Dexcom Open Choice
My local Dexcom rep kindly arranged to give me a loaner of the new Dexcom Open Choice system. The main difference with this system is how it's calibrated - you can use any meter and enter the blood glucose values by hand.I carried around both Dexcom receivers, the Dexcom 7 and the Dexcom Open Choice, for over a week. In this test I set them both to read from the same transmitter, so I could directly compare the results. Here's a short video that shows how to calibrate with the new system.
Below I've also got some details comments on the pros and cons of the changes.
I think this small change is a major improvement to the Dexcom system. It gives you the freedom to use your favorite blood glucose meter, so you don't have to worry about getting insurance coverage for two sets of test strips. The WaveSense Keynote meter that I used is extremely accurate, so I hope to benefit with better control and tighter A1Cs.
Dexcom updated their software so that the modal view is available once again. You can now see the reading graphs for up to nine days of readings. I've used this to see problems that happen at specific times each day. It was the only thing I missed from the first version of the Dexcom software.
I have two minor issues with the new features.
First when inputting the glucose value you use the up/down arrows to change the existing value shown by the Dexcom. The scroll speed for those arrows is much too fast. Most of the time the current value is going to be close to the reading from your meter. So you need to change the value only a little. The scrolling is so fast that it's only useful if the difference is over 100 mg/dL. Dexcom please reduce the speed here.
The other issue is even less important, it's to do with the location of the calibration screen. After you've removed and replaced a sensor the first thing you need to do is tell the receiver. You use the sensor insert screen that only appears when the receiver isn't already connected to a transmitter. Dexcom placed this screen after the calibration screen. It should be placed before the calibration screen. Most users will not be calibrating without a sensor in place.
The Dexcom Open Choice is being shipped to all new customers. Existing customers can pay an upgrade (about $200 currently). Dexcom is waiting for FDA approval to provide a download capability for software upgrades. The hope to get this approval by July and will then provide the upgrade for free to existing customers.
Note: I currently own shares in Dexcom, I try not to let this ownership influence what I say about the company or its products.
Labels: comparison, Dexcom, Dexcom Open Choice, Dexcom SEVEN, videos
posted by Bernard @ 9:43 PM
10 Comments:
yay! isn't it better? I actually like the calibration screen first, since you use that much more frequently (twice a day as opposed to once every 7 days or so). I've been okay with the scrolling speed too but maybe that's because my values are usually a bit off!
I didn't realize they changed the name from Dexcom 7 to Dexcom Open System. But I am very glad to be able to use any meter, and not to have to worry about connecting with that cable.
OMG, yay! This is exactly what I've been waiting for before getting the Dexcom. I will be sure to bring this up at my next appointment.
Now all we need is a 24 hour graph on the receiver and a perpetual high alarm.
Thanks for the description and updates....always appreciated.
Gday Bernard!!
Kate here!! Just wanted to give you some info re the sitch on insulin pumps in Australia,( and New Zealand for that matter.)
We have a health service here called Medibank, which, fortunately enough for us, allows us to visit GP's for free, get HUGE rebates on medications and specialist visits. It is available to ALL Australians.
Of course, there are dozens of Private health insurers all vying to get customers to join up with them. If you do this, you have wait 1 year to receive any benefits. Once that year has lapsed, you can go your hardest at hassling them to organise an insulin pump for you.
However, by the time you have paid into a health fund for a year, assumimg you are a family, or even in my situation, a single mother with one child, you would have already invested approx $6500.
To straight out contact your preferred insulin pump supplier, you are already looking at paying out at LEAST $7000. That's for a middle of the line model, too. Then, when you are fully underway with pumping, you have to ensure that you have sufficent consumables to last you a month. The NDSS (National Diabetes Services Scheme) allows for huge rebates on Diabetic requirements, however, the consumables are still $30-$40 a month to ensure that you pump actually works!
Even though we are all so furious at your Health System, and how you have to pay insurance to ensure that you get your strips etc...we get ours for $1. Our insulin costs us %5 for a 6 month supply. Last year, JDRF advocates (including myself) barraged John Howard (ex prime minister) to start a National Insulin Pump Scheme for those unde 18 in Australia. He offered 22 million on International Diabetes Day, if he won. He didn't.
So, at the moment, it's scrimp and save for as long as you can so that your child's levels and trends will even out, or stay on insulin injections. That's about the size of it. We are hoping with fingers crossed, that in our National Budget, that new PM, Kevin Rudd, will announce some type of relief program. Even if he does, we won't see or hear about it again until 2010 anyway. Talk about vicious circles! Anyway, thanks so much for contacting me, and you will be happy to know that Lance has stopped his wild swings from way up high to scraping the floor at 1mmol/L. I was not a happy camper that month.Lance doesn't remember it, which I am SO relieved about!
You take care, Bernard!!!!
Kind Regards
Kate and Lance
I REALLY enjoyed this post Bernard! Thanks for all the info on the Dex upgrades!! I look forward to the FDA approval this summer!
And that accent! Aren't you just the nicest little Leprechaun! I could listen to you speak all day! haha!
Sorry, Bernard, but this comment has nothing to do with this post.
I just came from Kerri's post re wedding songs for the opening dance. I was scrolling down, not realizing it was your comment and thought "now, there's my favorite music.......". Who else among us loves Van more than you or I? I smiled when I saw they were your suggestions
.........psst - don't forget "Crazy Love"......
ah, interesting!
I thought the med companies were shifting towards an integrated meter? I know Medtronic has received some flac from docs because you can manually enter numbers. Dr. Mazze (from the IDC) said recently that they did a small study showing 5-10% transcription errors when manually entering information.
Having a choice seems better to me, but Dr. Mazze raises an interesting point.
Hey Bernard! Great video.
I chuckled out loud at a few things, and I know you'll appreciate them (nothing like diabetic humor right?).
1) I totally heard the good old "finger lick" method of dealing with the blood on you finger! Ha! I do that too!
2) How you forgot your number so quickly after reading it on the wavesense! Happens to me ALL THE TIME!!!!
:-)
I haven't been contacted by Dexcom about an update. I have had the first Dexcom then upgraed to the 7. I am glad to read your blog as I didn't know a new one existed.
Do they use the same sensors as the 7 or has that changed too.
Bob
Good question, I didn't make that clear. They use exactly the same sensors and transmitter. That's how I was able to have both the old receiver and the new receiver pick up readings from the same sensor.
I can't wait until they get the FDA approval for the download feature so I can upgrade my existing system!
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