Are any members part of the Artifical Pancreas Trial?

I am part of this trial Medtronic 780g with Guardian 3 Sensor.

The Sensor has a few alarms (curse you alarms!!!). It has an alarm for when my blood sugar is dropping low, it recommends a finger stick test to make sure you have a correct reading. There's an alarm for if my blood sugar is going too high (mine is set at 14mmol). It will alarm if the sensor and insulin pump has lost connection with each other.

I can only account for my experience of using this setup but essentially I am in something called "auto mode" which I believe is a Medtronic term. My basal rate is worked out automatically every 5 minutes by my insulin pump based on the readings that my Guardian 3 sensor is sending to it. Anything food-wise that I eat I have to input the carbs myself. If I have miscalculated the amount of insulin needed and I start drifting high the pump will recognize that I don't have enough insulin on board to keep me within target range and will give me more insulin to bring me back down into range. That's also the same if it thinks I have too much on board/I'm starting to go low it will cut off the insulin. I have to calibrate the sensor every 12 hours and can calibrate it any other time I feel I need to.

I will admit to the fact I was a terrible Diabetic beforehand and was high more times than I wasn't. I started this trial in December 2021 with a HbA1c of 78. In February I was re-tested and it had gone down to 42.

I have regular updates with the nurse at the hospital in regards to how I'm feeling, is this benefiting me, any changes that can be made etc.

Below is a Snapshot of my blood sugar average over a 1 month period (black dotted line). I'm in range roughly 70% of the time, given that I was in range less than 10% of the time before the trial I take that as a massive win and it is absolutely a game-changer for me Please feel free to ask me any other questions you have.

Juicyj said:

@Nicola M That's amazing results, how did you get involved in this ?

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A nurse from my hospital actually rang me to ask if I would like to be a part of the trial. There was a couple of criteria that I had to meet.

- Be using an insulin pump and freestyle libre for more than 3 months
- Have a recent HbA1c that is more than 8.5% (70 mmol/mol)

I ticked the first box easily, I had to have my HbA1c re-done as my last one was 6+ months before I was called but it came back at 78, once it was confirmed I was eligible I was given a date to attend the hospital for training

@Hopeful34 Yes, it’s to prove that this benefits us in terms of better HbA1c/time in range which can lower the chances of complications in the future, saving the NHS money in the long term.

Vickstar36 said:

Hi, i've just gone on the MiniMed™ 780G system with Guardian™ 4 sensor and wondered if anyone else was on that one? @Nicola M you seem to be doing well with yours how do you get used to the tubing again as i've been on tubeless pumps for a while now and worried about my cats eating it.

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I’ve only ever had tubed pumps but I do have an 8 month niece who loves to pull at mine any chance she gets. I usually always make sure mine is tucked under my clothing so it can’t be seen/tugged at. In all honesty in terms of wearing a pump with tubes it’s just about making sure you remember that there is a tube there and making sure you’re more cautious when changing outfits, going to the bathroom etc.