Animas 2020

Hello!
I'm Mary and after 20 years as a type 1 diabetic I have recently graduated to pump therapy using an Animas 2020 pump. This is the start of the seventh week and I becoming more confident in using the pump features - varying the basal rate to stamp on rising BG's or lift them back up as necessary. After some difficulties with Inset II infusion sets I am now using the Inset 30's; much better. You can actually see that the cannula is located under your skin and not wrapped over it as happened on one occasion with the 90 degree variety; then the first you know about it is when your BG rises above expected levels and you have to start all over with a new set. I'm open to questions on my choice of pump, accessories and general experience. Mary

Hi!
I'm a little nervous to say that its great because experience usually tells me that as soon as I utter those fatal words everything goes pearshape! But yes, I am feeling much better than I was immediately before going on the pump and indeed for quite a while. Twenty years of highs and lows does take its toll however hard you try to avoid them. Prevously I would get very upset with my figures especially if I could not understand how they could possibly be what they were. Also my HBAIC was deterioating.

Now, since being on the pump my BG'S are making more sense and if they are high when I test then I can take action which brings them back down again; and it seems much smoother; bit like changing gears in car using the clutch! I have yet to have an HBAIC so don't know yet how my day-to-day figutres will translate.

There is quite a lot of work involved though. Getting your basal rates right seem to be the key to everything, from what I am reading. I have also though adjusted my eating habits as I can now see that eating too much CHO at a time is prbably the reason for a number of my unexplained highs some time later, not necessarily two hours on.

Anyway, I am dragging on here. Choice of pump? I'm NHS funded and I had a choice of three - Animas Medtronic and Accu-chek. How did I choose? Not an easy one that but I did a little research of my own. I liked the fact that Animas were quick off the blocks. I sent out three e-mails to the respective companies on a Thursday at 5; Saturday morning in the post arrived the Animas information. The Medtronic info arrived about three weeks later and I don't think I did receive the ACcu chek. Also Animas are based locally to where I live and my Diabetic Clinic. Other factors. London Medical (sorry don't have their website address) did a Insulin Pump Comparisons 2009 Report which makes interesting reading and I felt that the drawbacks of the Animas were less relevant than some of the others. Diabetes UK in 2009 did a booklet entiteld "The guide to testing adn treating diabetes" which lists all the pumps available in the UK. The Animas 2020 battery has a long lifespan which is quite useful.

But I think it came down to gut instinct at the end of the day. I had the opportunity to handle the three pumps available at a Pump Assessment session with my diabetic team. I liked the clarity of the Animas screen; the simplicity of the "buttons"; sufficient but not too many fancy features. I was not convinced by the remote controller some came with. I suspect that whichever pump you plump for you will be pleased with your decision if you make the time to fully understand it.

Infusion sets - I started with the Inset II, 90degree cannula, but I did not get on too well with those. Their biggest disadvantage is that if the cannula sticks above the inserter needle you will end up with a bent end either in you or, worse still on top of your skin and you have no way of knowing until your BGs go skyhigh. I have now switched to the Inset 30's' these are angled to the skin and you have a clear patch of tape around the cannula so you can actually see that it is where it should be; very reassuring. There seems to be less wastage with this design too which is good if that sort of thing bothers you. I think I wasted more Inset IIs than I actually successfully used.

I am very pleased with my choice of pump. When I have had any technical issues the local Animas rep has been very helpful as is their Customer Service team.If I can give any more information of use please ask. Regards