Abbott’s Navigator System – a parent’s review.
It’s definitely the small player compared to Dexcom & Medtronic! But the sensor itself is excellent, I have had no supply problems (apparently a problem for them a few years ago) We use the Accu chek combo insulin pump, so have experience is using a standalone Constant Glucose Monitor (CGM) alongside the pump.
What type of CGM do you use and how do you get on with it.
Abbott’s Navigator and we get on very well with it. My daughter wears a sensor almost all the time, and now blood tests whilst not always as good as we like are no longer a surprise. I find the sensor so reliable that I don’t always need to check blood glucose before bolusing (I would for a big correction, but not always for carbs, small corrections or Temporary Basal Rates). She dropped from 12-15 tests a day pre CGM to 5-6 tests per day.
Having a good range on the transmitter was important to us and one of the main reasons for choosing this system. She never has to wear the receiver, and can sleep in her room whilst we have the receiver with us in our room.
What are the costs of the initial outlay and on-going cost of sensors?
We started nearly 2 years ago. The initial outlay for the starter kit was £950. Sensors are £40 each for an advertised 5 day wear.
How long do sensors actually last.
I think this is very individual. We don’t have much luck extending their use, but my daughter generally has problems in this area. Sensors and cannulas just don’t last long in her body. The longest we’ve got from a single sensor is about 12days. They’re fine for the typical 5 day use, we normally change them weekly.
Does it help you get a good full night sleep when the sensors are in?
It certainly helps us get more sleep. Not a full night, my daughter is very unstable during the night. CGM gives us early warning of problems, but we still have to get up and fix them, and often stay up for re-tests, etc.
But yes, less worry, more reassurance, more sleep, definitely.
How difficult is the calibration?
Not difficult at all. The 5 day cycle has 5 calibration windows: 1h post insertion, 2h, 10-12h, 24-32h, 72-80h. In practice you put a sensor in, calibrate 1 then 2 hours later. Then again after another 8 hours. So first day of a new sensor there are 3 cals.
Then once on day 2 and once on day 4. No calibrations needed on days 3 or 5. I find that the 3rd cal generally fixes that sensor and it is rare that there are any problems with the day 2&4 cals.
Also the system won’t ask for/allow a calibration if the sensor glucose is changing too fast so you don’t really need to worry about waiting for stability before doing a calibration. The only thing is, you can’t calibrate to your Accu check BG meter. You need to use the inbuilt freestyle BG monitor.
How do you think having a CGM has helped you?
A whole other post! Briefly:
It has:
- Reduced her number of blood tests
- Given us earlier warning of problems
- Allowed her more freedom
- Given us reassurance
- Helped us get more sleep
- Improved quality of life
- Helped her school carers
- Helped other people to care for her
It hasn’t:
- Significantly changed her a1c (which was good to start with)
- Helped with her underlying instability
Have you had problems with transmitter batteries which can’t be replaced easily or cheaply?
No. The Navigator has a big transmitter (a possible down side, though it has never caused us problems) with a user-serviceable battery. You get 2 replacement batteries with every pack of 6 sensors. I change the battery in the transmitter every month or so.
What else can I tell you?
The insertions are easy, the sensor itself is nice and small. We do use numbing cream as they’re fired in with quite a bang. There’s a 10% discount if you order in bulk, reducing the cost to ?36 per sensor. My daughter has never had a problem wearing them and now asks for a new sensor to go on!
I think sensors are very individual with which systems work for different people. I think a better question would be ‘which is the best CGM for us’. If you could trial one or two, that would be really useful.
We would like to say thank you for a very informative review of the Abbott FreeStyle Navigator. If you would like to review a diabetes product for us please email enquiries@iPAGScotland.org
