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Guardian 4 system.

dmckatana

dmckatana

Member
Messages
23
Hi.

I've not posted anything for ages. If this is in the wrong forum I'm happy for the moderators to move it.

I've been approved funding for the Guardian 4 system. I've been using a medtronic pump for over a decade.

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with the closed loop system?

I'm looking forward to it but also a bit apprehensive.

I just hope the sensors are better than Libre.

Thanks for all and any comments.

David.
 
Thank you for the tag @Hopeful34

I've been on the Closed loop system since December 2021 (I was actually part of the NHS Trial for it). Originally I was on the Guardian 3 but have since been moved to the Guardian 4 and have probably been on it for almost 2 years now.

I'd say it's definitely a shock to the system going from a non-closed loop system to closed-loop but do also bare in mind I went from poor control and a HbA1c of 78 to a HbA1c now of around 48. What my experience didn't prepare me for was that due to a drastic shift in HbA1c I've ended up with retinopathy that still requires hospital appointments although no treatment although I'm sure you're probably not going to be in the same boat as I was with such poor control.

Closed-loop is great when it works but I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that it's an instant fix, whilst it is good in the long run it takes time to actually fine-tune all of your settings and for your insulin pump to "learn" you and what works for you, it is constantly updating what it knows about you based on the previous week of data. Some people do find their sensors don't always last the full 7 days, personally I have rarely had this issue. With the Guardian 4 you don't necessarily have to calibrate and generally, I don't but if I am having a low blood sugar/particularly high sugar I'll always double-check with a glucose monitor and calibrate at that time. I'm in range now for the most part and my last data over the last 3 months shows I am in range above 70% of the time which is what I was always told to aim for and usually 1% or less of lows. My consultant appointments at the hospital are now down to once every year due to how good my control is.

Previous to the Guardian 4 I was on Libre 2 and the difference in experience is shocking, I found the Libre to be extremely inaccurate and I am very happy with Medtronic/G4 Closed-loop.
 
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