Hi,
I have the 640g in the UK and have used the Vibe and Dexcom G4.
The Dexcom is the better sensor by design as is less prone to failure, always lasted longer, not much in it in with regards to accuracy with the new “enhanced” enlites and MARD scores between them and Dex 5 to be honest, but the enlites are just not as reliable and don’t seem to last as long. You really have to know the kit well and calibrate carefully to have long time success with the 640g system.
I don’t particularly think highly of either pump, they are both clunky and ill thought out in design. Personally I’d look else where at the TSLIM or something and get a stand alone Dex. The build quality of the 640g is also of a much lower standard than previous medtronic kit. It’s also a brick of a pump!
The animas vibe and 630/640 are several years old, how long are you locked into pump ownership for with your insurance? As it may be worth holding out as I know animas are working on something new and the 670g isn’t far off.
Key things for me now pump wise are the design and actual usability of the pump on a daily basis, the size and user interface.
CGM Dex G5 and a smart phone all the way for CGM.
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My understanding is my insurance covers the pump outright, and then I can get a new one in four years time. And so forth each four years. So whether it’s worth waiting a bit longer for some of the newer models that are coming out.
I’m a big fan of the interface of the Tslim, unfortunately. like a few diabetes technologies, it’s not actually available in Australia yet.
I’m still on the fence about whether to move from MDI to a pump. My control overall is quite good, so I don’t see a pump making that any better; I see it as giving me a bit more freedom in terms of ease of giving insulin versus sitting down to bolus and lifting up my shirt etc. Can be a bit awkward at times.
Hi,
Yes similar here in the UK, you are locked into a four year cycle.
So last time I held onto a pump longer so I could get the 640g. I wanted to try medtronic, but I’ve had to admit I’ve not been as impressed as I thought I would be.
I’m no whinging, do feel extremely privileged to have access to this technology, but it’s not without its hassles.
Best bit of kit for me in a long time was the Abbot freestyle Libre. Cheap and as accurate as the Decxcom. I believe I could also get excellent control employing that and a standard basal bolus regime with syringes.
I’m actually toying with this idea of going on a pump vacation due to issues with infusion sets/DKA etc.
Then there is the scar tissue issue, the catching of infusion sets on doors handles, the constant CGM alarms that you have to get your head round, all the extra kit you have to carry etc.
Australia? The beach and sea for me are a huge pain in the arse with a pump.
I found pump therapy extremely useful in educating me about diabetes and CGM and real time access to BG has been invaluable, but I do believe with the knowledge these tools have given me over the last 6/7 years I could get the same control of my diabetes as I could with standard injections.
The technology has come at a cost for me as diabetes is much more omnipresent in my life and consumes much more of my day due to CGM data, infusion sets.
It is at times too much but it helps to give the feel (or illusion) that you’re always in total control and minimising long term implications.
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Interesting about the Abbot, I recently invested in a Dexcom G5, but haven’t been able to keep it running as it was going to cost me too much. What I should say is, I am in the lucky position where I could actually afford it, but I didn’t see the cost vs benefit being worth it and it would have meant making other sacrifices in my life. Perhaps if I had it running for a year I’d see a distinct improvement, as I guess it’s like anything with diabetes and you learn to work with it to get better control.
Perhaps I should look into the Abbott libre.
Having said that it was an amazing piece of technology, and I see myself getting more sensors and transmitters when I travel etc.
Yeah, the whole swimming thing really throws me off with the pump; I’m not really sure how it would work with that side of things.
