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Alert: Product and Recall NoticesTop Questions on Calibration
Today we’ve asked Tasha, Senior Therapy Support Specialist on our StartRight team, to share her top calibration tips. With years of experience serving people with diabetes, she has experience helping many different individuals with unique needs. We hope these tips come in handy for you!
Have you ever felt like you just can’t quite figure out the appropriate time to calibrate your sensor? If so, you are not alone. In fact, calibration questions come up frequently before, during, and after training on a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Here are some helpful tips to set you up for success when calibrating your CGM.
What does it mean to calibrate a CGM?
- Your CGM system requires a blood glucose (BG) meter reading to generate sensor glucose readings. BG meter readings are entered into the insulin pump/monitor as ‘calibrations’ and these numbers are used to help maintain accuracy by giving your system a number to begin with and compare against.
- CGM does not eliminate the need for BG meter readings. Remember that your BG meter readings and your sensor readings will usually be close in value. However, when glucose levels are rising or falling quickly, you should expect to see a larger difference between your BG meter value and the sensor glucose reading. Watch this video for some more background on the difference between blood glucose (BG) and sensor glucose (SG). The minimum number of calibrations required is once every 12 hours (after the first day), but calibrating three to four times a day can help optimize sensor accuracy.
- Keep in mind you don’t have to use every BG reading as a calibration—sometimes you just need to check your BG for treatment purposes.
When is the best time to calibrate?
Calibrating a sensor is not meant to be complicated or tricky. Getting into a habit of calibrating your sensor like you brush your teeth (hopefully not just once a day) or before you sit down to eat that meal will help prevent those sometimes “bothersome” alerts. The best times to calibrate are before meals and at bedtime.
- A calibration is needed no more than 2 hours after you first connect the transmitter to your sensor and start the Warm up period. Your pump will notify you with a Calibrate now alert when it is ready for its first calibration.
- To calibrate, you must use a blood sample taken from your finger and check it with a blood glucose (BG) meter. You would then enter that value into your pump/monitor, if between 40 and 400 mg/dL—your pump may do this automatically
- On the first day of sensor wear, you’ll be asked to calibrate again within 6 hours.
- After the first day, you will be asked to calibrate at least every 12 hours (3-4 calibrations per day recommended).
- You might also be asked for an extra calibration when the system detects that a calibration is needed for optimal performance.
- When glucose is changing rapidly, it’s best not to calibrate. Examples of times when this may occur include after meals or after bolus insulin or when UP or DOWN arrows appear on your device screen. Watch this video for more details on this concept.
How should I calibrate?
- Try not to calibrate with multiple BG meters. It’s best to stick with the same meter for all your calibrations.
- Wash your hands before checking your BG.
- Enter the BG reading into the pump/monitor right away. Don’t use old meter BG readings or previous sensor readings as a calibration.
- If your system requires a new calibration, wait at least 15 minutes between calibration entries.
In closing, remember most devices need to be calibrated to work properly. Your CGM is no different. Calibrations are just check points between your meter and your sensor to avoid skewed numbers and make sure you’re getting the best performance out of the device.
For more information, reach out to your trainer or healthcare team. You can also visit our support section or refer to your user guide. Hope you have a perfect numbers day!
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
– Medtronic Diabetes insulin infusion pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems and associated components are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks associated with the use of these systems.
– Successful operation of the insulin infusion pumps and/or continuous glucose monitoring systems requires adequate vision and hearing to recognize alerts and alarms.
Medtronic Diabetes Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems
– The information provided by CGM systems is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using a home glucose meter. A confirmatory fingerstick is required prior to treatment.
– Insertion of a glucose sensor may cause bleeding or irritation at the insertion site. Consult a physician immediately if you experience significant pain or if you suspect that the site is infected.
Please visit www.MedtronicDiabetes.com/ISI for complete safety information.
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About Author
Katie Schmitz
Principal Specialist, Consumer MarketingKatie Schmitz started working for Medtronic Diabetes in 2018 as a Principal Global Consumer Marketing Specialist. After almost a decade of experience working for global consumer brands, she jumped at the opportunity to use her skills to help improve the lives of people with diabetes and has never looked back. Since then, she is consistently impressed and inspired by the passion, kindness, and warmth of the diabetes online community. Katie loves traveling the world, singing, and exploring new restaurants with dancing and live music!
Waiting on my pump to be put in
While I appreciate the tips, I am asked more often than once every 12 hours to calibrate. It defeats the purpose of this tool, in my opinion. I was sold on this as I was told it minimizes the need to test frequently but that has not been the case. I have talked to a few other pump users who have experienced the same issue.
I’m sorry to hear this, Anne, but we’d like to help. Please give our technical support team a call at 800.646.4633, option 1 and we’ll see if we can turn this experience around for you.
Yes! The first day of a new CGM is HORRIBLE! I have learned to switch it out early in the morning so I can attempt a semi good night’s sleep
I have found that if I calibrate more than one hour before the required calibration at 12 hours, I will be requested to calibrate again in 6 hours. If I stick to calibrating every 11 to 12 hours, I get the most accurate readings.
I am experiencing issues with calibrating the sensor. I keep receiving messages that the pump (870G) cannot calibrate. After several more attempts, I receive a message to change the sensor. When I called Medtronics, I was told that there may be scar tissue at the stomach site I was using. I changed to the back of my leg and still received the same message. Are there different sensors I can use, or any other suggestions?
Thanks for reaching out, Dennis. Our Guardian Sensor 3 sensors are our only available sensors, but have you tried the back of your arm. Our sensors are only approved for use in the abdomen and the back of the upper arm.
When will the sensor be covered by Medicare?
Marty, we are working on non-adjunctive labeling, but do not have a timeline available to share.
I will b retiring and going on Medicare soon. What are my options?
Hi there, Larry. If you’re looking into options for devices, please give our therapy specialists a call at 800.646.4633, option 3. If you’re currently on a Medtronic product and interested in learning how Medicare affects your ongoing supply orders, our Supply Management team can answer any questions you have. They are option 2 on our automated system.
Does my pump need to be connected to me during calibration?
Hi, Kim. While your pump doesn’t need to be connected to you, your pump does have to be within 6 feet of your transmitter.
Why can’t there be a temporary pause button, say pause for 1 hour and then the pump resumes basal rate? Currently I can not use the auto mode because I then can not temporarily pause my pump. I have to set a temporary basal rate and move it down to zero percent (ie no insulin flow) and the time I want to temporarily receive no insulin flow.
We appreciate the feedback, Kim, and will make sure to share it with our team for additional research.
I prefer to use the dual mode to bolus when eating certain meals. Pizza is one example. How can I do this in auto mode?
Lee Ann, SmartGuard Auto Mode doesn’t include square/dual-wave boluses. Since Auto Mode automatically adjusts basal insulin delivery based on your sensor glucose values, it can deliver basal insulin delivery that provides corrections for insulin needs that are spread out over time. You can also enter blood glucose (BG) reading as needed to deliver a correction bolus if the BG is above 150 mg/dL and the system recommends it.
My significant other calibrates his pump at bedtime. Unfortunately he falls asleep within the 2 hour mark, so his pump goes off several times during the night, causing my sleep to be disturbed. I have to wake him. He is too used to the beep sound now. His pump seems to need calibration more often then the 12 hour mark as well. Are there any better tips to help him calibrate so his pump does not disturb our sleep? Is there a reminder on his pump? I want him to be safe, but my health is being affected by lack of proper sleep. I do not want to sleep in another room, because he does not hear his pump when he is asleep. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
Mary, he can set reminders to calibrate and our technical support team would be happy to work with him regarding his calibrations. If he hasn’t already, please have him give our team a call at 800.646.4633 option #1.
My guardian 3 should be asking for a new calibration at 12 hours. It even tells me the correct time it should be done. However it tells me calibration due now and goes red after only 6 hours. I’m asleep at one of the times I’m supposed to calibrate and this messes everything up. Why does it do this?
Cheryl wulfers
Hi Cheryl. This may happen on the first day of a new sensor. If you’re experiencing this after day 1, our technical support team would be glad to review your CareLink with you to get better insight into your sensor’s behavior. Please give our team a call at 800.646.4633 option #1.