Pump Warranty up next month
My warranty on my Medtronic Revel pump is up next month. I really think it's a crummy time to be pump shopping because there are so many things in the works for the future, but not much actually approved now.
I have used Medtronic pumps for 8 years and absolutely have no complaints except for the CGM which is a huge problem. I currently use a Dexcom along with my Revel pump. Things work fine, but I hate carrying two devices.
I have sent off for info on the Animas, but I think I will hate the extensive menu system, the need to re-prime when you change batteries, etc. But the future link with Dexcom is a huge reason to make the switch. I think that many people love their Animas pumps, but most of them have not used Minimed, so they are used to all the button pushing to get things done.
I have no interest in an Omnipod and I really don't mind tubing. I will not try the Tandem because it has to be re-charged rather than using batteries.
I think that within a year we'll see both the Animas/Dexcom Vibe combo and the new Medtronic Veo with the Enlite sensors. My plan is most likely to keep using my current pump until both the Vibe and the Veo are available. I feel strongly that the Medtronic pump is the best pump for me. But I am equally convinced that Dexcom is far superior to Medtronic CGMS technology.
Any words of wisdom?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Don on -
The Enlite is an improvement but I am skeptical it has eliminated the gap between Medtronic and Dexcom. The Vibe is certainly a worthy option but given what you say about liking Medtronic maybe the best option for you is the upcoming Dex G4 standalone with its smaller receiver. A separate device for CGM is a pain but otoh you will hear it better at night than you would an integrated pump muffled under bed covers. This way you get the pump and the CGM you like most.
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Permalink Reply by Laddie on -
I think you're probably right and that Dexcom, especially with its new generation of sensors, will continue to outclass Medtronic.
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Permalink Reply by Annabella on -
Don't forget that Animas pumps use a Lithium battery that lasts a lot longer than the Alkaline battery in a MM pump. On my Animas 2020 I change batteries every 2+ months.
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Permalink Reply by Laddie on
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I can't get too excited about Lithium vs. Alkaline batteries. I change my pump's battery about every 3-4 weeks. I could definitely go longer, but they're so cheap and easy to change that I always change them when I have two bars left. I assume that a year's worth of batteries cost me about $12 at Target. I think that a battery change is a bigger deal on the Animas because as I understand it, you have to do a full re-prime.
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Permalink Reply by Terry on -
I'm in the same situation as you. My Animas Ping warranty runs out this month.
I used Medtronic (Mini-Med) pumps for 21 years then Animas for 3 1/2 years. I changed to an OminPod two months ago. I don't remember there being a big menu difference between the MM and Animas. I agree that the Animas requirement to do a complete rewind when just changing the battery is a pain in the tail.
I didn't like the fast scroll speed on the Animas remote. It was an overshoot undershoot circus! I benched the remote after only a few months.
I was very attracted by the t:slim claim to minimize keystrokes. They also say that they did extensive user studies before finalizing their design. Their no trial no return policy essentially lost me as a possible customer. I'll wait until they're more mature.
I thought that the Animas Ping required way too many keystrokes to get anything done. I suspect that the FDA approval process influenced this but I also think that Animas did not do nearly enough user studies. I can't imagine any diabetic with sufficient pump experience signing off on the over the top keystroke repetition.
One decision that I have made is that I will not buy any system that leaves my night-time CGM low alarms buried under the blankets.
I took delivery of an OmniPod two months ago. I took advantage of a $199 out of pocket expense for the PDM (pump remote.) This allowed me to keep my ability to buy (and have insurance pay for) another pump. I like the OmniPod; my main reason to buy it was not to avoid tubing but to allow me reach fresh tissue to get more consistent and dependable absorption. After 25 years of pumping I have a lot of scar tissue.
I'm going to wait before I buy another pump system. Like you, I'd like to take advantage of some substantial technical gains that are just over the horizon. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Terry on
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I meant to add that my Dexcom CGM annual warranty runs out this month also. I've heard rumors of the more accurate Dex Gen4 sensor coming out late this year or early next year.
For that reason, I will not renew my Dex equipment until the Gen4 comes out. I have enough sensors to last me through early next year. I hope it's enough!
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Permalink Reply by Laddie on
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My Dex warranty ran out a few months ago, so I did get a new system. I figure that the new system will get out of warranty a few months after the Gen4 becomes available. I have to admit that the new system is still in the box because my old one is working just fine. Dexcom called me to encourage me to replace my system and gave me a $200 rebate. I have misplaced the receiver a few times because it falls out of my pocket, and it's really nice to know I have a new one waiting for me to take it out of the box.
Although I have occasional bad sensors, Dexcom works really well for me most of the time.
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Permalink Reply by Terry on
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Interesting that Dex offered you a $200 rebate. I would get a replacement system now if they agreed to a free upgrade as soon as the gen4 sensor comes out. I talked with customer service about this and they said they couldn't offer that deal. So ... I wait for the next generation to arrive.
The Dex system works really well for me most of the time, too.
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Permalink Reply by Laddie on
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I was very happy to get the $200 rebate card, but it seems fishy to me that they can give me the rebate while my insurance paid the total cost of the system. Of course my insurance company paid contracted rates so they didn't pay full price.
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Permalink Reply by Don on
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As far as the two devices problem, I can't wait for Dexcom to work with smartphones. This way it doesn't matter whether or which pump you use.
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Permalink Reply by Brunetta on -
I am in a similar situation, Lathump. My Medtronic 522 has been out of warranty for months, and I do not use the MM CGMs anymore: too inaccurate, too expensive. I retired in 2011, and the insurance provided by my state retirement system has a very high deductible to meet before they pay (the 80%) for pumps or pump supplies. Thus, I have to decide in the next three months before the deductible restart in 2013, what pump and/or CGM to get. I have heard nothing but great things about the Dexcom;but varied opinions on the Animas pump itself, as Terry listed. I like the integrated nature of the Medtronic system, but it is inconsistently accurate and the pump aalarms sometimes do not wake me if I am asleep. That does not matter to me as I am not hypo unaware and have Never not awakened from a nighttime low/ or high for that matter, in 43 years.. I GET really creepy, funny, weird, lucid dreams THAT AWAKEN ME in dangerous blood sugar situations. I know to get up and checkafter these dreams and my blood sugar is almost always seriously out of range,to the point where I have to treat right away.
I want an accurate CGMS to help me with control, setting basals and other pump info more accurately, and catching the creeping up highs before they get too far out of range . I DO NOT LIKE THEM AT ALL: Highs that it will take three hours and a shot to treat, particularly if they are caused by a bad infusion set or an inaccurate carb count call. That is all I want from a CGMs, and the MM model does not do that for me.
I am leaning towards waiting for the Enlite sensors to come out, but time is NOT on my side.I have to make some sort of decision before 2013, or I will have to pay thoussnds for ANY pump/cgm combo. I guess I could do a separate Dexcom, but I cannot imagine another device to carry around. Time and out of pocket expenses are the mitigating factors for me.
God bless,
Brunetta
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Permalink Reply by Laddie on
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I also have a high deductible health plan and I am lucky that once I reach my deductible, everything is covered at 100%. I have other health issues besides diabetes, so I always reach my deductible by about May. So the timing of a pump purchase doesn't matter to me. The big deal as you know is that whatever decision I make, I will have to live with for 4 years.
I hope to meet with an Animas rep and play around with the pump to understand all the button pushing that everyone talks about. It would be a scary decision to leave Medtronic because I am 100% satisfied with my pump. I also think that the Medtronic interface with the sensors is very good. But unfortunately with the sensors, the results had very little to do with my BG and I couldn't even trust trends. So it was garbage in garbage out. I also got huge bruises freguently on insertion and sensors often hurt. I'm quite thin and I didn't have any real estate that was good for the large Medtronic sensors.
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