That sounds frustrating! Maybe the sales rep you’re dealing with is clueless and you’d have better luck getting a referral for the insertion from the endo office? My endo made a referral to another local endo (Seattle area) for the insertion…that part of the process was pretty seamless for me. If I recall correctly, there were several endo choices locally for that referral.
I don’t know much about their management issues but I would guess they are in panic mode these days trying to juice up sales.
Only time will tell but I hope they have that as a goal for the future because it seems like most CGM users don’t like to calibrate. I’m one of the odd balls that does not mind calibrating, it gives me a little peace of mind that everything is still working properly. But the Eversense calibrations are a little naggy in giving you a time window twice a day when you must calibrate. Back on the G5 lately it feels like a luxury to just be able to blow off a requested calibration if I feel like waiting…that option is a little clunky on the Eversense.
I would reach out to your endo who already has it and try to have him/her do the implant… the rep has to oversee the implant, so they will be there the whole time, plus senseonics only certifies after 3 surgeries, so it is possible different endos in your area have only implanted one or two. I’m having insurance company issues, but if I had better insurance, id stay on it for life… for now I might be forced back on the libre for financial reasons, even though I have to buy another miao miao, the libre is,still half the price or $398 (6 libres plus 200 for the miao miao 2)vs $900 for the eversense sensor plus the cost of the implant procedure
Hi @JonDeutsch! Not sure what you use currently, but the G6, at least for me, is about as close to a finger stick replacement as it gets… with current technology at least. Even the Libre, once I figured out my patterns on it, meant I could test only during the most important decisions or during my most turbulent periods. I’m curious, @John58 and @RogerType1 (and I’m sure you’ve commented on this up there), how often do you find yourself needing to use the meter with your Senseonics?
@RogerType1, I appreciate the advice on picking up my sensor. I’d like to patch you through directly to both my endo and my local EverSense dude. They seem to be locked into some kind of disagreement on the details of who, what, when, where, why, and how. All of them. At this point, I’d be willing to give it a shot myself.
The Libre (which I use) may be +/- 20% accurate, but it doesn’t force me to calibrate. For me, zero fingersticks is the killer app. I’m OK if the new device says “may be less accurate without daily calibration” but I’m not OK if the device simply won’t function without a regular fingerstick calibration process.
Frankly, I’m not sure what the reality it is with this device regarding the above!
My eversense rep and the nurse practitioner were making jokes on my 1st insertion that they were going to watch an eversense insertion on you tube for a refresher…your city has about half of my state’s population(maine)… if your eversense rep is still having trouble finding a willing operator, I could text my rep and see if he could help…he had 2 other eversense people at my last insertion, so your situation sounds ridiculous…
The eversense does require two daily calibrations, but it also is the most accurate Cgm…although the twice daily calibrations is probably the reason it is accurate… I rarely checked my blood when I used the libre, my problem besides the scarring, accidentally removing it with long sleeves, skin tac, mastisol, flexfix tape, etc, was that it was falling off in the winter after about 3-5 days…they would replace them, but it was still annoying, and a few times they wanted the old ones back which was a slight hassle…and my old blucon and miao miao didn’t work with the 14 day sensors…
re: Libre, I’ve never had a problem with it falling off, primarily due to the fact that I immediately apply a no-hole Simpatch atop of it upon installation. Likely due to the Simpatch and back-of-arm location, I’ve never had a problem…even when it occasionally gets caught in a door jam.
I live in Maine and winters can be 10°-35°…I always thought summer would be an issue, but it wasn’t…probably has something to do with the glue. I have reactions to any patches, like simpatch… itches after a few days, 3" self adhesive tape helps, but its still cumbersome compared to eversense… my insurance deductible is too high…libre is still the cheapest Cgm…
The Eversense has to be calibrated twice daily, using fingersticks. No idea if the company is working towards a “no calibration” sensor or not, but I’d be surprised if they aren’t. The unique feature of Eversense that I use a lot and find to be very helpful is getting alerts for high or low BG by the transmitter buzzing on my arm, even if my phone is turned off or out of range.
I also loved the fact that i could remove the sensor for swimming, diving, etc. All current Cgms are rated ip67, which means 3 ft depth and less than 30 minutes…I never swim for less than 30 minutes, and no Cgms say salt water is OK, so I’d remove it, and put it back on during breaks or meals, etc…the twice daily calibrations were annoying, and the rep acted like a no calibration Cgm was silly… obviously not a type 1 diabetic, but twice a day was better than 10 or 12 times per day… and I was often amazed at the eversense accuracy… as long as it wasn’t a recent meal or shot… often within 3 or 5 mg/DL… I’ll miss it, but maybe next years insurance company will have a lower deductible…
aaaaaahhh…… very different. I understand now. So steer clear of Medtronic is the first thing that comes to mind.
I agree about the device that can’t function without a calibration. That’s tough. I like testing out these sensors under various conditions and for various reasons, and calibration has been a very interesting category. Obviously. A Medtronic sensor is rendered useless without a calibration. Just goes blank. No value, no trend, no function in terms of the ability to use a predictive suspend— nuthin. That’s on one end of the spectrum. The Libre, in my opinion, is the other end. It never asks for one and just kind of goes about its business–and even is true to its patterns. The G6, with its option to calibrate to tighten up accuracy is the Goldilocks solution for me. Calibration is perfectly reasonable strategy when one hopes to get better numbers, but it is never ever necessary. The G6 will continue to provide a sensor value and will continue to allow function of Basal-IQ even if the user hasn’t calibrated. In fact, even their option of No Code during sensor start which is supposed to require two calibrations a day doesn’t even require calibrations. I can enter without a code, provide 2 calibrations at the end of the warm up and just never calibrate again, and the sensor acts just the same. I’ve even explored that part–the “may be less accurate without calibration”, and I was surprised to see no difference in accuracy when I chose to continue not to calibrate. For me, that’s just cool. It feels very old school for these devices to need calibrations in order to continue to function at all.
Still waiting to hear back from EverSense though. Which is actually what this thread is about. Sorry, @John58.
That is very nice, @RogerType1, and I might just take you up on it. I think I’ll try both EverSense and my endo’s office on Monday, and if we’re genuinely nowhere closer finding a location I’ll buzz you.
Here’s a question: my endo’s office requested I come pick up my sensor since it’s currently being held in their fridge. I am not fond of the fact this is my sensor, going into my skin, and for my money, and it’s being kept somewhere that may or may not be handing it with care. It’s been there now for about 5 weeks. I’m also not sure they were supposed to offer it to me-- something about my not being allowed to hold it? I’m not sure what the exact rules (or laws?) are, but I bet with all of this confusion, I could just appear in person and ask for it. Anybody know anything about this? Whether we are allowed access to it??
According to my rep, Steven, you are not allowed to have the sensor, it is sealed and is supposed to be kept in the refrigerator although it is not normally kept in the refrigerator at the pharmacy. 5 weeks is ridiculous, you definitely need to try to convince your endo to do the surgery, or call eversense and find out who is certified in your area…I am happy to help, I can also help to make it work with xdrip and watches which took me a little while to figure out…
Hope it works out for you…stock up on test strips for your test of the Eversense. I’ve been going through more than usual just because of calibrations, curiosity, etc.
My current status:
Inserted Sensor #2 10/26/19.
Started using sensor (paired it with transmitter): 10/31/19.
I’m using Spike app with my G5 so I still have a working G5 transmitter to compare with until the battery gives up!!
Took until about 11/3 or 4 until Eversense seemed reliable. The calibration alerts are pretty bossy…one must calibrate twice daily and it takes some brain power and planning ahead to avoid calibrating when your BG is climbing/falling steeply. I inadvertently did a few of those and they tend to throw off the accuracy (just like with Dexcom). But now back on track.
Here is some data from today, comparing Eversense to G5 for a typical morning (high after breakfast, correction, slow drop to desired BG). I think this illustrates pretty well an issue with the Eversense app that takes some getting used to. The BG data is jumpy but still catches the trend. So if you glance at it you might be on one of those jumpy spots like that little mini peak about 10:40AM. On the other hand, the G5 (using the Spike algorithm) smooths out the data, which I find more useful. If I wanted to throw more money at this I would have to get an android phone and try xdrip…Spike does not work with Eversense as far as I can tell.
Hey @RogerType1, sorry so slow to respond. I spoke with EverSense again on Monday, and they still don’t have anywhere for me to go. I don’t know if you are in regular touch with your guy, but if it’s no added burden, I would appreciate his thoughts on how to proceed. It’s been almost 6 weeks that this sensor has been sitting at my endo’s, and I’m starting to lose patience… and maybe the willingness to put that one in even if they do find a place.
I apologize, but my rep was downsized and is no longer with the company, however, I did thoroughly enjoy having the eversense and will probably use it again in the future when the 6 month or 1 year is available, and if my insurance deduction changes. I work in a relatively small company, so insurance options are rather limited and they tend to shop yearly. To be honest, the eversense app is horrible and I spent my 1st week researching how to make it work with xdrip so I could see the readings on my watch. There are also some people who will sometimes try to only use their watch as stand alone collectors… this will not work with eversense, as the app still gives the value, then sends it to another app, which is read by xdrip…so the values are always the same as the eversense app. Being able to remove it was great. I will often delay using a libre for a day or two to let my arms heal and to avoid the hassle of worrying about it after showers, etc…the eversense insertion was not as bad as I thought it would be. But removal can be a little rough and the scars are apparent… this device seems a lot like contact lenses vs glasses…a little more work is involved and it has different benefits… their priority should be the app. On xdrip, I can see the glucose information while the phone is charging, or on the notification bar, on my watch, and be able to snooze alarms…but most importantly I can have different distinct ringtones for high, low, predicted low, etc…I rarely look at my phone. Either the watch, or I hear the ringtones and make decisions off of that…this is only possible if you make it work with xdrip
Also cost is a major concern for me…so 2 sensors on the bridge was $198, insertions/removal may e $540 for 2 if my insurance covers $0…yay Cigna…apparently still paying for their commercial… so 738 for 6 months on eversense bridge program, vs $3200 for 6 months of Dexcom, or $408 for 6 months of libre at 68 per month, and 200 for the miao miao 2…which is only a one time purchase until abbot does something dirty Again and I have to buy a miao miao 3…still libre is cheaper…mine just kept falling off in the winter… and getting replacements were time consuming to
Even the Libre, once I figured out my patterns on it, meant I could test only during the most important decisions or during my most turbulent periods. I’m curious, 
