Hefty

[Hefty]

I've used the minimed/medtronic pumps for years and have recently had severe hypo episodes due to insulin antibodies. I am interested in the Paradigm Real Time system but my insurance company is denying my coverage. Can anyone shed some light on what I might do to bolster my position? Clinical studies - patient studies? I appreciate your time, Hefty

[zatff]

Originally Posted by Hefty

I've used the minimed/medtronic pumps for years and have recently had severe hypo episodes due to insulin antibodies. I am interested in the Paradigm Real Time system but my insurance company is denying my coverage. Can anyone shed some light on what I might do to bolster my position? Clinical studies - patient studies? I appreciate your time, Hefty

I just checked with my insurance company and they told me their criteria for covering continuous monitoring systems were:
Need to test more than 8 times a day.
Type 1 diabetes.
Frequent hypoglycemic reactions with unawareness.
Frequent wide variations with BG levels.

Then of course you need an endocrinologist who will write a letter saying it is medically necessary for your health care to have this system. I am going to try get one.
My insurance company though has just cut back their coverage for test strips to Freestyle and AccuCheck and MM uses One Touch strips to calibrate so they might not cover MM continuous monitoring systems either. The study posted earlier here also suggests that Dexcon system might be more accurate and it also seems cheaper anyway. Freestyle should also have one on the market, hopefully later this year.

[John Walsh, PA, CDE]

Originally Posted by Hefty

I've used the minimed/medtronic pumps for years and have recently had severe hypo episodes due to insulin antibodies.

I am curious about how it was determined that your hypos were caused by insulin antibodies rather than the usual cause of excess basal or bolus insulin? Antibodies to today's purified insulins are an uncommon (tough possible!) problem. Were antibody levels drawn?

Keep in mind that under certain common circumstances, the Paradigm bolus wizard may deliver larger boluses than required, so consider this possibility also. See http://www.diabetesnet.com/pdfs/AACE2007Poster.pdf for more information.

John

[richie]

Welcome everyone!..

This is Richie!

Keep in mind that under certain common circumstances, the Paradigm bolus wizard may deliver larger boluses than required, so consider this possibility also.

Thank's a lot everyone!...
Take Care!...