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Pump options

kimrooney89

kimrooney89

Well-Known Member
Messages
201
Location
Glasgow
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Liars
Hi all,

After a meeting with my consultant last Friday, she suggested pump therapy would be the best next step for me due to DP and insulin resistance...

I'm now on the waiting list to do the Adapt course (did do DAFNE 10 years ago) and I'm also on the waiting list for a pump. According to my consultant the NHS in Scotland is being allocated funding for pumps in the near future.

I was just wondering which pumps you guys use and the pros and cons of your pump?

I know I can find information online, I have read the basics but also wanted a first hand account and opinion :) I'm also aware I'll probably have a lengthy wait for a pump but at least I'm on the waiting list now after 11 years of fighting.

Thanks in advance
 
I have the Animas Vibe pump and I love it :)

It's robust (really important with young children!), waterproof, intuitive to use, has a wide variety of sets and cannulas, has a proper 'sideways' screen not the weird upright screen that a few pumps have, looks good, feels nice in the hand, and has been hassle-free :)

The only con is the screen is hard to see in sunlight but that's the same for most other pumps.

I had the Insight before the Vibe but hated it with a passion, so I'm very glad I was able to swap to the Vibe.

I'm also hoping to get the Dexcom next time it's on offer, and the fact that will be compatible with my pump is excellent.

I've been pumping 13 years :)
 
azure said:
I have the Animas Vibe pump and I love it :)

It's robust (really important with young children!), waterproof, intuitive to use, has a wide variety of sets and cannulas, has a proper 'sideways' screen not the weird upright screen that a few pumps have, looks good, feels nice in the hand, and has been hassle-free :)

The only con is the screen is hard to see in sunlight but that's the same for most other pumps.

I had the Insight before the Vibe but hated it with a passion, so I'm very glad I was able to swap to the Vibe.

I'm also hoping to get the Dexcom next time it's on offer, and the fact that will be compatible with my pump is excellent.

I've been pumping 13 years :)
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Thanks so much @azure, all the information you've given is very insightful and helpful.

Animas Vibe definitely sounds like it could be a good choice for me :)
 
@kimrooney89

The Vibe is good in many ways but dreadful in others. The menu screen is LCD with flashing yellow text that's not that big and is dreadful to see in outdoor sunlight. I tend to use a long tube with it so that I can keep the pump in a zipped compartment at the back of a satchel type handbag and that enables me to do a bolus in the darkness of my bag and out of sunlight. The Vibe is very much reliant on broadband access unless a bg monitoring diary is used tolog carb eaten, bg levels, bolus and basal etc. The cartridges are easy to fill and express any air bubbles and the infusion sets are ok. My main reason for getting the Vibe was because it was a cheaper way to use cgm Dexcom G4 but things have moved on a bit for me now and I use the G5 on a mobile phone screen which is much better to see than the tiny square Vibe window. If I had known about the screen daylight visability issue, I don't think I would have chosen it.
 
kimrooney89 said:
Hi all,

After a meeting with my consultant last Friday, she suggested pump therapy would be the best next step for me due to DP and insulin resistance...

I'm now on the waiting list to do the Adapt course (did do DAFNE 10 years ago) and I'm also on the waiting list for a pump. According to my consultant the NHS in Scotland is being allocated funding for pumps in the near future.

I was just wondering which pumps you guys use and the pros and cons of your pump?

I know I can find information online, I have read the basics but also wanted a first hand account and opinion :) I'm also aware I'll probably have a lengthy wait for a pump but at least I'm on the waiting list now after 11 years of fighting.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
There has been a pledge from the Scottish government of £10m to fund extra pumps in Scotland, and more importantly make pumps more accessible.

You can see from the below link just how terrible our current pump usage statistics are. But you can also see the expected targets which have been set too:

http://www.ipagscotland.org/images/pdf/cel2012_04.pdf

Pump therapy was a also a suggestion for me at my last clinic appointment and I'm excited for my next one in less than three weeks:) Since then I've spent a lot of time reading (and watching) various insulin pump reviews. Ultimately, I focused on the 640G and the Vibe as that's what my Clinic offer. Weighing up the two (without firsthand experience) I feel that I'd be much better suited to the Vibe, for the following couple of reasons:

-Looks. Well, it's important isn't it? Not only does it look better than the 640G, it has the CORRECT orientation when clipped on your waistband or belt. That's a game changer in terms of its visual impact and also simply glancing at the screen.

-G4 CGM integration. These sensors can be typically used for around 3 weeks, and the transmitter has a lifespan of circa 14 months. That makes running costs more or less on par with the Libre, which a lot of us can budget for. The 640G CGM is simply far too overpriced and something I couldn't possibly afford.

Although the 640G is newer, it's advanced functions are only use accessible when used in conjunction with the expensive CGM. So unless you're spending the money, it offers nothing more than the Vibe as far as I'm aware...

The way I see it, is that every pump model will have its niggles. At the end of the day, it's fairly ugly and primitive tech compared with the high end consumer electronics that we are used to using on a daily basis. No pump will be truly bad and I'd say that all will offer benefits over MDI - that's the main thing:)

iHs said:
@kimrooney89The Vibe is very much reliant on broadband access unless a bg monitoring diary is used tolog carb eaten, bg levels, bolus and basal etc.
Click to expand...

Hello @iHs:) Can I please ask you to elaborate on what you mean by this? I'm not sure I've heard of this problem.
 
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iHs said:
@kimrooney89

The Vibe is good in many ways but dreadful in others. The menu screen is LCD with flashing yellow text that's not that big and is dreadful to see in outdoor sunlight. I tend to use a long tube with it so that I can keep the pump in a zipped compartment at the back of a satchel type handbag and that enables me to do a bolus in the darkness of my bag and out of sunlight. The Vibe is very much reliant on broadband access unless a bg monitoring diary is used tolog carb eaten, bg levels, bolus and basal etc. The cartridges are easy to fill and express any air bubbles and the infusion sets are ok. My main reason for getting the Vibe was because it was a cheaper way to use cgm Dexcom G4 but things have moved on a bit for me now and I use the G5 on a mobile phone screen which is much better to see than the tiny square Vibe window. If I had known about the screen daylight visability issue, I don't think I would have chosen it.
Click to expand...
@iHs thank you very much for that information...it can be a bit overwhelming researching the numerous types of pump so I appreciate your reply :)
 
GrantGam said:
There has been a pledge from the Scottish government of £10m to fund extra pumps in Scotland, and more importantly make pumps more accessible.

You can see from the below link just how terrible our current pump usage statistics are. But you can also see the expected targets which have been set too:

http://www.ipagscotland.org/images/pdf/cel2012_04.pdf

Pump therapy was a also a suggestion for me at my last clinic appointment and I'm excited for my next one in less than three weeks:) Since then I've spent a lot of time reading (and watching) various insulin pump reviews. Ultimately, I focused on the 640G and the Vibe as that's what my Clinic offer. Weighing up the two (without firsthand experience) I feel that I'd be much better suited to the Vibe, for the following couple of reasons:

-Looks. Well, it's important isn't it? Not only does it look better than the 640G, it has the CORRECT orientation when clipped on your waistband or belt. That's a game changer in terms of its visual impact and also simply glancing at the screen.

-G4 CGM integration. These sensors can be typically used for around 3 weeks, and the transmitter has a lifespan of circa 14 months. That makes running costs more or less on par with the Libre, which a lot of us can budget for. The 640G CGM is simply far too overpriced and something I couldn't possibly afford.

Although the 640G is newer, it's advanced functions are only use accessible when used in conjunction with the expensive CGM. So unless you're spending the money, it offers nothing more than the Vibe as far as I'm aware...

The way I see it, is that every pump model will have its niggles. At the end of the day, it's fairly ugly and primitive tech compared with the high end consumer electronics that we are used to using on a daily basis. No pump will be truly bad and I'd say that all will offer benefits over MDI - that's the main thing:)



Hello @iHs:) Can I please ask you to elaborate on what you mean by this? I'm not sure I've heard of this problem.
Click to expand...
Thanks @GrantGam! I spent last night watching videos of various types of pump, how they're fitted etc etc. I have to say the Vibe still looks like the most suitable pump for me.

I don't think any pump is going to be 100% perfect for every user but to me it'll be a vast improvement for my diabetes and getting some control back especially with the DP and insulin resistance.

My next clinic appointment is on April 21st with my DSN...I'm hoping to get a wee update on things when I'm there as the consultant surprised me by suggesting pump therapy for me. I was taken aback when she said she was going to put me on the waiting list so i never even asked which pumps they offer, I just nodded vigorously haha.

Pump therapy has never been an option for me over the past 11 years, I was diagnosed at 17 and always advised by my team that pumps were limited and normally given to younger children to improve their quality of life...BUT at least we're making progress now :)
 
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kimrooney89 said:
Thanks @GrantGam! I spent last night watching videos of various types of pump, how they're fitted etc etc. I have to say the Vibe still looks like the most suitable pump for me.

I don't think any pump is going to be 100% perfect for every user but to me it'll be a vast improvement for my diabetes and getting some control back especially with the DP and insulin resistance.

My next clinic appointment is on April 21st with my DSN...I'm hoping to get a wee update on things when I'm there as the consultant surprised me by suggesting pump therapy for me. I was taken aback when she said she was going to put me on the waiting list so i never even asked which pumps they offer, I just nodded vigorously haha.

Pump therapy has never been an option for me know the past 11 years, I was diagnosed at 17 and always advised by my team that pumps were limited and normally given to younger children to improve their quality of life...BUT at least we're making progress now :)
Click to expand...
No problem:)

Pumps appear to be the best tool we have when it comes to DP. The ability to set multiple basal rates over the 24 period certainly beats waking up a stupid o'clock in the morning for a bolus injection...

My appointment is on the 26th and I'm also hoping for good news. Like you, it was a suggestion made by the Dr and not myself. I didn't even entertain the idea because I don't meet much of the criteria, so like you I was pleasantly surprised with the referral!

Please let us know how you get on:) It's been 6 months since my initial referral and I'd imagine you're roughly the same? I hope it's good news for you!

Good luck @kimrooney89!
 
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GrantGam said:
No problem:)

Pumps appear to be the best tool we have when it comes to DP. The ability to set multiple basal rates over the 24 period certainly beats waking up a stupid o'clock in the morning for a bolus injection...

My appointment is on the 26th and I'm also hoping for good news. Like you, it was a suggestion made by the Dr and not myself. I didn't even entertain the idea because I don't meet much of the criteria, so like you I was pleasantly surprised with the referral!

Please let us know how you get on:) It's been 6 months since my initial referral and I'd imagine you're roughly the same? I hope it's good news for you!

Good luck @kimrooney89!
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Definitely! I cannot maintain a 3am check and a 5am check & correction every day. I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old as well as being a full time student...it leaves me exhausted!

Good luck at your appointment too, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's good news for you @GrantGam :) Keep me posted!
 
The Vibe has a history menu which will bring up the bolus doses and the times it was delivered but it won't log the bg test that was done or the carb that was eaten. The only way to see all this data together is by uploading to Diasend which needs a decent internet connection and a netbook or laptop with a usb socket to plug the uploader device in to or to use a bg meter with bolus wizard on it or use an app on phone to log bg levels, carb etc. Like @ azure, I tend to use a pump monitoring diary so I don't need to upload to Diasend.
 
iHs said:
The Vibe has a history menu which will bring up the bolus doses and the times it was delivered but it won't log the bg test that was done or the carb that was eaten. The only way to see all this data together is by uploading to Diasend which needs a decent internet connection and a netbook or laptop with a usb socket to plug the uploader device in to or to use a bg meter with bolus wizard on it or use an app on phone to log bg levels, carb etc. Like @ azure, I tend to use a pump monitoring diary so I don't need to upload to Diasend.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clearing that up for me @iHs.
I'm glad that all that information is still available free through Diasend though. But I can fully understand why someone without Internet actress would see this as a considerable issue.
 
I'm going to pop up here and stand up for the 640G. I much preferred it to the Vibe i was given a chance to play with. It sounds daft, but on a menu system, not having a "Back" button can drive you up the wall after a while. What you do get with the Vibe is fast insulin dosing and very small increments, neither of which was I bothered about, and Dexcom CGM. What you get with the 640G is the Medtronic CGM with SmartGuard, which is an amazing tool. I'll keep out of the CGM debate, but just mention that I've never had an issue with Enlites, although I know some do.

Size wise, the Vibe is smaller, and this may sway you, but also insulin use might be important. If you use a lot of insulin, the Vibe only has a 1.8ml reservoir compared to the 3ml in the 640G.

You can also set up the blood test meter of the 640G to administer remote boluses (without any bous wizard though) so that you don't need to dig the pump out, which you do with the Vibe. Some people find that feature useful too.

Your best bet is to pick them up and feel them, and get a feel for the menu systems. Seeing them on YouTube and hearing us talk about them is no substitute for properly handling these devices that will live with you for 4 years or so.

I also thought it was superior to the Combo, which I wrote about.
 
@tim2000s My Vibe has a back button - or rather a < symbol allowing me to move back to the previous screen. Were you talking about a particular action?
 
azure said:
@tim2000s My Vibe has a back button - or rather a < symbol allowing me to move back to the previous screen. Were you talking about a particular action?
Click to expand...
You have a "Back option in the menu" rather than back button, which means that to go back you have however many clicks it is to get to that. That was rather annoying for me...
 
Ah, ok :) There is a shortcut to the Menu which my DSN showed me, but I've never needed to use it so have forgotten what it is : D
 
okMenu which my DSN showed me, but I've never needed to use it so have forgotten what it is : D[/QUOTE]
4
I tend to let the Vibe switch itself off and then by pressing the OK button, I'm back to the home screen again so I don't tend to mess about navigating through the menu screens
 
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