Having started this thread wondering what people's experiences were with the combination of Medtronic 780g pump and Guardian 4 I thought I had best include some information and my initial thoughts having been set up last Monday (a week and a bit ago). Hopefully someone will find it useful.
So the 780g is almost an exact replica of my previous 640g when not using any of the additional features. It's the same size, same weight (although not checked), still runs off a AA battery. The buttons and symbols are slightly different and perhaps a little easier to navigate but ultimately identical.
Firstly a little note on the consumables... I had been using the mini med quick set and after being ordered the Mio Advanced I am converted!! Gone are the rather clunky inserters with the Mio being a single use inserter (admittedly not great for the environment) the connection to the cannula is smaller with no sharp edges to cut my fingers open with. The reservoirs remain the same. For anyone reading who usually uses the quick sets, I would.l suggest giving the others a go if you can.
So down to the Guardian 4. It is a bit fiddley to insert as there are two parts the transmitter and the sensor. When inserted there is a considerable amount of tape to hold it in place making it quite clinical looking compared to the libre (I am considering buying some funky tape). It also only lasts 7 days before it needs changed. Before a new sensor is inserted the transmitter needs charged for approximately 20 minutes and once started it takes two hours to warm up. However once up and running it will read your bloods every 5 minutes with no need to scan, when using the app you can see the graph, otherwise the readings are available on you pump home screen. When bolusing you will have to include your glucose reading separate (either by using the sensor glucose or monitor) before the wizard can do it's part. A very useful function is suspension of your insulin when your CGM records a downwards trend heading towards a hypo, I noticed it stop a few hypos. This, I have recently noticed is not available in Smart Guard
Now the Holy Grail that is SmartGuard. Once you have worn your sensor for the very first 48 hours after your first midnight (does that make sense?) you can activate SmartGuard. Visually this will change your home screen on your pump to a shield with your SG reading. Since using it I've found my time in target to be typically around 80% (I'm heading to 48 hours at 100%!). On a perfect day you only need to use your pump for bolus and to set a temp target (replacement for temp basal), you can also use your SG when doing a bolus in this mode. Admittedly it hasn't all been plain sailing, my sensor failed on day 6 so required an early change, then that night my pump alerted me to 18 separate alarms which at times meant I had to do blood glucose checks due to calibrations, inaccurate readings, failed calibrations etc. I did have a moment of it feeling too good to have been true but it's behaved itself since and now feels like a small price to pay for the advantages it's giving me.
Last but not least... The app. Now I really wish you could submit boluses through the app but alas, this still needs to go though the pump. You also need to clear any alerts through the pump which can be a bit of a nuisance. The app does however link to your Medtronic account and uploads your data once a day automatically meaning one other less thing you have to do!
Overall, although there are a few annoyances I have found the set up life changing. After years of feeling like a failure for not achieving optimal HbA1cs and a consistent undercurrent of guilt for not being a 'good' diabetic this has given me the confidence and support to hopefully improve my health.
Michelle x
