The choice has been made, My Animas Vibe w/ Dexcom Ships Tomorrow

EDIT - My Animas Vibe + Dexcom G4 System have arrived! I have uploaded my unboxing video on my YouTube Channel here:
www.youtube.com/diamattic

(For anyone who cares to see what the send you these days!)


Back in March, my Endocrinologist told me I should start looking for an insulin pump.

I sat down with the Omnipod rep, the Animas rep, and the Medtronic rep. I got price lists from all them, i made spreadsheets to analyze the yearly and 4 year totals of my top 2 choices (Medtronic 554G and Animas Vibe) and thought long and hard about what is best for me, what seems to be the most reliable to me, and what is the most cost effective.

My conclusion was that i should order an Animas Vibe with the Dexcom system.

I plan on making a detailed Youtube Video that covers my entire thought process and the numbers i had to work with but long story short -

In Canada we are still 2-3 years away from the Medtronic 640G, so my only option was the 554G/754G w/ Enlite system vs Animas vibe w/ Dexcom G4. Based on all the published prices (that i was given) and the lifespans of everything (sensors, transmitters, infusion sets, reservoirs, etc) EVEN including all of the discounts i was offered by both companies, the medtronic 554G would be cheaper.

HOWEVER, if you re-assess using the same prices but with average user reported life spans of everything, the Animas comes in thousands of dollars cheaper after 4 years, and even cheaper after 5.

I did notice that the initial first year cost of the Animas system was more expensive due to some discounts Medtronic was offering, but after the 2nd year things switched.

Also, its seems that the Dexcom system is almost universally regarded as being more accurate and dependable (at least from what i could find. In fact my own system told me she had to stop using her Medtronic CGM due to it being horridly off)

If i take the CGM out of the equition and assess a pump vs pump, the both, oddly, cost exactly the same per year. and both have the same specs, with the exception of waterproofing on the Animas, and the differences in the screen/ OS (which i don't care about.. I have no issue with more button pushes, or a ****** screen if it means a better pump..)

All of this together, pointed me towards the Animas w/ dexcom. I am happy to say that I spoke with my Dr. last Thursday and Animas is shipping me all my goodies this week! Sadly, i was told I have to attend a 'Pump Start' which occurs over the course of 1 Month and until that concludes I will only be pumping saline... So i get it, but can't use it for a few weeks lol

Oh well!

I will keep you posted with any new videos that i put up on the subject. Or if anyone has questions post in here!

lol Well yes i COULD put insulin in them. But I am not that rebellious, at least i wont be right away. Maybe after the first day or two...

Thank you @Spiker

The first assumption i made was - Both the Medtronic and the Animas must be top notch systems, otherwise they wouldn't be the market leaders. But as soon as you make that, it pretty much evens the playing field.

The Second assumption i made was - The published data from both companies has to be right, and the user experiences from both companies cannot be ignored.

Which means (based on the publications from both companies) that they both have equally reliable systems, sensors, and algorithms, but some issues may arise for some users and not others. Which seemed like strike #1 for Medtronic - They had much more negative reviews, and a newer system (enhanced enlite just released) which means they claim its way better, but its not as proven.

Doing a quick numbers analysis for prices in my area was strike #2 - Medtronic has a much cheaper start up cost (which is likely how they get people to pick them) but over the next 3 years of use its all down hill.

I did however like the look and feel of the Enhanced Enlite transmitter MUCH more then Dexcom, its so small, and flat, and very nicely curved.

I was told by Animas that Animas has something like 52% of the market in new pump systems, but then Medtronic told me Medtronic has over 80% of the market and it got me thinking - Who is lying to me?

When i looked into it i found many doctors don't even give their patient a choice, they simply say "If you want a pump, you get this Medtronic Veo with Enlite" - Which is what happened with my sister and her doctor who "Only prescribes the best" and i remembered reading on here that Doctors seem to do this because the reporting software Medtronic uses integrates everything into a single report and presents it very clean, and clear for Doctors. So of course doctors want Medtronic! It makes their job so much easier, but they don't have to live with the actual system attached to them.

That was strike #3 - I don't like that doctors are making choices for patients like that based on the reporting tools included, it seems lazy to me.

paulioajordio said:

Have you funded this yourself or some other means? I really want a CGM / pump but am unsure how to get one?

Your help will be appreciated!

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Hey @paulioajordio! I should start out by mentioning that I am in Canada, not the UK.

But to answer your question - I am self funding my Dexcom G4, but the Animas Vibe is covered under my provinces assisted devices program which pays for the entire cost of the pump, as well as much of the annual cost of supplies.

If you wanted either, I am sure you can just call Animas and ask them. They will likely invite you to sit down with a rep and go over everything and probably who to contact in terms of a Dexcom system.

CarbsRok said:

Lol dream on, they don't do things like that in the UK
Reps will not do home visits in the UK. Animas would not tell anyone that Advanced T supply the stand alone system either as obviously not in their interest.

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That sucks!

In Canada Animas is sole distributor of Dexcom, so anyone who wants a G4 has to buy it from Animas. I guess that is not the case in the UK :/

Also, there website is full of 'contact us' links. So at least for the insulin pumps someone should be able to call animas and inquire.

EDIT - The rep didn't meet me at home..... we met at the coffee shop around the corner where she bought me coffee and a snack and we talked about the Vibe +Dexcom for 1.5 hours lol

Spiker said:

Now that's what I call service!

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I thought that was just what companies were supposed to do if they want you to buy their product lol Omnipod, and Medtronic all met me as well at various coffee places / restaurants on their dime, at like 7pm at night! These things are so much money i would think that the companies would be fighting for our choice!