Approved for a pump but...

I have experience of a couple of pumps. They are neither of the ones you have been offered but I think my experience may be relevant.
My first pump was an Animas Vibe. This is not available any more but is similar in shape to a Medtronic 640G which is now the one on offer. As I had no previous pumping experience, I took the only one on offer and was reasonably happy. I loved the control and flexibility it offered me. But, I hated the size and clunkiness. I am not what you would call large (5'4" with a BMI of 21) and found it very hard to hide my pump. Some women put their pump in their bra - let's just say I would be very lop sided if I did that. So, most of the time it was clipped on to my belt like an old school pager. If I wore baggy trousers, I could put it in my pocket but, unlike men, I have hips and women't pockets are not huge so this was rare. If I wore a dress, I would wrap it around my upper thigh but this was not good when I needed to bolus.
Whilst I complained about the size and clunkiness of Pumpy, I would get very protective towards him if you tried to take him away. Probably a bit like having an ugly dog.

Recently, I was offered the chance to trial a Medtrum A6. This is a patch pump, similar to the OmniPod but less well known ,,, and cheaper. Patch (as I call my new pump) and I have been together for a couple of months now. Like Pumpy, he is not perfect but he is hidden away. I still find my slender frame is a problem - with a tube pump, you have a cannula about the size of a 10p to attach to your body and there are plenty of places to put it on your abdomen. With a patch pump, you have to find space to attach the whole pump. I was told it could be attached to my upper arms but, as a climber, this is not appropriate. I was told I could put it on my upper thigh but, like you, I wear trousers a lot and it would show and I run which would effect the absorption. I was told I could put it on the fatty part of my back around the spare tyre but what little spare tyre I have is about trouser waist level. So, Patch usually sits on my abdomen: either below my belly button under my trouser waist or above my belly button above my trouser waist avoiding my ribs. Placement depends on what I plan to do (below the belly button and it gets in the way of my climbing harness) or what I plan to wear (above the belly button and it will show when I am wearing a tighter fitting t-shirt). This requires a bit of planning because Patch is in place for 3 days whereas Pumpy could move around on his tether (tube).

So, from my limited experience, if I had a choice of Medtronic or OmniPod, I would choose OmniPod but know it is not perfect.

Good luck with your choice and your pumping.

I have recently got a 640g, I used to have an Animas Vibe like the poster above. The contract runs out next year and I'm hoping for a newer Medtronic or a Tandem T-Slim.

Anyway ,I have found the 640g has several useful features the Vibe didn't have - more basal profiles, preset temp basals, preset boluses and a limited remote bolus facility from the meter supplied with it. Also it sends the meter reading to the pump. I run it with a Libre sensor, a pump uploader and xDrip software and that works pretty well for me until I can get a loopable pump.

Notorious said:

I have recently got a 640g, I used to have an Animas Vibe like the poster above. The contract runs out next year and I'm hoping for a newer Medtronic or a Tandem T-Slim.

Anyway ,I have found the 640g has several useful features the Vibe didn't have - more basal profiles, preset temp basals, preset boluses and a limited remote bolus facility from the meter supplied with it. Also it sends the meter reading to the pump. I run it with a Libre sensor, a pump uploader and xDrip software and that works pretty well for me until I can get a loopable pump.

Click to expand...

Hi. I'm just about to start on a 640g. I also use Libre and xdrip but what is a pump uploader you mention? Thanks.

eventhorizon said:

Hi. I'm just about to start on a 640g. I also use Libre and xdrip but what is a pump uploader you mention? Thanks.

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https://github.com/pazaan/600SeriesAndroidUploader/wiki

As above. Join the 'Nightscout for Medtronic' Facebook group for support.

Also, you can use Tidepool to upload it all so you can see all of your data in one place and run reports etc. Tidepool has an uploader of it's own (works on a PC) and you can export your data into it directly from xDrip.

The 640g isnt compatible with diy looping.

ruby_jane26 said:

I’m hoping to loop, so would the 640g not be a good option? I’ve already started looking into the miaomiao and Riley link prices as I’d want to loop as quite soon when I get my pump.

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It's not possible to DIY loop with one of the 600-series Medtronic pumps. Check the link below for more information.

https://openaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docs/Gear Up/pump.html

Furthermore, the Libre is not really considered accurate enough for looping.

You can use Medtronic's Smart Guard system that stops the basal when you're heading low, but it only works with their Enlite or Guardian sensors and funding might be an issue.

Notorious said:

It's not possible to DIY loop with one of the 600-series Medtronic pumps. Check the link below for more information.

https://openaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docs/Gear Up/pump.html

Click to expand...

This only refers to the OpenAps looping system. There are other such as Loop and AndroidAPS. There may be more options too - definitely worth deepr investigation if it is what you want to do. Other systems may be compatible with newer Medtronic models.

Notorious said:

Furthermore, the Libre is not really considered accurate enough for looping.

Click to expand...

I am surprised to read that. I am sure some people are or are setting up closed loops with Libre.
Forgive me if I am wrong but I think @Mel dCP is setting up her system at the moment,

The problem, as I understand it, with the Libre is that, stand alone, it is not a CGM as it requires swiping to get the BG value,
However, by pimping it with something like the Miaomioa, this limitation can be overcome.

My experience with Libre and Dexcom CGM is that the Libre is no less accurate.

helensaramay said:

This only refers to the OpenAps looping system. There are other such as Loop and AndroidAPS. There may be more options too - definitely worth deepr investigation if it is what you want to do. Other systems may be compatible with newer Medtronic models.

Click to expand...

Im afraid this issnt quite accurate. There is no 640g that has been looped to date with any system. Androidaps or loop ect. That ive found.

helensaramay said:

I am surprised to read that. I am sure some people are or are setting up closed loops with Libre.
Forgive me if I am wrong but I think @Mel dCP is setting up her system at the moment,

The problem, as I understand it, with the Libre is that, stand alone, it is not a CGM as it requires swiping to get the BG value,
However, by pimping it with something like the Miaomioa, this limitation can be overcome.

My experience with Libre and Dexcom CGM is that the Libre is no less accurate.

Click to expand...

Yep your right the libre pimped with a blucon or miao miao can be used.

In the looping arena the dexcom seems tobe prefered.

First thing a person has to work out is which system or phone they want to use. That defines what pump they should aquire.

helensaramay said:

This only refers to the OpenAps looping system. There are other such as Loop and AndroidAPS. There may be more options too - definitely worth deepr investigation if it is what you want to do. Other systems may be compatible with newer Medtronic models.


I am surprised to read that. I am sure some people are or are setting up closed loops with Libre.
Forgive me if I am wrong but I think @Mel dCP is setting up her system at the moment,

The problem, as I understand it, with the Libre is that, stand alone, it is not a CGM as it requires swiping to get the BG value,
However, by pimping it with something like the Miaomioa, this limitation can be overcome.

My experience with Libre and Dexcom CGM is that the Libre is no less accurate.

Click to expand...

It's not possible to loop with the Medtronic 640g on any DIY loop as it doesn't accept remote basal rate changes. There is a limited remote bolus function from the linked Contour Next 2.4 meter, but no-one has cracked this. In any case, it would require entirely different (and unwritten!) looping software using boluses rather than basal rate changes.

More info on the different types of DIY loops here:
https://www.diabettech.com/looping-a-guide/

helensaramay said:

I'm surprised to read that. I am sure some people are or are setting up closed loops with Libre.
Forgive me if I am wrong but I think @Mel dCP is setting up her system at the moment,

The problem, as I understand it, with the Libre is that, stand alone, it is not a CGM as it requires swiping to get the BG value,
However, by pimping it with something like the Miaomioa, this limitation can be overcome.

My experience with Libre and Dexcom CGM is that the Libre is no less accurate.

Click to expand...

The problem is that the Libre is factory calibrated. My experience of the Libre is that it can be very inaccurate at times and that could be dangerous in a closed-loop system. I wouldn't do it. Having said that, many people clearly are, and Libre2 may change my position.

I refer you again to the excellent Diabettech blog for more of a discussion:
https://www.diabettech.com/artificial-pancreas/diy-looping-and-cgm/

@Notorious from what I understand, people using Miaomiao do not use the LibreLink app they use Spike and/or xdrip+ which allows calibration.
There are loads of threads on the forum about it.

If am concerned this discussion is derailing this thread. The OP asked for pros and cons of OmniPod and Medtronic 640g.
If you are interested in closed loop, I suggest starting a new thread.

helensaramay said:

@Notorious from what I understand, people using Miaomiao do not use the LibreLink app they use Spike and/or xdrip+ which allows calibration.
There are loads of threads on the forum about it.

If am concerned this discussion is derailing this thread. The OP asked for pros and cons of OmniPod and Medtronic 640g.
If you are interested in closed loop, I suggest starting a new thread.

Click to expand...

Rolling my eyes a little as I didn't particularly want to talk about looping, I was answering @eventhorizon who asked me a direct question and then you challenged me, continuing the discussion. I too use the Libre with xDrip as mentioned in my first post. Anyway, I won't be following this thread anymore.

I’ve only used Omnipod, and love it! It’s so discreet I often forget where I’ve actually put the thing...

No worries, @Notorious , no derailing at all
TS herself asked about it too, and as she said she wants to look into looping very soon it's very relevant in her choice of pump.

Good luck with finding the best pump for you, @ruby_jane26 !