Searching for best devices in Middle east area

[ykhalifa]

My 2 years old Daughter got diagnosed last September, i'm currently searching for the best devices to help her get a normal life and get ready for school next year. Currently we are using FreeStyle Libre which is very good, however I feel very worried to leave her in the nursery or being away from her since I can't get notified.

I would like to use Dexcom & Omnipod for her.. but I'm really confused about her age..

Also very important point is I live in Egypt, we don't have any of these devices distributors, not even the Libre, but I manage to get it through a friend... How can I get Dexcom & Omnipod? is there a center I can contact? Do you know and Endo who can help me?

I'm willing to travel with my daughter to anywhere my budget will allow me..

Thanks ,

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Please check out the DEXCOM website and click on the country flag (Egypt). Go to: dexcom.com/

Please check out the postings about DEXCOM that I have been posting on the DRWF group for HU, as well.

[ykhalifa in reply to Activity2004]

i did so but unfortunately the nearest country is UAE.. but i contacted them anyway

many thanks

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ykhalifa]

What did you find out from the UAE location?

[oceantragic]

Hello, Libre is good but for your situation a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) like Dexcom would be very useful. If you get DexcomG5 you can remotely monitor your daughter's glucose but she would need an iPhone for this. If you get DexcomG4 you can set up the brilliant remote monitoring called Nightscout using an xDrip (bit.ly/xdripkev), this would require an Android phone. Alternatively you can stick with the Libre but get an Android phone (with NFC capability) and use the LibreLink app - LibreLink.com - to scan the Libre sensor with. LibreLink also has a LibreLinkUp option to allow you to see scanned results, but this is not as good as a CGM.

[ykhalifa in reply to oceantragic]

unfortunately the librelink application is blocked in Egypt... but thank you for the Dexcom advice

[oceantragic in reply to ykhalifa]

In that case use Glimp on the Android phone and create a Nightscout web site. Glimp can send the results of a Libre scan (with the phone Glimp is installed on) to Nightscout, you can then either view the Nightscout web site, or retrieve the information automatically on your phone, or do the phone and get a smartwatch to see the glucose levels on your wrist.

More information: circles-of-blue.winchcombe....

[oceantragic in reply to ykhalifa]

No problem, if you interested in Dexcom you might like to read more about Nightscout and xDrip. It's life changing stuff.

[nbreight in reply to ykhalifa]

Can't download the LibreLink from the provided link neither (This product is not available in your country) but you can still download the app directly from Play store ( play.google.com/store/apps/... ).

That is if you can get the device in the 1st place, of course.

[nbreight]

Hi!

Hate to question your "technology faith" but by my experience (more then 45 year, diagnosed at 17 months) well, technology simply wasn't an option back then. In fact, after several months in the hospital the docs dumped me back into my mother's "lap" with comments along the line "we can't stabilise him, he is probably going to die soon...".

Incompetent @$$O. And i'm not saying this only because of what happened over 45 years ago but also what i had to go through in the past 25 ending up with limited kidney function because those morons didn't care to notice that the blood pressure meds they have been prescribing me for all those years hardly lowered my blood pressure.... It took a young student probably not even having made her Phd yet to point it out to her "boss". Morality, NEVER EVER trust what a physician is telling you. Use your common sense and your motherly instinct. And Google any advice you are given. Or post a question here.

Also wondering about the Dexcom (check Activity's posts) but can't help feeling that a 2 year old is not going to be able to deal with that mess and you'll end up depending on "teachers" or care takers to monitor the gawdam thing and deal with all the troubles Activity is describing usually on a weekly basis.

All in all i would rather advice you to stick with the FreeStyle Libre or, if you can afford it, the Accu-chek mobile (Roche Diagnostics Scientific Office Tel.: + (202) 35719439 / 35732503 ): It comes with cartridges of 50 test (they usually last me for a week and are easy as 123 to change.

-1- open the back panel with the dedicated button on the side and drop out the old cartridge

-2- open the package of the new cartridge and put it in

-3- close the device.

The cartridges are a little on the expensive side but it's really worthwhile.

Another type: if you have an Android device, consider Medivo OnTrack Diabetes ( play.google.com/store/apps/... ). It may seem somewhat outdated but it is very flexible, allowing to keep track of any medicine with the possibility to add as many "subtypes" to the Medications type, e.g. "Aspirin Bayer for children". Same goes for Exercise. And it runs comfortably on low spec (that is cheap) devices (1GB ram, 16GB storage).

[ykhalifa in reply to nbreight]

I'm both sorry & happy for you that you are brave to go through all this battle... I totally agree... You can't imagine what doctors here are telling me... but i can't listen to them anymore... this is why i'm doing the researches by myself.. i can't depend on any physician here... they are dealing with hundreds of kids per day and they really don't care enough.. also i can't rely on any teacher or caregiver... this is why i wanted to keep monitoring here myself even when she goes to school... she is a real fighter and I hope she can handle dexcom.. may be i will wait for the omnipod idea a bit

[oceantragic in reply to ykhalifa]

Don't worry, luckily Activity's issues with Dexcom are not representative of most users, we've only called in one sensor and that was only because the transmitter died without warning. We've not had any actual issues with problematic sensors and given that we extend and extend their life (maximum 35 days) which in turn can make Dexcom cheaper than Libre.

[nbreight in reply to ykhalifa]

Just had a look at the OmniPod. It actually makes me wonder whether it is time to "upgrade" the Accu-chek and insulin pens i'm carrying along...

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to nbreight]

The Omnipod is an Insulin pump, so would you be willing to change a new needle every 3 days, nbreight ?

[oceantragic in reply to nbreight]

You'd only be upgrading the pens though, you'll still need to check your blood glucose. The OmniPod has pros and cons from what I've read but I can't see my daughter changing from a tethered pump (Animas Vibe) at her next change.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to ykhalifa]

is your daughter a brittle diabetic, ykhalifa ? The insulin pump is needed to be kept a close eye on if she is a brittle diabetic. Another great reason to get the DEXCOM system.

[oceantragic in reply to Activity2004]

Is 'brittle' a term which is still used these days? My daughter could be classed as 'brittle' if she ate whatever she wanted and didn't check her glucose often.

diabetesforecast.org/2014/m...

[nbreight]

To Oceantragic: from the (very) short promo videos i understood the OmniPod is also measuring blood sugar and displaying it on the control unit.

To Activity: you don't change the needle, you change the whole pod about every 3 days. A badge of 10 pods costs 365$... Need to check my insurance company's page to see how much the insulins pen cartridges i use now cost, but i doubt it amounts to that much.

The control unit is 450+$...

Furthermore, the Pod has to remain adhering very tightly to the body and it seems it can be quite troublesome to get it to stick properly even though it is supposed to be watertight and one should be able to shower and even swim with it.

All in all unlikely to work, be it only because the insurance is unlikely to cover the (whole) cost.

[HOBIEONE]

Hello ! I have been T1 since the age of 3 in 1966. I am now on a Medtronic insulin pump. The libre is a brilliant tool for parents etc who can download what there children's bg is from miles away. Have a look on web about connecting to your mobile phone. Good luck