Loving "Our Sentry"

2012-01-30T11:23:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to write a little update about our "My Sentry." After two weeks of waiting for paperwork to be signed off by our endo, our delivery finally arrived last Wednesday. I have to tell you that it's been a long time since I've felt so excited about a purchase. I imagine that this is how it feels to have a new Mercedes delivered? Anyhow. I was giddy.

The set-up was pretty self explanatory. It's takes a few minutes for everything to connect, and you have to follow the steps. Set your pump to communicate with the device, turn on the Sentry and select "connect to the pump," then "connect to the outpost," then plug the outpost in and wait for it to stop flashing. You have do all of this with all three devices within 6 feet of each other, and then you're finished!

We keep the outpost in Emma's room. It's just a little box that plugs directly into an outlet. (It can be moved to any outlet.) This little box can send the CGMS signal 50 feet from it's location, so when she's near it we can take the display unit anywhere in our house or yard and have a display.

The Sentry also communicates with the pump, without the outpost, so anytime Emma is near (within 10-15 feet or so) the Sentry displays the pump/CGMS data.

The Sentry unit is bigger and brighter than I imagined. I can easily see it from across the room, and hear it from across the house. The volume is adjustable and there is also a nightlight feature. I honestly wish the display could be a little less bright at night, but even on the lowest setting it glows pretty brightly.

There are several screens. One shows the current number in bold with any trend arrows, one shows the CGMS graph over the past 3,6,12 or 24 hours, another hides the sensor data but will still alarm, (great if you have nosy visitors ;)). It also shows when the next calibration is due, when the sensor needs to be changed, how much insulin the pump has left and the pump's battery life.

So how's it going? I am in LOVE! The signal is stronger than I expected it to be. Even with the outpost in Em's room she can roam through most of our house and I can still see her numbers. We keep the display unit in our room at night and in the kitchen during the day. She is so happy that we aren't constantly accessing her pump or asking what her number is. Emma are you alarming? Emma did you silence an alarm? Are you dropping? I have no fear that I will miss a high or low, especially in the night. If something goes wrong with the pump or the sensor alarms for any reason... I will hear it!! BTW, the alarms are not terrible either, almost like little chimes.

When I'm laying in my bed at night, and looking at that beautiful display... Oh my goodness, it is priceless peace of mind! The first morning I woke up, after an alarm free night, and stared at the 129 on the screen I knew this was life changing. It was the first time since her diagnosis, 6.5 years ago, that I didn't feel compelled to hurry to her room and check her blood sugar. Wow! Where has this been all of my worried and sleep deprived life?

Obviously there will be times when a sensor could be wrong, or when a terrible blood sugar night could make the alarms drive you insane... but I still think the benefits of this handy little remote display are very worthwhile for anyone who uses a CGMS. For us, so far, it has been worth every penny. I love technology! Bring on the sweet dreams!

A video for anyone who wants to see more!

Too Sweet

Loving "Our Sentry"