Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TheOneType on April 10, 2012 at 12:55pm

I Have used the medtronic and its a great pump you can't go wrong with MM, I am currently on Omnipod and I just hate it I have been using Omni for 3yrs and It's a hassle with pod failures, and the highs you get after placing a new pod. Can't wait till next year so I can get an Animas ping, I like that you can bolus thru the wireless remote, so you dont have to take your pump out from where your hiding it lol. Animas was my 1st pump and I loved it went with MM because of the cgm but I thought it was a bit bigger and the cgm was very painful and not very accurate. Good luck choosing your new pump :)

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on April 10, 2012 at 1:44pm

Once the Animas comes out with the CGM I have heard it will no longer support the remote bolusing option. I have a MM and I love it. I did have the CGM as well but has a few sensors in a row that bled alot and failed (i had been on the CGM for almost two years without major issue and it worked well for me)so I tried the on the advice of my CDE and I love it. I can't wait until the new Enlite sensor comes out. I do miss the integration immensely. Every person will have their own pumps that are better for them. My advice is to talk to the reps and get each pump in your hand before you make a decision.

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Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on April 10, 2012 at 5:15pm

I have used MM for past 15 years. I recently reviewed Animas Ping, Omnipod and MM, and decided to stick with MM. I met with reps and had 'hands on' for all 3.

All are good choices, and have pros and cons that are different by person.

For some, tubeless is high priority, and they are not bothered by some of the problems reported, or tolerate them to get the benefit of tubeless.

If you check the website for Omnipod, you can request a free, non-working sample. You can see how you like wearing it for a few days. (This demo/sample is what convinced me it was 'NOT' for me !)

For some, having an integrated CGMS is top priority, and MM is usually the choice for that, or wait until Animas releases theirs ('any day now'...).

In my opinion, MM and Animas are (will be) fairly comparable. I favored MM because I was more familiar with the menu sequence, and the Animas Ping was more key presses and seemed awkward for me. But many others love the Screen and menus on the Ping, and the Remote that is also a meter.

As others mentioned, best suggestion is to get your hands on them, and see for yourself ! See if your Endo or CDE team has demo units to check out, or contact the reps directly.

The other questions are related to what do you want out of a pump ? What about your current situation are you seeking to change/improve ?

You can check for other discussions under Groups - there are specific ones for each brand.

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Permalink Reply by smileandnod on April 11, 2012 at 7:12am

I was diagnosed 25 years ago and was on injections until this year. I'm on OmniPod and also use a Dexcom cgm. I absolutely love both and would not give up either. I think the best pump is the one that you are most comfortable with so I would talk to all the reps and ask to try each one out.

For me, the tubing and insertion sets on the tubed pumps are intimidating. I started with the Dexcom cgm first and got used to wearing that and tracking my trends. Then I went on the OmniPod. I find the OmniPod feels just like the Dexcom and I forget where I've placed it.

I like that I don't have to deal with tubing when I'm sleeping and I like that I don't have to disconnect or remove anything when I'm showering or bathing. I like that the PDM is also the test meter and I can carry it in my purse and not on my body. If someone doesn't know me, they would look at me and see no evidence of anything related to diabetes. :)

I have not had any problems yet with pod failures. I think sometimes that people assume that the pod isn't working correctly if they have unexplained highs but I think some of this is due to sites that don't absorb insulin as well (people with tubed pumps run into this also) and some of it is normal diabetes changes in insulin needs that lead to basal/bolus changes. I also think some of the "failures" are due to operator error - I have talked to those who will say that when they were more careful in their technique of filling the pods so there is no air in the syringe, their problems lessened.

Do check out all your options and decide what's most comfortable for you. There is no right or wrong answer. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by dgv76 on April 11, 2012 at 7:25am

OmniPod was my option, but it only holds 200u, so I would have to change pods everyday. I am not sure if I want to go for tubing, but I guess that's my only option.

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Permalink Reply by Benjamin McLaughlin on April 11, 2012 at 8:44am

Be aware though dgv, your insulin needs decrease when on the pump. You can't just take TDD on MDI and think that it will match your TDD on the pump. Not sure if that 20-30% will make a difference in your case, but it may be worth getting a couple samples from endo and trying them out.

I have been on omnipod for 3 weeks, and I love it. I introduced it to my coworkers dad, he has been on MM for 15 years or so, and he said the omnipod decreased his insulin dramatically. This was due however to the multiple places that you can put the omnipod vs. the more limited places a pump can go realistically. I think his abdomen is scar tissued up, he put the pod on his arm and he said it made a world of difference. If you go with the tubed pump, just try to rotate sites as best as you can to avoid this. Maybe even get longer tubes so you can put the occasional site on your arm or leg. The thought of all that tubing though is why I went with omnipod.

One thing I read, and it's one thing we often forget about, the pump is a 4 year commitment maximum. It's not a lifetime choice. Pick one based on what you want the most, and then switch later on when you are able to. Don't feel your making a decision you have to stick with forever.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on April 11, 2012 at 12:12pm

I wear my MM tubed pump in many places where people put the pod, including my arms. I love using my arms.

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Permalink Reply by dgv76 on April 11, 2012 at 8:55am

I do 100 of Levemir and about 60 of Humolog. When I had my pump intro class, I was told that OmniPod will only last me one day.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Wittman on April 11, 2012 at 9:01am

Hi dgv ~

I would urge you to look at the Animas. I liked it better than the MiniMed, just because of the remote bolus feature, the colour screen and the monitoring software. I have also been very happy with Animas customer service. The Animas came highly recommended from two users.

I know there is conflicting opinions on everything, and I also believe the MiniMed is an excellent pump. I was not impressed with the customer service from MiniMed, as I felt they were rather pushy. For me, the Omnipod was not an option, because with the type of work that i do, it would be very vulnerable to be knocked off. I have had no problems with the tubing, only one kinked infusion set, and it didn't freeze up this past winter.

Whatever you choose, remember that you are entering into a long-term agreement, if your insurance company is involved. I hope you are happy with whatever you choose. I couldn't be happier with the Animas; it has been life-changing. Please keep us posted as to your choice.

Be well,

Brian Wittman

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Permalink Reply by Benjamin McLaughlin on April 11, 2012 at 9:13am

What I found was that my bolus amount didn't change much, but I use quite a bit less, percentage based, basal from my pump than I did long acting insulin. Again, if you are using 160 TDD, I doubt that it will make up enough difference to stretch a pod out for two days, but you never know. Even still, it probably wouldn't be worth worrying running out if you were able to stretch it to two days.

I guess since you pretty much have nixed the omnipod, I will say I absolute love the fact that I can bolus from the PDM (remote) on the omnipod. If I ever went to a tubed pump the remote feature would be a huge thing for me.

Also, if the two in one feature for the MM is great, but I am very active and like to workout. If I was going to do a high intense active workout, I would want to put the pump in a spibelt or somewhere where it will stay put and be protected. In that case, having my CGM on the pump itself would actually be hassle for me, because if I wanted to check it, I would have to dig, pull the thing out, then look at it. I think I would like having mine separate in those cases, so I can look at one while the other is hiding. But again, this is just me speculating, as I am lucky enough that the pods work for me. I guess just ask yourself how you will carry your pump, and if mind pulling it out to bolus and/or look at your CGM. If your work/activities don't restrict that, then MM would be great. If you'd rather keep pump totally hidden and remote, Ping/Dexcom would have the edge. Hope all that makes as much sense on paper as it did in my head!

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Permalink Reply by smileandnod on April 11, 2012 at 3:07pm

My line of thinking is the same as yours Benjamin. If I couldn't use the OmniPod I would go Ping/Dexcom for the same reasons. Having the remote feature would be key to me. And I like to keep my Dexcom receiver on my desk at work so I can just glance at it if I start feeling "off". But that's just me.

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Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on April 11, 2012 at 11:33am

Given your TDD, I'd go with the Minimed (the one that holds 300 units of insulin at a time). It has the largest reservoir and would enable you to go three days without refilling. I have a Minimed Revel and LOVE it. It's a very reliable pump and medtronic has been great. The screen is a bit old school compared to the Ping and that's probably my only complaint. I have put my Revel through quite a bit, and it keeps on ticking.

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