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Animas Vibe & Dexcom G4 PLATINUM CGM

Spicey245

Well-Known Member
Messages
294
Location
Isle of Man
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Working full time, fairground rides or anything which makes too much adrenaline!
http://animascorp.co.uk/animasvibe/animas-vibe-and-cgm-system

Has anyone else heard about this insulin pump? It has an integrated CGM which gives readings via a sensor every 5 minutes wirelessly to the pump. What I want to know is, do you have two separate needles under your skin (one for the insulin and one for the CGM) or is it really an all in one machine with one needle? If it is I would be VERY interested as it would be brilliant to see what my blood sugar was doing and be able to just click a button to compensate if that's what I needed to do!! I live in the Isle of Man and have discussed getting a pump with my local Diabetes team. They told me a few months back that an all-in-one machine should be getting released towards the end of this year and I'm wondering if this is it?
 
Sorry, just realised I've posted this in the wrong section, would somebody be able to move it for me to the Insulin pump section please?
 
Hey yeah I have this and use the CGM as a self funded add on.

You do have two sites but neither are 'needles', neither hurt while they are in and its generally awesome.
 
I thought that probably would be the case but just wanted to check. Are there two wires or just the one for the pump (as by looking at it the CGM side of it is wireless?). I have never used a pump myself and am seriously considering it but would ideally like an integrated CGM so this looks perfect!
 
Yes the CGM is wireless, only tube is to the insulin side of things. Currently when I was in your position this is the only pump I would consider. bunch of reasons for that including:
-Its cheapest to self fund
-It is the most accurate currently
-its waterproof (dont underestimate that!)
-it can uplaod top diasend and your nurse can view online
-is 1 device. (other pumps have remotes/seperate recievers etc)

Any questions just ask
 
It does sound very good, thanks for your replies, really helpful!

The only issue I really have with pumps is being attached to something 24 hrs a day/7days a week. When I've been wired up to the CGM monitor from my local Diabetic Centre in the past it has really annoyed me and last time i had an allergic reaction to the tubing - think they must have used some sort of dissinfectant on the pipe to clean it and it burnt a pattern into my skin and made my skin itch really badly! Also, could I wear my dresses whilst wearing a pump?

For the above reasons I was looking at trying out the wireless insulin pump (Omnipod I think it's called) as my Diabetic Centre do fund them on the NHS. I just feel it would suit me more as I could keep the control monitor in my bag and just have the insulin pod actually stuck to my skin under my clothing, no wires involved at all and no need for a belt buckle to hang stuff off. It would be perfect If it had a CGM integrated but I suppose you can't have everything!
 

I was pushed towards the omnipod by my DSN. I said no way. I've honestly never had a problem being attached and value the CGM above no wires alternative. What CGM did you try that had tubing?

I have no ideas about a dress, @hale710 any advice?
 
Do you mind me asking why you didn't want to use the Omnipod insulin pump? I would have thought it was quite good due to the fact it has no tubing? Although my DSN did say if I trialled it I may not like it so just curious to find out what is so bad about the OmniPod?

The CGM the DSN puts me on is the one they link you up to for 4/5 days, can't remember the name of it but they put me on it periodically. It doesn't show you what your blood sugars actually are in real time, just records the results and you have to still manually fnger prick test and input the results into the machine 4 times a day (I think that much anyway). Then they take it off you and print the results off so they can see where there may be issues in your routine. They had obviously wiped the tubing down with something which then reacted with my skin causing a burn (on my behind!!) and severe itching. It was not pleasant and I was VERY glad to get it off!!
 
I just didnt trust it. I like to be able to see whats going on. I didnt even bother looking at any other pump after finding the Vibe had the CGM. I dont think you realise how good a CGM is yet... Its like watching TV on 3D HD TV after only seeing black and white for many many years. You wont ever whant to go back.

I never had the 'blind' CGM either so didnt know it was tubed.
 
Ahh I see, yes, I can understand that you would want to see the insulin actually being pumped in, peace of mind really! I would like to give a few pumps a trial run (wireless and ones with tubing), just to see which one suits me best. What works well for one person doesn't necessarily mean it will work as well for somebody else. It's the whole not being able to wear a dress that puts me off the tubed pumps.

I am really interested in this wireless CGM though, as you say, I wouldn't know myself not having to prick my fingers constantly and being able to see what my blood sugars were actually doing at all times, that would be amazing! I'm going to have a word with my DSN about this CGM and see if they fund it. Fingers crossed!!

Thanks for all your advice, I really appreciate it!
 
I have the animas pump and self fund the sensors. You do still need to finger poke though twice in a day to calibrate it and for any meal bolus given or correction as the sensor is about 20 mins behind a finger poke reading .
 
CarbsRok said:
I have the animas pump and self fund the sensors. You do still need to finger poke though twice in a day to calibrate it and for any meal bolus given or correction as the sensor is about 20 mins behind a finger poke reading .
Click to expand...

Ahh right, thanks for that! I wonder why they don't give a real time reading?
 
Spicey245 said:
Ahh right, thanks for that! I wonder why they don't give a real time reading?
Click to expand...
Someone more techy will give you the full and proper answer but it has something to do with it doesn't actually measure blood.
 
I think I read somewhere that omnipod is supposed to be one of the next pumps integrated with dexcom...?

But, as said, cgm is awesome. It's not perfect, and you need to be aware of it. It lags, it can be inaccurate, needs calibrating, etc. But the insight it gives is invaluable. And if you can get an integrated pump, the initial cost is cut to a half
 
Calling @Omnipod who knows all about the Omnipod tubeless pump.

Yes tubes are a big part of the hassle of using a pump, but (non tubeless) pump users get used to it.

Like Eng and CarbsRok I use the Vibe + G4 and I think it's great. Like democracy, it's far from perfect, just better than any of the alternatives.
 
To add:

The Vibe + G4 is not a closed loop or semi closed loop and does not (irritatingly) do "one button" correction. This is particularly bugging me today as my vision is impaired today and I can't see the display, so having to click up to the correction BG from 4.4, in units of 0.1, when the bloody pump *knows* my BG, is very annoying.

There are a few semi closed loop systems in trials now, including one based on Vibe + G4, but not generally available yet.

The more manual tests you do during the day, the more accurate and useful any CGM is. It does not help to think of it as a substitute for finger prick testing. You are best off still doing your 5-8 tests a day. 2 is an absolute minimum and you won't get great accuracy from the CGM if you just test twice a day. It's best to think of the CGM as providing *incredibly valuable extra information*, rather than as a replacement for finger pricks.

The delay in measurement of interstitial fluid of a CGM vs venous plasma glucose is not that much further delayed than a fingerprick meter testing capillary blood is behind venous plasma glucose. Also, the algorithms in the CGM attempt (with variable success) to compensate for this delay and provide a value that is at least an estimate of current BG rather than 20 minutes ago.
 
Getting a pump under women's clothing is a doddle. Numerous other posters (and my own experimentation at the weekends) confirm this. Bra, knickers, small of the back, pouches on the waist or thigh or arm, loads of options. You can prioritise discretion or convenience. @Omnipod reckons the Omnipod is more versatile in this regard but I'm not convinced, it could be the opposite.
 
Engineer88 said:
You do have two sites but neither are 'needles', neither hurt while they are in and its generally awesome.
Click to expand...
Both the pump canula site and the sensor canula site use an "introducer needle" to insert the canula which is then discarded immediately after insertion. It hurts no more or less than a pen injection.

Alternatively some people use "steel" pump canulas, which are almost identical to pen needles.

Pump canulas dwell in the skin for 2-3 days before you replace them, sensor canulas for a week (officially) and hopefully 2-4 weeks or more (unofficially). With all canulas, hygiene is important to prevent infection and skin reactions.
 
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