First let me just say I had no idea trying to search in TuDiabetes was so difficult!!!
I feel like I’m jumping into the pool late. I got an email from Medtronic that my warrenty is about over and that I should look at the 770 pump, I looked at their comparison screen. Looks like the only update between pumps is being able to look at your data on your phone and being able to do updates. Oh and ANOTHER Blood Sugar machine…great.
What I really want to know is did they fix any of the ridiculous alarms? Like when you’re going high, and it tells you 3 different ways in alarms that is happening. OR when you stop your insulin and when you go to restart it, its first choice is NO. (really?)
Or how about when you’re refilling the pump and forget the last step…does it alarm for that now? I went 3 hours once without insulin because I forgot that last “done”.
I’m sure there are other stupid things my pump does but I can’t think of them right now,
Anyway if someone could let me know if any of these annoyances have been fixed, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks,
Sam
I’ve been using the 770 for the last year & a half or so. I was using the 670 before that. I have used both in manual mode because I don’t like auto mode, so some of your issues might not have come up for me.
I can’t recall what the last step of filling a new reservoir is. I think I run in automatic when I do that but I personally don’t forget any steps, so I don’t know what type of alerts it gives. I do know that when you suspend delivery it does default to NO when both suspending & resuming. I’m not sure why that’s a big deal.
A lot of people claim that the sensors are “more accurate” with the 770g Bluetooth transmitter. The sensors are exactly the same, it’s only the transmitter that’s different. The sensors work great for me both on the 670 and 770. The bluetooth transmitter allows you to see your numbers on a phone. For me, that’s been a good thing because I look at my numbers more and have actually improved my time in range. I also downloaded a third party app so I can see my numbers on my Apple Watch. That third party app also allows me to choose different alarm sounds. The official App just plays a “ding” sound on the phone and that doesn’t wake me up. The other app does, for sure.
The most important feature of the 770 is that you will be able to do wireless software upgrades. When the FDA finally approves the 780, you will be able to upgrade your pump without needing to get new hardware. No mailing your old pump back to Medtronic to get a new one.
No matter what pump you get, you will feel like you should have waited for the next generation.
I would consider the big 3. Medtronic, Tandem and omnipod.
Whatever they have currently will be good.
As a person who used the 670 and then the 770 for five years, I would say wait, unless they give you a guaranteed update. It is close and it will be better in my opinion.
I use tandem now, my upgrade time was in march and i went with the tandem, in large part because of the delay I saw in the release of the 780. Likely had the 780 been available I would have stuck with MedT.
Oh and for the record i love my tandem pump. But i still would have gone with the 780 MedT
If I had a pump leaving warranty coverage that had been reliable, it didn’t have a degrading non-replaceable battery, and I could live with its annoyances, unless there was a financial reason like a substantial discount, or insurance was completely paying for it, I’d wait until at least next summer before replacing it.
For me the other consideration is the weakest part of the system - the CGM. There are multiple trials happening now of non-invasive continuous blood glucose, not interstitial glucose, monitors. I’d be reluctant to make four or five year investment in any AID system that was 100 proprietary from one company.
God, I remember that one. Fell for it time and again. Then I finally put the darn 670 back in the box it came in and went back to my old Paradigm pager-style dumb pump. Which I’m still using–must be 8 yrs old by now. But reliable, relatively simple, and so what if my Dexcom isn’t integrated with it.
I’m a creature of habit. So will most likely stay with Medtronic. But if none of my issues with my current pump haven’t been resolved, then why bother upgrading.
You will likely run into different issues and solve others.
I was on a Medtronic pump for a lot of years. I hated the cgm and when it was time for a new pump I switched to tandem.
It was shiny new and the interface was awesome. However the insulin cartridges are a real pain to get used to.
I really liked my old paradigm pump except for the sensors.
Now I’m used to the tandem and the new pump comin out will have a cartridge similar to the Medtronic.
I especially like the algorithm and compatibility with dexcom.
I would only switch back if Medtronic came out with something totally new and innovative that I can’t get with tandem.
So I let the sales gal talk me into the 770 pump. In case anyone else was wondering, it didn’t resolve any of the annoying alarms. It’s exactly the same as the 670 except it can hook up with Bluetooth. It has a new transmitter but uses the same sensors.
Supposedly I’ll be able to update to the 780 if/when it gets approved. One can only hope the ridiculous repetitive alarms go away at that time.
I’ll be looking into switching from Medtronic next year since my insurance made changes to how pumps & CGMs are covered. You mention a new Tandem pump coming out - has that been announced or is it just a “sometime in the future” thing? Medtronic may have its issues but filling a reservoir is super easy. The Tandem cartridges look like they’re really fussy and I’m already annoyed by them even though I’ve never used a Tandem pump!
Tandem: my approach is suck any air out, inject insulin in sufficient for three or four days (150 units in my case) and prime the line (eg waste 11.5 units).
It takes a couple minutes. Plus infusion site change.
It’s through with development and clinical trials. It was submitted for FDA review about a month ago. It could take 3-6 months to receive authorization. We’re expecting it to be available for purchase mid-2023. It’s already in production and being used by the Tandem “family”, so they’re ready to launch when the approval comes through, except any training.
We don’t actually KNOW, it’s got the same sort of reservoir as Medtronic, but we think it does. It looks like it, and Tandem and Medtronic entered into a patent-sharing agreement during it’s development, which presumably had something to do with the cartridge/reservoir.
Oh yes, I had seen a picture of that weird pump before. It’s like a hybrid of a patch pump and tubed pump. I’d prefer a regular Tandem pump but with an easier to use cartridge.
Yeah, I don’t think that’s in the works. The upcoming X3 doesn’t look any different cartridge-wise. But there isn’t much talk about that one yet, so who knows.
