Hi all, I had my first sensor last 18 days on xDrip+ after switching it from the Dexcom app (was on that for 6 days before I switched), and it needed calibrations now and then. With the Dexcom app and the exact same sensor the readings where spot on when I tested it just to see (since it was my first time), but not when I switched to xDrip+.
I just put in a brand new sensor last night, and from the beginning my BGs (tested with Freestyle Lite) have been notably off from xDrip+ readings again, by an amount that makes a difference. And after I did the initial calibration last night because it was wrong, it was wrong again this morning when I woke up and tested it, so I did the override calibration thing…which will probably be inaccurate again if my experience with the last sensor with xDrip+ is any indication. Again: My first sensor was spot on with the Dexcom app but was off with xDrip+ after switching to it, so I don’t think it’s the sensors.
Is there a reason why I need to even calibrate with xDrip+ and G6 sensors after I put the new sensor in? What could I be doing wrong with the initial source bonding to the sensor? I followed the instructions that I’ve seen here exactly by using the source wizard. Is there a way to re-do it so that it reads as consistently accurately as the Dexcom app did (which didn’t need calibration)?
If I need to calibrate frequently then that would negate one of the biggest benefits of the G6 and I won’t be able to use xDrip+, so I dearly hope I’m just doing something wrong because otherwise it’s far superior…but this is a major thing to need to worry about.
EDIT: I just sent the error report through xDrip+ so hopefully someone can take a look at it and I can get this fixed – there are a huge amount of errors since I started using it almost two weeks ago, but I don’t know what they mean or how significant they are. But if there are suggestions here on why this problem is happening, I’m all all ears.
I will say that we are G6 users, but not XDrip+ users. We have never calibrated a G6 senor and are on sensor 15 or so.
If I got a G6 sensor that was reporting off by more than the 20/20 rule that Dexcom uses, I would call Dexcom and get a replacement.
When you put in the G6 sensor where are you putting in the 4 digit number that is on the sensor?
Are you using the Dexcom calcuation on your XDrip+ instance or are you using a different reporting method. I would make sure it matches the Dexcom processing before calling about a sensor not reading correctly.
Thanks Chris. Yes, I put the 4 digit number in, but am not sure about using the Dexcom calculation…I have been following instructions here both times on how to set up the xDrip+ with the G6. Maybe someone can point to some things to try so that it works as well as the Dexcom app did for me. The reasons why I don’t think it’s the sensor is that I had the exact same issue with the first sensor I used, which was perfectly accurate using the Dexcom app then was off when I switched it over to the xDrip+ app. This time I started right away with xDrip+.
@Headlands Try starting your G6 sensor with the Dexcom receiver simultaneously with xDrip+. I have had similar problems with getting my G6 started with my first two sensors, but xDrip+ should pick right up when the receiver starts reading, as long as your xDrip+ is connected to the transmitter
Unfortunately I don’t have a Dexcom receiver…I only use my smartphone. Possibly a stupid question: Is there a way to do this with the Dexcom app on my phone?
Looks like those are set correctly. Well, when my insurance kicks in for the G6 I’ll pick up a receiver so that this doesn’t happen. Thanks for the help!
I’m going to try it with my girlfriend’s cell running the Dexcom app next time I start a new sensor in a couple weeks. Do I start the Dexcom app on her phone first when inserting a new sensor and then start xDrip+ on mine?
@Headlands Either way. But it will look like xDrip+ is not working during the warm up. The Dexcom app will probably
start giving readings first, then xDrip+ will kick in after 10-15 minutes. Just be patient.
I have the exact same issue you are describing. I have yet to find a solution. I despise the dexcom app. It forces you to change sensors every 2 weeks. The alarms are awful. The sharing is terrible. Xdrip is better in every way. It worked flawlessly with my g5. So pissed about this.
Hi docslotnick – I have a question about this process again. Does the smartphone connect to the transmitter via Bluetooth while the warm up process is happening? That’s the only option I’m seeing in the Bluetooth availability on my phone.
@Headlands Yes, during the warm up the transmitter sends a Bluetooth burst every five minutes, just like in a session. But during the warm up the phone doesn’t show numbers, just trend arrows, because the numbers are not accurate while the app is building the algorithm data tables.
In my as yet limited experience (only been using the G6 since Oct 18) new sensors are flakey. Some work just fine after the 2 hour warm up, some need a lot longer. Like the OP I only use xDrip+
I suspect the Dexcom receiver doesn’t tell the whole truth - its display was a lot smoother than the xDrip+ one when I used both. I can see the transmitter corrections when they occur when using xDrip+; the trace will suddenly duck’n’dive then reset and stabilize.
I haven’t done a detailed analysis of the logs but my impression is that the sensor stablizes over several days then, maybe 15 or so days in, starts to break down eventually resulting in the transmitter detecting sensor errors and stopping delivering readings (it still talks to xDrip+) while it tries to recover.
I just put up with the misbehavior in the first couple of days and try to keep the sensor going for as long as possible. I hate that 2 hour warm up; it feels like being on a liferaft with a hissing noise in the background.
I’ve stopped trying to calibrate; if I think I might need to I check when flat in the range 100-150mg/dl and the result (against a Contour Next-One) always seems to match. Outside that range it doesn’t, but my experience was that if I calibrated outside the 100-150mg/dl range everything went out of whack. I just adapt to the under/over reading outside the G6 sweet spot.
I’m pretty near 100% certain that it doesn’t matter how you start the new sensor; all the real intelligence is in the transmitter.
@Headlands Sorry, misuderstood. I think you’re asking about the receiver and phone being started at the same time. The receiver and phone (Dexcom app) are communicating during warm up. So does the transmitter and xDrip+. Look at the events log during warm-up and you will see.
