Hi again
@debbie G,
I originally had the now defunct Animas.
From September i have been using the Tandem Slim x2, a tubey pump.Very happy with it as an Aussie guy in Australia but like any pump it has its quirks.
It has
alarms for if the insulin reservoir is approaching 30 degrees C ( or zero degrees C) or if the pump is nearing a temperature at which the pump electronics might fail to work. These features are handy in our hot summers.
It lacks much in the way of
waterproofness compared to say the Omnipod or Medtronic pumps and i routinely remove the pump whilst showering and use that opportunity to recarge the pump.
The litium polymer
battery can be
recharged in small amounts without it affecting the battery's chargeability or storage of charge. But the rechargeable batery means carrying an expensive battery charge pack instead of a battery cell as back up.
The
plastic cover over the charger point on the pump is pesky and makes removing the pump from the belt accessory a little difficult. Mine recently tore off and i am yet to find out if that affects whatever waterfastness there is.
The
software for developing trends is supposed to be free
downloadable but i have not had the opportunity to experience that yet. If
cgm in an issue a number of people on Tandem in my hometown, Adelaide are using Dexcom G5 happily. There may be some in UK who have transitioned to the G6 and could relate how that has worked for them. There is supposed to be a loop program being rolled out soon in USA which will eventually reach us mere mortals.
Some users express concern that the
reservoir is not transparent and thus extra care is needed to ensure airbubbles are not in the reservoir to later cause obstruction alarms in the tubing, but i have not experienced any problems thus far.
Because the reservoir filling requires first drawing residual air out of the reservoir by using a needle/syringe through a rubber seal, drawing up insulin from a pen cartridge or ampoule again through a rubber seal and finally injecting the insulin through the reservoir's rubber seal i have had two instances of the rubber blocking the needle at the final step, thus having to change the needle. The reservoir kit comes supplied with syringe and needle but no soares. I have some soare needles left over from Animas days but i suggest for someone new to pumps and using the Tandem to have some spare needles, especially in the emergency back up kit which all pumpers ideally carry with them especially away from home in case of a rare instance of pump failure, pump loss etc.
All pumps have quirks and it is a matter if what things may bug you about them and what may or may not interfere with your life style.
In terms of
tubey pumps i have found the infusion sets with the steel 90 degree needles are less prone to kinking and thus slowing insulin delivery under the skin compared to the plastic cannulas. And these steel cannulas have a connection point of tube to cannula actually several cms before the cannula site with a separate white sticky patch. That means any disconnect
Ing and reconnecting of pump tubing to cannula does not jiggle the cannula site or risk dislodging the cannula so also caught tubing leading to pulled out cannula is very rare in my experience.
Finally a tinkerer i know has criticised the glass interface of the Tandem as having the same ptoblem of cracking/shattering if dropped. He has taken apart pumps which are out of warranty and finds the Roche pumps are built like tanks compared to other pumps.
Best Wishes for whatever you decide, but doing homework first as you are doing is wise.
