Rick,
Speaking of supplies, several pump wearers have commented on the infusion sets which I know nothing about and I hear how MM doesn’t use anything but their own and you can’t use LuerLocks, etc. so not having experienced that as yet, how important are the different type infusion sets? Don’t they all do the same thing but maybe just apply to your body differently or what is the biggest difference? I’d love to have the CGM but Medicare is all I have thru my disability so they don’t do that yet.
Thanks,
Karla
Animas is a very good company i think
i HAVE HAD A MM FOR ALMOST 12 YRS GOOD PUMP GOOD COMPANY MY ONLY PROBLEM IS I HA VE SOME CLOGGING ISSUES I AM NOT SURE IF THATS BC OF THE PUMP OR INSULIN BOT I HIGHLY RECOMEND MM
I really like the data base for carbs so I plan to look at this pump. Thanks
From what I’ve heard on this thread, any of them can clog from time to time. Have you called Medtronic to ask about it?
Thanks…
Mini Med by Medtronics is a great pump, I love the Dual and Square wave bolus feature. I have been a Diabetic for 5 years and have never had better control than I do now. The Customer Support team at MedTronics is great to.
Smiths is not manufacturing the Cozmo any longer… Sorry!!
I am considering going on a pump after 37 years of MDI with no problems with any of the usual complications. My endo sent me to a nurse specialist to determine my fitness for a pump. Since I am 63, I would go on Medicare in 2 years.
I did the 3 day trial with the Pod and hated it! The educator told me that Medicare would only approve the Medtronics pumps and supplies! While it is not an immediate concern since our insurance covers 100% of whatever I choose (even the Pod). What I am concerned about is that Medicare will not cover my eventual replacement pump and until then the supplies for any pump I choose except Medtronics. The Medtronics pump will NOT work for me. It is not waterproof as is the Animas. The waterproof feature is an absolute must for me. We sail long distances in the summer and I get SOAKED frequently - 12 foot seas tend to do that! In addition, I’ve gone over either accidently or to get someone and our dinghy rides can get really wet in the rain and seas.
Does anyone know if the nurse is correct and Medicare will only approve the Medtronics pump and supplies? If that’s it, then I stay on the MDI. I cannot afford to get a pump wet and have the manufacturer deny warranty coverage leaving the replacement cost up to me. I also do not want to spend my days constantly worrying about the pump when I am around the water.
Update!
I talked to the Animas rep and he told me that Medicare DID cover their pump and supplies. I then called Medicare and they told me that if I qualified for the pump they would cover ANY brand of pump and ANY brand of supplies.
Called my nurse educator and told her the above. She called a “supplier” and they confirmed that ANY brand was covered. Her original story made no sense to me. J&J owns Adimas and there is no way they would cede the whole Medicare market to Medtronics - it’s just too much $ to forego!
Tom,
While MM does not sell as ‘waterproof’ it is actually just as watertight(same standard and everything) as the Cozmo and the Animas. They stopped selling it as waterproof as they can’t guarantee against hairline cracks that ‘voids’ that waterproof claim (read the fine lines of Animas, and you will see them state that).
Here is a better explanation on it:
http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/watertight.html
Don’t let the watertight thing scare you away from the MM if it is the only pump you can get.
Agreed, I had the first paradigm model in the line (511) when it was released and I swam with it often before they decided it wasn’t waterproof and started telling users not to submerge it - but I never had any problem or error that was related to water. I think I had about every other problem with that pump possible, but MM always replaced them without any trouble, and I don’t think they even asked me if it had been in water or anything - they even couriered one to me over a holiday weekend when I was pregnant and had a pump failure - I had a new pump in something like 7 hours from my call… on a Saturday!
Hi Tom,
I’m glad you got an answer as I’ve been offline for a couple of days but would have told you what you found for yourself. I have Medicare thru my disability and it’s all I have. They absolutely will let YOU choose which pump you want but I was told yesterday they don’t cover the Omnipod. If you look into this thread a few posts back, you’ll see a link to some complaints on Omnipod but since you hated it I suppose it doesn’t matter. Of all the pumps, I’ve read several posts about occlusions of the Omnipod. I just qualified with Medicare and am looking at the MM and the Animas. I had liked the features of the Cozmo but they are no longer making pumps so it’s a moot point I guess. Good luck with either way you go. If you like what you are doing and have good control, I’d stick with it.
Karla
I tried the MiniMed Paradigm 522 for 3 months - and then the Animas 2020. I chose the Animas over the Minimed because of customer support. I found Animas here in Canada to be better then MiniMed. It was more like I was talking to a someone I knew, e.g. a friend - plus a few of the staff that work there are pump wearers themselves. I also liked the screen for visibility as I’m no spring chicken anymore . I also do abit of water sports - so it’s another bonus for me. The luer lock is also a good - as I can use other infusion sets from different companies if I want. Hope you get to see a few of the various pumps out there before you decide on the one you want. It took me almost 4 years to take the plunge by experimenting with MDI using the Pumping Insulin book by Walsh & Roberts - then I started to get serious about purchasing a pump based on my own opinion.
Hi Sarah, so do you shower with your MM all the time or just swim? Just interested since I’m getting ready to make a choice.
Thanks,
Karla
For years upon years Doctors and my family have begged me to start on insulin pump therapy, however I would never do it quite simply for the fact that I did not want to be “hooked up” to anything ALL the time, however a few years back one of my dr’s told me about the Omni Pod, it was not available in IA at the time so I told them I was holding out for it. I now have it and my life has been sooo much easier! I really like it and suggest that it is really worth checking out!
I have the medtronic minimed, its really easy to use and has a bolus wizard so that you dont have to convert carbo’s to exchanges… it does it automatically which is really good
i recommend it!
but really its just up to you 
Karla
My background: T1 (40 yrs), never pumped (Lantus /Humalog)
I recently got the dexcom seven+ and now am in the process of deciding on “the pump”.
My research has led me to the following:
Personal preference is ulitimately going to your deciding factor.
I’ve got the new Omnipod on order.
They say I should recieve it in June. I’ll report on my real-time progress at that time
The issues with this product are well documented, but the tubeless/wireless feature was the deal maker.
If it works as claimed , I"ll keep it, but if not I’ll probably try the Animas Ping next.
Omnipod/Insulet and Animas both claim to be working with dexcom so somewhere down the road there should be the ability to talk between these two devices.(pump & CGM)
We to have to wait and see.
So depending on your insurance coverage and your research, go with your decision and try them all.
Good Luck…
Thanks Alesha, my demo kit is on the way. I’m checking out all the major pumps before deciding.
Sophie, does this mean with other pumps you have to convert the carbs you eat into standard diabetes exchanges and input that for your pump to know bolus size? Remember, I have yet to see or have a demo of pumps. My first one is next week so I’m still kind of ignorant of pumps other than the research I’ve done.
Fred, I agree with the personal preference as this whole thread shows that to be the bottom line. Individual lifestyle is what seems to make the final decision. My lifestyle at this point is such, that I can probably make my decision based on pump features that seem the easiest for me and especially on support as that is most important to me. I live in a very small town and don’t want to have to drive to a city if I have a problem. I want to know the support will be there or will be heading to a Fed Ex drop if I have a problem. I want to know that someone will call me if it’s the middle of the night and my pump fails. I appreciate your input and wish you luck with the Omnipod. I have a demo kit on the way. I’m aware of all the occlusion problems also. As for me, the tubing doesn’t matter that much. You are very lucky to be able to get the CGM. It has become my belief that all diabetics who can’t change their disease with diet alone, need to be able to have CGM and a pump provided by their insurance without question. It’s the healthiest way. I have to rely on Medicare and right now they don’t do CGM. I’m sure eventually they will give in and I’ll be at the head of the line if I’m around. Best of luck with your CGM and pump.
