Re: have three options to go with this CGM route but not sure which one to pick.

JDVsMom

I would tend to agree that in your shoes I would probably get the Dexcom (money issues aside). Instead of doing 'math' I would switch your meter to measure the US units too and just retrain yourself to think of your target BG as 120 instead of 7. So really, no math. <70 is low, >150 is high, etc. (all numbers are just for example).

Canada's medical device approval system really sucks. It is SOOOO slow. at my last job, we were trying to get new sizes of an already approved device added to our approval and it took MONTHS. very frustrating. 

THanks for the suggestion, but not going to happen. I'd be using a calculator everytime I tested. After 16years, I can't change with the snap of my fingers to md/gl =/ I know already it would drive me nuts and getting a dexcom that isn't in mmol/l would drive me nuts, hence why i've given up on that idea.

I like how we don't just approve stuff without proving it's okay..but yeah its a pain.

after sleeping on it, i've decided to have a chat with the nurse at the local D clinic and see if I can find out when they think they will get the iPro's in. It doesn't seem like any of the options other than not going with a CGM are really going to work for me currently due to money. It's too bad Canada's Pharmacare doesn't cover it..cuz then I could atleast write a letter of appeal to the insurance company.

Personally I wouldn't fork over money for a Minimed CGM as it ends up in the junk drawer of 95% of the people I know who have purchased it.

batts-

i feel your frustration! the decision is totally up to you! however, i would say don't get the pump just to get the cgm if you don't want it.

can your minimed rep see if you can get a trial run of the cgm? i know people whose endo's have been able to get them at least a 3-day trial run with cgm.

i use the minimed pump and cgm, and love it! it works for me.  it seems like both minimed and dexcom work for some people and not for others.  i know people who've switched from one company to the other because one didn't work for them.  the minimed works for me. a friend helped me by telling me to calibrate every time i test, as long as there's no arrows.  it's more than minimed says to, but it works for me.

good luck! i wish this all was easier...