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Which insulin pump?

K

kirstymack

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hey guys looking for some peoples personal experiences with insulin pumps! Hopefully getting a insulin pump in the next few weeks. Been offered a Medtronic or animas insulin pump. I have read up on both but still not sure which one I'd prefer can anyone recommend or advise? Id really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance
Kirsty xxx
 
Hi @kirstymack I use the Medtronic 640g and have found it to be a great pump, selecting the right cannulas is important, I started on the Mio sets which I didn't agree with, they are plastic cannulas and I reacted to the plastic, so opted for the sure-t set which is steel and much easier to insert. There's some good features on the 640g, it's waterproof and you can set up different basal settings depending on what your activity is like, which would be similar to the animas, you can download your results onto Carelink which your DSN can look at, which helps with getting the ratios right. You can purchase the CGM for the 640g but it's fairly expensive however useful if you want an integrated CGM/Pump system as it has a facility to switch off insulin supply if you drop below a preset BG level. I would suggest looking at youtube as people tend to post on there videos of their pump which is useful for research. I haven't used anything else so cannot really compare but i've been over the moon with it. Tagging @himtoo for Animas input :)
 
I have had an Animas Vibe for the last 18 months. It was chosen because ... I had no choice: Animas or MDI.
I can't compare my experience on the Animas with any other pump but the pump is easy to use (it was initially set up by my diabetes nurse but i quickly learnt how to tweak it myself), the sets are quick to change once you get the hang of it; it is one of the smallest available (except the Omnipod) which is important for me, customer service from Animas is faultless from replacing a damaged pump within 24 hours to shipping supplies within 48 hours and providing a loaner pump when I go away and the Vibe acts as a receiver for the Dexcom G4 which I use occasionally (it's too expensive to use all the time).
On the negative side, it is ugly ... but they all seem to be ... and the user interface is old fashioned: along the same lines as the early Nokia phones (without the Snake game).
 
No advice to offer on either of those I'm afraid @kirstymack , but I did just want to give you a huge 'yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!' for the start of your pumping journey!

I LOVE having a pump! I've found it absolutely amazing.

:)
 
hi there @kirstymack
welcome to the forum !!:)

@Juicyj tagged me to reply about the Animas pump -- unfortunately I use the omnipod so have no experience of Animas.

Getting a pump has been fantastic for me so no matter which you go for I am sure you will find it rewarding in your Diabetes management !!

all the best !!
 
I have the Animas Vibe :) After I rejecteed the Insight pump, I had the choice of the Vibe or the Medtronic.

It's an individual choice and you need to choose what suits YOU. Google for reviews, make lists of pros and cons, and watch videos on YouTube to get an idea. Also, handle both pumps if you can.

I went for the Anaimas Vibe over the Medtronic for three main reasons -

1) The Animas Vibe supports Dexcom which I think is a better CGM than the Medtronic one

2) The Vibe clip is stronger than the Medtronic. I looked at lots of reviews and a weak clip kept coming up time and time again. I couldn't risk that. It sounds a small thing but it makes a big difference to daily life to have a sturdy clip.

3) I much prefer having the sideways screen of the Vibe and it works better for my daily life. All my old pumps had this and I prefer it.

If you look through the pump section here, you'll find lots of reviews of both pumps.

Here's a brief one I wrote about the Vibe:

I love my Vibe because it's very robust, reliable, supports Dexcom CGM, has tiny basal increments, has a long battery life, is waterproof, has a really good choice of sets and cannulas that are Luer lock (ie universal rather than brand specific).

I've had my Vibe just under two years, and I've never had any problems with it :) It's tough and reliable, and very intuitive to use. I love it :)


Good luck!
 
I use the vibe, and love it. I haven't tried any other pumps so am unable to compare, but would definitely choose the vibe again, particularly because of the integration with the dexcom. There is one negative with the dexcom which is quite frustrating, and that is the screen is very difficult to read in bright sunlight. Is it a show stopper for me? No, but it is a frustration at times.
 
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