Hi all, I am hoping that you're knowledge and experience will help me with this.
I have been type 1 for 10 1/2 years now and have been approved for a pump. I am over the moon as I understand it is a game changer. I am very excited to get going with it and start living again.
I have been offered a choice of 3 pumps but I think only two out of the three are suitable for me.
Accu-chek Insight
Ypsomed which I believe is the MyLife.
I have done some research but haven't found too much information, so am I still a bit confused as to which pump to choose.
As it is my first pump I would like to know what those of you who are on pump therapy think I should be looking for in a pump, the most vital points of the pump therapy to ensure the pump offers this capability, what you find useful, essential, not helpful, easy, hard.
Any help and advice, to be honest, will be greatly appreciated.
Hi I've been on the Roche insight for 3 years. It's been fine. Blood test in one hand held device that then figures out your bolus and administers it. Can be a bit slow but I've always been ok with that.
Recently I was offered the ypsomed on a trial. It was stated a good idea as my updated insight replacement was due very soon so if ypsomed didn't work out I could change back to insight.
Worst thing I ever did.
Awful experience with the ypsomed and worst still is I'm unable to go back to my insight!
So being constructive... the ypsomed blood test machine wouldn't connect at the diabetic clinic in day one. Should have taken that as a sign.
Two more goes and tech help at home and got it done.
You test on one machine.
You type in info to an app on your phone (Mylife)
Then you dial it directly into your pump
( do you handle 3 machines to do test and bonus)
As opposed to the insight which you do it all in one hand set. It may buffer a bit but that's nothing compared to the ypsomed Mylife when it malfunctions. Which happened more often than not for me.
So in my first week my ypsomed crashed. Panic as it's night time but don't worry they have night time in the phone help. But no they didn't because that line went down too!
I got hold of them eventually but I'd had huge struggles trying to re set the ypsomed pump.
Over the next few weeks the Mylife app was just hell.
I tried to get tech support and was told they'd get back to me
They didn't
After another couple of weeks I mentioned difficulties to another team member and they told my nurse who then tried to help and phone ypsomed support who had no record of my call.
Some of the problems were ironed out here but the app continued to malfunction.
When it does work it doesn't like to stack doses so if you dose for dinner then have something else with in maybe a couple of hours it counts in your last insulin dose which is not helpful.
That dose you've given was allocated for another purpose. Not to be counted in with the next dose. If these instructions were followed then the results are high sugars.
I knew that but to prove a point to myself I followed the machines instructions once and got a blood of 22!!!
Felt awful
After all that.... the way ypsomed displays its info is in a long list. Not helpful in viewing your results to make good informed decisions on any dose changes.
Insight is much better equipped for this with various graphs and data info nicely displayed.
Separate to that are personal choices... ypsomed has a 360 rotating cannula... insight does not
Personally i thought this might be helpful but it was a hindrance. The ypsomed cannula stood too proud of my skin and made too easy to pull out.
After that they package cannula and tubing together so when you have to replace the pulled out cannula you waste the new tubing.
Insight packages them separately
Now I'm told I can't go back to insight. I am gutted. I have the choice of ypsomed or insulin pens again
You may have a better experience than me. This is just my experience and my opinion. Sadly not a good one.
I hope you get in really well with what ever choice you make and that it improves daily quality of life, which is what they're meant for. Good luck