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Animas 2020

M

mary123

Member
Messages
23
Location
Buckinghamshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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 getting a pump in the next few months! was given the go ahead by my diabetes consultant on friday so i'm very excited!

Did you have a choice of pumps you could have?

My hospital offers the accu-check combo which was my top choice whilst researching all the different ones you could get, mysecond was the animas 2020 so i'm curious how your finding it?

Have you had significant changes in your BG readings? even after only 7 weeks?

I think i'd be most nervous about the infusion sets and changing tem and detecting if one isn't working right!

i don't mean to bombard you with questions, just i've read so much about them it's the first time i've got to ask anyone about it in depth apart from what i've read on here!

thanks!
 
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
 
I love my Animas 2020! So easy to use and my blood sugar levels have never been so stable and within limits. I'm followed monthly by VitalAire for pump supplies and every 6 months by a diabetalogue with one day a year in an excellent diabetes clinic. I couldn't ask for better care and am so thankful for the excellent support I receive in France. Kevin :D :D :D :D :D :D
 
On accucheck combo pump for 2 days and loving it.......
 
Hi Mary
glad to hear you enjoying your pump...

It is likely that on your 1st HbA1c which I assume they we do after your first 3 months it won't be a lot different, but don't get disheartened as this is quite normal.

It takes around 6 months of pumping to really settle in, as you fine tune, find the best bolus or delivery setting to tackle new situations and really learn what actually effects your bg levels and when etc...

I actually felt the benefit of my pump after the week, so much I actually sobbed my heart out, it had been so long since I felt so engergised and well and sheer bliss not suffering one hypo or major high...

The Animas 2020 was the pump that I wanted it had just only come out, but the spec's seemed to suit my needs, but alas my clinic insisted on the Accu-chek spirit pump and having already battled for almost 3 years, I didn't fancy another battle and wait to get the pump I really wanted :cry:

My pump doesn't have the wizards that newer pumps have, so I have to mentally calculate everything, but it has been an advantage though has it has actually given me a greater understanding to what and how everything effects my control... I don't think I would have learnt this if I had a bunch of wizards...
 
I love the combo...I especially like teh fact that it has teh remore control option...which is great if you are carrying you pump in your bra, and need to do a bolus in a publlic place...saves all the ferretting around! :oops:
 
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