I'm wondering how people like Solutions software, used with a sensor. I was told by MM that they are not updating it anymore, that all their work will be on CareLink, but I understand that the latest Solutions does download sensor data? And, does what with it?

I'm not finding CareLink intuitively easy for me, though I imagine I could learn to make more out of it than I have been able to so far. But, I have this yucky feeling when I use it, knowing that it is so public, and having had MM staff look at my records on it without asking me.

I love the Solutions Software (and will be complaining bitterly if and when they stop making it), and I'm not a big fan of Carelink. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The latest Solutions does indeed download the sensor data and has reports that are similar to Carelink. I find Solutions to be superior, though, because it has more options for reports, particularly for manual glucose readings. This makes it easier to track trends when comparing sensor data to basal profiles, CHO ratios, manual BG readings, etc. Overall the Solutions Software is just more versatile than Carelink.

And, of course, it's private, which is always good! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

If I get a chance, I'll take some screen shots of the program and post them so you can see.

Do you know if this software work on a mac?

Did you have to buy the software?

Oh, Drea, if it worked on a Mac (mine is a few years old -- no good windows conversion software), I would shell out for it in a minute! I'm so frustrated with my husband's PC! I was unsuccessful at uploading my data to CareLink yesterday, with several tries.

Off the top of my head, I'm going to have to say no...but I'll check the box when I get home tonight to be sure.

I've never bought the software, and I've had it since it first came out. All I do is phone Medtronic of Canada and ask them to send it to me. It comes, free of charge.

I think I had the solutons software before as well, but I lost it. I wonder if Minimed will send me out a new CD?

It sounds like there is a few more things you can do...

I used Solutions prior to the Carelink site even coming out, so I might be biased... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Give it a shot, Jacob. I wouldn't pay for it, though, if I were you. They should send the newest one free of charge.

I dislike carelink. It is slow. I hate that I can not see the curent day's data. But it is easier to share info with my doctor by giving him my user name and password.

Can you save info in pdf file in the new solutions software? I can't with my older version.

As far as I'm aware, it's not possible to save the Solutions reports as a PDF file. I don't even know that they would convert to PDF...but then I've never tried it. I find it's just easy enough to print the reports and tote them into appointments with me.

I have a CD with the slutions software ... I did get it free from Minimed at a trade show, but never used it. I have Windows XP running on my Mac, so I will give it a try and see - for any other Mac Intel users out there, I will let you know!

Mike,

You CAN see the current day's data in Carelink. Just change the end date on any report to today. I do it all the time.

Linda

I also use the Solutions Software and prefer it to Carelink. The Solutions does do the sensor data. I like the way you can change the dates easier. Carelink seems to have less options and I don't like the charts. The Solutions charts are easy to read, change, customize etc. I bring them in to the doctor. This was a new doctor for me two years ago because my old doctor retired and moved away. This man actually wanted me to write down my BG readings. I clearly stated that I would never do that since I had 12 tests a day and all the reading were available on my charts. After one visit he gave in.

I received the latest copy of Solutions software recently. I didn't have to pay for it. I mentioned that I had an earlier copy, and customer service (Canada) told me that they had sent upgrades to everyone. I never received an upgrade, so they sent it to me.

That being said, I may be one of the few people posting here (in this topic) that prefers Carelink to Solutions software (privacy issues aside).

There are several reason why I prefer Carelink:

• The download for Carelink is much faster (it takes about 5 minutes for me to download data to Solutions software. Carelink generally takes less than 1 minute.
• Solutions software creates a new file every time a download is done. Carelink simply merges data together.
• It appears that in order to have meter information appear in Solutions software, I need to download the meter separately (even if the data was transmitted from the meter to the pump). Carelink uses meter data from the pump - no need to download meter data separately.
• The Daily Summary report in Solutions does not show sensor data. The one in Carelink does.
• It appears the only Solutions report that use Sensor data are the three reports specifically for the sensor. Several (but not all) of the Carelink reports use sensor data.

There are a few limitations in both that I don't like. For example, for any reports that use the time range, they always go from midnight to midnight. I would prefer looking at the data from 6 am to 6 am.

In both, the daily sensor overlay report won't show the current day. (Even if you choose the current date, it will change it back to the last date it has complete data (midnight to midnight)). As far as I know, this is the only report that does this; other reports allow partial days.

I would also like to be able to isolate one day of the week and see that on a report (for example, show me the last three Saturdays). Neither allow this.

I completely agree with Tiffany on the several points she makes.
I am having some problems with the uploading from the pump to the computer via the link meter. At the point it gets to 82% of data uploaded, it hangs there for at least five minutes. After five minutes it either fails the upload or continues and finishes. If it fails, I have to begin all over again, a process that takes around 15 minutes, during which I am not getting any insulin. It is a pain. Has anyone had similar problems? any sugestions?

I don't have a MM pump and I don't know much about either of the softwares that work with it but I would have concerns if MM just promoted a software for those who have the internet. Carelink from the description you all give sounds like it requires the internet which, even though I have the internet, not everyone does. It almost sounds discriminatory. I would hate to not be able to download anything if anything were to happen to my ability to have the internet.

Do you get an error message when the upload fails Fernando?
You can try setting your pump on top of the BD Link while it's transferring. And bolus for any missed basal when your pump comes back online, if it takes an extended amount of time for it to upload.