Good Morning,
I wanted to share my thoughts on the 670G. I started with the T-slim about 1 1/2 years ago. Right after I started on the T-Slim (Taking 180 units per day) I figured out how much I absolutely hated having the tube and switched over to Omnipod with the Dexcom 4G. I then was able to upgrade the Dexcom to the 5G. I absolutely loved the freedom Omnipod gave me and the Dexcom was perfect. When the Medtronics 670G came out, I was fortunate enough to switch at the beginning of this year when the sensors came off back order. I changed over because I actually had the stomach sleeve and knew my insulin needs would be changing drastically. I did not want to worry about my BG dropping out at 3am (which it had been dropping to 40 at 3am). I am sad to say, after I tried for 6 months, I am changing back to the Dexcom 6G. I have had nothing but issues with the 670G. I have had to have the pumps replaced, the transmitter replaced, and at least 75% of the sensors did not work and had to be exchanged. When everything worked, which was not very often, it was great to let the pump do all the work- delivering micro boluses ever 5 minutes based on your CGM reading. However, the sensors in auto mode proved not to be very accurate, if they even worked. I also had issues where the pump would prompt me at all hours for a BG reading, which defeated the purpose of changing to that pump to do away with the 3am dropping of BG and waking up to an alarm. It would prompt for a BG if you were stable for 2 hours, if you were low, if you reached your max bolus for that segement, and a known issue of prompting after the pump ran diagnostics at 1am. I also must mention that the Medtronics has a hard coded limit of a target BG of 120. I like to keep my target at 100. I also found that the transmitter did not work in the pool. I even had the transmitter right on top of the pump and right at the surface if the water. The pump then complained that it could not find the signal and took about 20 min after getting out of the pool to sync back up. The dexcom worked when I went swimming. I would change back to my Omnipod, but because I was fortunate to have good insurance, I gave it to another type 1 that their insurance refused to cover one for them after trying to get it approved for over 1 year. I was paying it forward and no…I do not regret that decision at all.
I also want to mention 2 additional things. I am not sure who designed the inserter, but the taping of the sensor is ridiculous. I have never seen anything so poorly designed. You have to use one piece of tape to anchor the sensor and then do this complex taping. I found that if you just use tegaderm (like they use for Iv’s in the hospital) it does a much better job and will last longer. You also have to charge the transmitter (about 30min) between each use. AND, Medtronics currently does not have a phone app. So no family circle alerts and you will need the tiny CGM graph on the pump display…not sure how the older patients will feel about that.
One last note, Medtronics has done some very underhanded things with the billing. They ran my insurance before sending me the pump and said everything was covered, then the insurance denied the transmitter (because it was too soon to get one-a mistake I could have cleared up with insurance if medtronics would have let me know) and they then billed the $800 to me! So now I am in a battle with them, even though their own sales rep agrees I should have never been sent the transmitter if it was not covered and did not give my approval to bill me. They placed my account on hold and will not send any supplies, forcefully trying to get me to pay for the transmitter. I will be changing back to my TSlim. when my on hand supplies are exhausted. AND…My A1C actually went up while on the Medtronics system.
In case you are curious, I am doing excellent after the stomach sleeve. I went from 180 units per day to currently being on 17 units per day. I have lost almost 60 pounds in 6 months. I am a type 1.5, so I will always be on the insulin pump, but being that I am in the medical field and have heard cardiologist give the “DM? High cholesterol? Over weight?” speech to 30 patients a day for years, I knew I needed to get my insulin needs to as minimal as possible. Of course, you would need to talk to your doctor to see if that would be a good option, and it took 12 months of being under the surgeon’s care just to get the procedure approved, but for me…it added many years to my life (hopefully).
Thank you for reading this! I will be comparing the Medtronic sensor readings to the Dexcom 6 in the next few days just out of curiosity. Yes, I am that geeky! Come back if you are interested in seeing my findings. Good day!!!