fine.

RobbingBandit

Anyone know the direct number of the retina screening clinic in Santry, it is in beside the Ben Dunne Gym.

gctest50

In the new Diabetes Ireland place maybe ? see attached photo

Diabetes Ireland
19 Northwood House
Northwood Business Campus
Santry, Dublin 9
Tel: 01 842 8118

gctest50

Patent expiry fun

The company said last month its once-a-day insulin injection was better than Lantus in controlling patients’ blood sugar,

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/health-pharma/eli-lilly-wins-european-backing-for-generic-version-of-sanofi-s-lantus-insulin-1.1847757

cocker5

stinkybum wrote: »

Do you mind me asking how much you spend a month on it and what the initial outlay was. I used my friends one once for a few weeks and it did me the world of good. I'd consider paying for it if I knew how much.
If you want to PM me, thats fine.

Really sorry for the late reply I'm only just seeing your post now - apologies...

IMO and my husbands (he's the user of the dexcon etc ) it's worth every penny.

The initial outlay was €2.7k to be honest but here's what that bought him:

The transmitter, receiver (screen with readings etc) leather case, and 16 sensors so sensors for min 16 weeks but I'm going to be honest and say most of his sensors last him min of 10 days his current sensor is on day 14 and not a bother!

So they last longer than the 7 day claim.

He's get 4 sensors for £250, but they last min 6 weeks... Works out about €70 per sensor - expensive but IMO worth it for piece of mind etc.

I have a full list of prices for the place we get them in the uk I can pm them to you if you want?

cocker5

stinkybum wrote: »

Do you mind me asking how much you spend a month on it and what the initial outlay was. I used my friends one once for a few weeks and it did me the world of good. I'd consider paying for it if I knew how much.
If you want to PM me, thats fine.

Sent you a pm with prices / info etc - best of luck...

CramCycle

http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2014/06/18/db14-0513?papetoc

Haven't accessed the full paper but it seems to be implying that your insulin sensitivity is changed with temperature change acclimatisation. I thought this was accepted for years as many type 1s experience sudden and continuous hypos while going on holiday, and changes to insulin regimes in different seasons (not tremendously applicable in Ireland).

Alanstrainor

Another minimed insulin pump bites the dust, wish I had kept track how fast these pumps fails. Once a year is around what I experience; it's pretty worrisome really. But to be fair to medtronic, the pump failed at 12:30 today, called at 1, and by 2:30 a courier had popped out to my house with a new pump. Only problem is that I had told the medtronic support agent that it needed to be delivered to my office address, which they assured me it would...oh well.

gctest50

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Another minimed insulin pump bites the dust. Once a year is around what I experience; it's pretty worrisome really............

I hope their pacemakers are a bit more reliable :eek:

The_Conductor

gctest50 wrote: »

I hope their pacemakers are a bit more reliable :eek:

No moving parts....... the pacemaker that is.......

Alanstrainor

gctest50 wrote: »

I hope their pacemakers are a bit more reliable :eek:

I know...and it's always more or less the same reason for failure, all dating back to 2006 and it's the motor. They've had basically the same pump, almost unchanged since 2003/4 and yet the motor is still absolute rubbish. I understand that these devices run 24/7, but given the cost, that's no excuse. I'm going to write someone an angry letter.

LoTR

Hello,

I am new to Ireland. I have type 1 diabetes and use insulin pens (injections.) I have applied to the Long Term Illness plan to get a booklet that would give me free insulin...but there seems to be a delay, and they are not sure where my application is.

The concern is that within two weeks I will run out of insulin, and if I have not received the booklet by then, I am not sure what to do. Does anyone know if I can buy insulin at the pharmacy with the prescription my doctor gave me, without the booklest? Does anyone know roughly the cost?

Thanks.

CramCycle

LoTR wrote: »

The concern is that within two weeks I will run out of insulin, and if I have not received the booklet by then, I am not sure what to do. Does anyone know if I can buy insulin at the pharmacy with the prescription my doctor gave me, without the booklest? Does anyone know roughly the cost?

Thanks.

You can definitely buy it with a prescription from the Pharmacy, that's what I had done when we moved back from england after being away for awhile. Depending on the pharmacy, and how in depth the doctors note is, smaller pharmacies may give you the insulin if local on the basis that they know you and that they can just stockpile the claim till it comes in, hopefully not too long.

I would however ring up your local LTI issuing centre and explain to them the situation and your concern, light a match under them so to speak, it should not take that long TBH.

graflynn

LoTR wrote: »

Hello,

I am new to Ireland. I have type 1 diabetes and use insulin pens (injections.) I have applied to the Long Term Illness plan to get a booklet that would give me free insulin...but there seems to be a delay, and they are not sure where my application is.

The concern is that within two weeks I will run out of insulin, and if I have not received the booklet by then, I am not sure what to do. Does anyone know if I can buy insulin at the pharmacy with the prescription my doctor gave me, without the booklest? Does anyone know roughly the cost?

Thanks.

Hello, if this happened to me I would first call the Long Term Illness section in your area (use this to find the telephone number). It usually only takes approx. a week to get your prescriptions approved (all going well) and you still have two weeks left.

You may have already done this but there is no harm in ringing again; make yourself a tiny nuisance.

If they have indeed lost your application then go back to who ever signed your application (your GP or clinic) and try and get a copy of the original and present it in person (if you can) to the Long Term Illness Section with an explaination of you urgent it is.

I usually find that they people working in the HSE are reasonable but sometimes human error happens and the patient suffers.

If you can't get your LTI in time go back to your Healthcare professional for advice, there are always options. If they don't give you insulin then you are going to end up as an inpatient and you are just saving them the trouble of an ambulance and the A&E space.

Hope you're settling in well to Ireland, apart from the neverending strife of having to deal with the HSE :rolleyes:

LoTR

Thanks, yeah, I called them again, and seems like they finally found the application and will be sending the book.

RobbingBandit

Just started Exenatide a couple of weeks ago, on my second dose last night and got a lot of blood coming out on removal of the needle, little painful but no side-effects so far, was looking on-line and seen it is available in a 60 does pen form, anyone know is this available over here?

gctest50

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Just started Exenatide a couple of weeks ago, on my second dose last night and got a lot of blood coming out on removal of the needle, little painful but no side-effects so far, was looking on-line and seen it is available in a 60 does pen form, anyone know is this available over here?

seems to be :

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd
College Park House, 20 Nassau Street, Dublin 2,
Telephone: +353 1 609 7100
Fax: +353 1 679 6650
Medical Information Direct Line: 1800 800 899 Freephone
Medical Information e-mail: medical.informationuk@astrazeneca.com
Customer Care direct line: +353(0)1 609 7100 Supply & non-medical enquiries
Medical Information Facsimile: +44 (0)1582 838 003

http://www.medicines.ie/searchresults.aspx?term=byetta&searchtype=AdvancedSearch

.

CramCycle

What pump will lI get based on the following order? Answers on a postcard.

3ml Reservoir mmt 332a

MIO infusion set 60 cm MMT 943

NOVOrapid 10 ml vials

All I can figure out is that it is Medtronic

RobbingBandit

gctest50 wrote: »

seems to be :

.

Thanks will discuss with my GP and Consultant tomorrow.

graflynn

graflynn wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of getting the dexcom CGM for my animas vibe pump. I've been told that I need to order the sensors directly from animas but I think that they might be available on the lti.

Is anyone out there getting their CGM sensors through the lti?

Thanks in advance.

Just got an update regarding my CGM. The clinic I attend don't have much experience with insulin pumps or CGMS and this has been a serious disadvantage with regards to the form filling and writing the requests for HSE funding. But I haven't given up yet.

I did talk to my Animas rep this morning and he said because I'm an existing pump user I could self fund the CGM.

The starter pack which includes a transmitter and 4 sensors costs E600, after that I would need to buy 1 box of 4 sensors per month costing E220. Plus, I would be entitled to a 20% refund on the MED1 scheme.

I can even organise a trial before I purchase (really wish I'd known that months ago). So that's where I'm at.

Hope this helps others out there.

Transmitter clips into place inside a plastic sensor pod that’s attached to the adhesive and sensor. The transmitter wirelessly sends your sensor-measured glucose readings to your pump.

Sensors are inserted underneath your skin with the help of an introducer needle and held in place with adhesive)

cocker5

graflynn wrote: »

Just got an update regarding my CGM. The clinic I attend don't have much experience with insulin pumps or CGMS and this has been a serious disadvantage with regards to the form filling and writing the requests for HSE funding. But I haven't given up yet.

I did talk to my Animas rep this morning and he said because I'm an existing pump user I could self fund the CGM.

The starter pack which includes a transmitter and 4 sensors costs E600, after that I would need to buy 1 box of 4 sensors per month costing E220. Plus, I would be entitled to a 20% refund on the MED1 scheme.

I can even organise a trial before I purchase (really wish I'd known that months ago). So that's where I'm at.

Hope this helps others out there.

Transmitter clips into place inside a plastic sensor pod that’s attached to the adhesive and sensor. The transmitter wirelessly sends your sensor-measured glucose readings to your pump.

Sensors are inserted underneath your skin with the help of an introducer needle and held in place with adhesive)

Do u mind if I ask what brand of CGM you were quoted above for?

My husband self funds the Dexcom and he pays more than that - starter pack was over £1,000 that was for transmitter and receiver... No sensors
His sensors cost him £250 per month and yip it's all GBP prices...

CramCycle

cocker5 wrote: »

Do u mind if I ask what brand of CGM you were quoted above for?

My husband self funds the Dexcom and he pays more than that - starter pack was over £1,000 that was for transmitter and receiver... No sensors
His sensors cost him £250 per month and yip it's all GBP prices...

I presume its the Dexcom as she mentions the Animas rep, from working in science I find you can often get quite disparaging costs in the same company from different country reps (we often would order from another country to save money when I was a researcher). They are usually happy to sell around the local distributor if its a one to one sale, but i could be wrong and Gra has just got the quote of a lifetime by accident.

cocker5

CramCycle wrote: »

I presume its the Dexcom as she mentions the Animas rep, from working in science I find you can often get quite disparaging costs in the same company from different country reps (we often would order from another country to save money when I was a researcher). They are usually happy to sell around the local distributor if its a one to one sale, but i could be wrong and Gra has just got the quote of a lifetime by accident.

Cramcycle…..Thanks a million for your reply, its much apprenticed.

Yeah I agree we have no choice but to purchase it through advanced therapeutics in the UK and here’s the prices they sell it for :

• DexCom G4 Receiver Kit £975.00 (ex. VAT)

(Includes receiver (results displayed in mmol/l), transmitter,
DM Studio software, charger and travel adaptors, user manuals,


PC down load cable)

• G4 7-day Sensors (pack of 4) £250.00 (ex. VAT)
• Replacement Transmitter (lasts 6 months) £325.00 (ex. VAT)
• Delivery charge £20.00 (per order)

He did contact the aminas rep, and I do think they are cheaper, but they won’t / cant supply to him until he gets the pump (hopefully early next year) etc.
Hopefully in early 2015 when he gets the pump he will be able to buy directly from the Animas rep….. even if its self-funding

graflynn

If you are getting the Dexcom you won’t be disappointed, my husband finds it excellent, it’s a massive help , especially of you are very active and on the go.
While sometimes the reading can be a little out i.e. if your rising very quickly etc., it may be out by 10&% or 15% (max), it’s still very reliable.

Just giving you the heads up on the placement of the sensors…
For the first 4 months he would position the sensors around his stomach area which was grand, but he decided to try another area, so he tried the back of his upper arm and he found the readings very very accurate – just something to think about.

Plus when he puts the sensors on his tummy area it usually last 10 – 12 days per sensor… but on his arm it lasted 20 days with very accurate reading up until the end J

Also the transmitter doesn’t need to be covered over etc. as long as you “click” it into place correctly (it’s very easy) its waterproof. My husband goes swimming etc. and no bother at all. Plus covering it with tape could affect its transmitting if that makes sense J

after 5 days of wearing the sensor we do place a clear skin plaster (I can get you name and size if you need it they are 60 cents each in a chemist), we could a hole so the transmitter isn’t covered and its great keeps it on for the rest of the life of the sensors etc., it’s a very fine clear plaster so it’s not obtrusive etch


Best of luck with it, if you go ahead let me know what you think J