Type 1 Tech Disasters (blog 8)

I absolutely love the Dexcom G6. BUT we’re on our 4th sensor with none of the other 3 lasting.

1st sensor fell off on day 4. Also from day 2 had loads of sensor error warnings with no data for over an hour each time.

2nd sensor fell off the same day it was inserted.

3rd sensor failed on day 8 and also had a couple of sensor errors.

After the 1st 2 sensors fell off I phoned Dexcom but couldn’t get through to them till 3 days later being on hold for ages each day and no call backs even though I left messages. They are very busy at this time because of the new G6.

When I finally got through they were very helpful and said they were replacing the sensors and sending 10 adhesive patches.

3rd sensor failed on day 8. Beren's blood sugar was off the chart so I’m assuming that had something to do with it.

The weather wasn't too bad so we decided we were going to go for a country walk. Really bad timing!

Beren's blood sugar was already quite high when we started the walk but he had only just had dinner so I thought the insulin would kick in soon. But it just kept rising. I'd tried to give him a correction at 17mmol but because of the insulin on board setting on the pump it wouldn't let me. I left it a little bit longer and the numbers on the Dexcom had been replaced with 'High' (with 2 arrows going up still). I did a finger prick and the meter just said HI. I have no idea what he was but knew he was above 33mmol as that's how high the meter goes to. I gave correction for 33mmol and we had to turn round and walk back to the car. Beren had to be carried. He would've walked but all I could think about was his heart trying to pump his blood round his body when his blood sugar was that high and then putting more pressure on his heart as he was doing physical activity.

One hour later and back at the car (where I'd left the insulin pen typical) I did another finger prick and it still said HI?! I gave a correction through injection and also a pump set change. Then of course perfect timing the Dexcom G6 sensor failed. I had been relying on the Dexcom because of all the extra insulin he'd had I needed to see if he was going to drop too low and fast.

There was an adventure playground there and all Beren wanted to do was to play. We'd travelled an hour to get here for that. I let him have 15 minutes and then we travelled home. I felt so sorry for him.

The journey home was awful I was so worried. I did a finger prick as soon as we got home and he was 28mmol. Terrible but at least we had a number now! Yet another correction and a new sensor inserted with a few more finger pricks whilst waiting for the Dexcom 2 hour countdown.

He eventually came down to 13mmol and had another correction and then he was in range (kind of) for the rest of the night and the next day. His blood sugar often goes into the 20's but this time I have no idea why he went that high?!

The next day I phoned Dexcom again. This time getting through straightaway and they sent out another replacement sensor.

So not a great start with the Dexcom G6 but I have to say the readings have always been spot on when I have done finger pricks and you can’t beat not having to do finger pricks! The insertion is great too.

This sensor (number 4) is still on. I used Skin Tac.

It's not only the Dexcom that has failed it's also the pump. It is technology after all and these things happen.

4 times the rubber cover has come off a side button on the pump and the pump has been replaced. This didn't effect the use of the pump as it was a button that doesn't need to be used. So it was ok until the replacement arrived. But one of the times a couple of months ago I hadn't realised it had fallen off and he got in the bath wearing the pump. It wasn't until the pump screen was blank when I was checking on him in the night that I realised that water must have gone inside the pump and it had eventually gone off. Again perfect timing that it would break in the middle of the night!

I'd not given an injection for a long time and worse was I'd not calculated insulin dosage as the pump does it for me! Another big problem was how much long lasting insulin to give as on a pump you don't give that. The pump gives constant fast acting insulin (basal).

I knew I wasn't going to get the information I needed from the hospital at this time of night as there would be no diabetes specialists there. They were helpful though, ringing the specialist and ringing me back with what ever information they could. I spoke to the specialist nurse the next morning and Beren had a couple of days of injections (I had to go into school to give them) before the new pump arrived.

As you can see this boy doesn't give one about diabetes even when he's this high! It doesn't seem to affect him!