Hi - I am new to diabetes…only a few months. I have researched extensively about pumps and diabetes and have a friend who is type 1, so I am very much “in the know” I want to go on the pump and I have narrowed it down to the omnipod or the minimed. I am leaning toward omnipod. Looking for some guidance. Also, with the omnipod, I also want a CGM. Which CGM do people like better, the freestyle or dexcom? Thank you!
I prefer the pod for many reasons as I am sure you will hear on this site. But being so new to diabetes, do you have your carb counting knowledge? A pump of any kind can only be as good as the information you put into it. If you haven’t as yet, you might want to get the books. “Think Like a Pancreas” and “Pumping Insulin”.
Then if you are planning on using insurance, you might find that they want to see a few AC1’s (which are typically taken every few months), history of BS, etc. Then your Dr has to put together a letter for them. Personally, I believe with only 2 months of D, you probably will have some more time to get ready for the exciting world of pumping.
Good luck…and start reading
I started out with the DexCom 7+ and added the OmniPod six months later. Tuning the basal rate and figuring out the ratios is a lot of fun with a CGM. Less fun without.
I was expecting you to get dozens of answers and looking to read them out of curiosity. Usually when someone posts a message like this, at least one person responds with "X is terrible, it will kill you, go to Y!"
So, here’s my impression of omnipod vs minimed. I’ve been a Minimed user for 15 years - when I first got my pump that was the choice - so I’m biased. I added the CGM to that 5+ years ago and have been very happy. I recently needed a new pump (my old one was 4 years out of warranty and I decided I wanted a newer one for improvements and piece of mind). So, I got an example omnipod and one of the other tubeless choices and tried them out. I didn’t like them for precisely the reasons everyone else does - you replace tubing with something fairly large stuck to your body. I didn’t know how to hide it so a big lump didn’t appear under my cloths, I kept catching clothing on it, I really didn’t like the larger area of tape I found I had to use.
The tubing has never bothered me! I like having the pump out on a tether, it’s easy to get to or to move to a different pocket if it’s in the way. I use a smartphone belt holder most of the time, it fits perfectly and people just think I have an mp3 player or smart phone. I love that the Minimed CGM is linked to the pump. I’m liking the carelink software, which takes all of the data about carbs and CGM output and pump dosing and plots it a million different ways for you.
Thanks for your input. So you use the CGM for about 5 years. Do you have to replace the sensor for the CGM every few days?
The Dexcom sensor has to be replaced around 7 days. The Dexcom 7+ will let you know when the sensor has to be changed. I love my CGMS. I just started it about 2 weeks ago and it’s amazing. I also use the Animas Ping pump. I’m from Florida and I had to have one that was waterproof- the MM’s are not. I also didn’t want to have something to me like the Omnipod, plus my insulin needs would require me to change it every two days and that wasn’t something that I wanted to have to mess with. The Ping will soon be joined with the Dexcom 7+ and it would one unit.
The other thing is the sensor part that goes into your body for the Dexcom is the smallest and thinnest. You do not feel it go in and it is considerably smaller than the MM sensor.
Have you met with your endo and had the pump reps sit down with you and show you the benefits of all the pumps? Good luck with your decision! I love pumping and CGM-ing… makes life a whole lot easier!
Elizabeth
The sensor is supposed to be changed every 3 days. I change mine every 6 days - just restart it when it “ends”. It is comfortable for 6 days. I used to use it for 9, but it starts to get uncomfortable. As Elizabeth said, the sensors come with a big needle! It’s isn’t uncomfortable once inserted, though. I’m assuming (hoping) that minimed is working on the needle size to get it smaller.
I am using my third CGM transmitter, they only warranty them for 9 months, mine have lasted me ~2 years each. Still a pretty big expense for something that needs replaced every 2 years (my insurance has covered 2 of the 3 I’ve owned).
In general, I think we all should be on pumps, the increased control is amazing - your longterm health is worth it. Pumps are a lot of work - you have to carb count and be aware of how fresh your battery is and… But, I have an extremely active lifestyle - weekend backpacking trips, week long bike trips, daily 3 mile jogs in the desert, with a very sedentary job that isn’t always 8hr/day - I dont’ eat the same thing everyday or at the same time… and the pump is the only way I can maintain that lifestyle! Now that I’ve had the CGM, I can’t imagine life without it, either.
I second that! The fact that this weekend I just did a 20 mile bike ride and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without first my pump and second my CGMS. I am a very active person and there’s just no way that you can live life without these things. I had to take a pump break about a month ago and it was really hard to get the control that I have with my pump and CGMS.
I can’t help with the pump stuff, although I recently submitted the paperwork for an Animas pump. But that isn’t one of your choices!
I did have a Freestyle Navigator and currently have a Dexcom, so I can help with that question.
The one thing you should know about the Navigator, regardless of what else you think about it, they are currently on backorder, and have been since January. Some distributors may still have some in stock, but Abbott is not currently distributing them. Mine died at the end of Jan and in April, Abbott came out with a refund offer to buy them back. I only started using mine mid-Nov, so I only had it about 2 ½ months when it died. Abbott also had a problem last year with transmitters on backorder for two months. I did like the Navigator when I used it, but I also need something I can rely on and know if it breaks, it will get replaced right away.
The only thing I really liked better about the Navigator was you could walk further away from the receiver without losing connection. The range was supposedly 10 feet but I could leave it downstairs & still get readings while I was upstairs. The Dexcom range is 5 feet and it doesn’t like you to go very far away. I bought a Spibelt and keep my Dex in that so walking away without it is not a problem now.
I think the alarms are better on the Dexcom. On the Navigator, the high alarm could not be set any lower than 140. You can set the Dex alarm as low as 120. Also, the Navigator beeped at you every 15 minutes until your BS was back in range. You can pick when the Dex will remind you - it takes 20 minutes for my insulin to kick in so I don’t need reminded in 15 minutes when I am high!
The Dexcom is easier to restart sensors. I am on day 9 of my current sensor and got 10 days out of the last one. A lot of people can get 14 days. They are approved for 7 days. The Navigator, you had to change the sensor every 5 days. Some people were able to restart them but you had to take the transmitter off the receiver and that was hard to do so I never tried.
I did a full comparison between the Navigator & the Dexcom on my blog if you are interested:
http://kellywpa.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/dexcom-seven-plus-vs-freestyle-navigator/
I just started on the pump just not quite a month ago. I love it. I research all of them. Animas, Pod, MM. But my deciding factor was what was my Endo Team most confident in. And that was what I went with. The pump is a huge investment and you need to get what you think will be the best for you.
My plan was to intially get the pump and the CGMS all at the same time. The insurance company had no problem with that. But, the CDE suggested that I start with the pump and in a few months, work towards the CGMS. She wanted to make sure that I was 100% confident with managing one thing at a time i. e. learning how to adjust basal rates, temp rates, and so on. She wanted me to be confident in the pump process first. Also, she explained that the sensor have only a 6 month self life and they did not suggest getting it right away.
As for living with the pump. I love it. I have had Type 1 for 38 years and all 38 was a MDI. This is been the biggest change in my Diabetes Life since the first glucose monitor. (wow, I am really telling my D age) I always worried about the attachment thing. Already, I feel as if it is a part of me. Just as my diabetes bag, medic alert bracelet, glucose recovery stuff. Best of luck to you my friend. I feel confident it will be great for you too.
I disagree about waiting six months in between. I do think that for some people, it is necessary, but not for everyone. I am someone that picks things up very quickly and does not need a lot of training. Rich said that he has done a lot of research on both pumps and diabetes - to me, that doesn’t sound like someone that needs a lot of hand holding.
I know that the Minimed CGMS can be tricky for some people to get good readings. Both the Navigator & the Dexcom are very easy to use. When the Navigator trainer came to my house for the training, I already had all the alarms & everything set where I wanted it. If the sensors weren’t so expensive, I would not have bothered having him come but I didn’t want to ruin a sensor. He was here a half hour & we chatted about stuff more than Navigator stuff.
I did a one week trial of the Dexcom and met with the sales guy. There was another couple in the room. I only had 45 minutes time wise to spend with him & we started late. He was worried that wouldn’t be enough time but I really only needed to stick the sensor in & leave. He set the alarms & I was out the door. The trial unit that I used belong to an Animas sales rep & he was in the room when I picked up the Dex. I met him a week later to return the unit. He said that the Dex guy was worried I wouldn’t pick it up but gave me him a thumb’s up sign at one point when he realized I wasn’t going to have any problems.
I also think that if someone does want to do them separately, a CGMS would be better to start first. Basal rates will be different than on MDI and a CGMS will help get those setup faster. The Navigator trainer also did pump training and he said most people get the pump first & then the CGMS but he also thought it should be the other way around.
There are just so many pumps and CGMs out there I don’t know what’s best
When choosing a pump, there are lots of factors for you to consider, some more serious (like basal increments, integrated CGMS, and other features) and some less serious (does it come in a cool colour? Is it waterproof? Does it have a colour screen?) and it’s up to you to decide how to weigh the various factors.
One of the easiest places to start is to look at an insulin pump comparison chart, like these:
JDRF Insulin Pump Comparision Chart
DiabetesNet Insulin Pump Comparison Chart
CGMS Comparision Chart (Children With Diabetes)
Then, if you want more info on a particular pump, visit its web site and fill out a form asking for more information. The manufacturer will send a packet of information in the mail. You can also meet with the local pump rep and see it in person. They are salespeople, and therefore very eager to meet with you to show off their product and answer your questions.
In addition to HFXNS suggestions - some let you try out dummy versions - the omnipod does this. Order a dummy Omnipod and wear it for a few days. Be aware that the dummy omnipod doesn’t include the transmitter that you also need to carry.
I don’t know if MM will send you an infusion set to try - but you could wear the tubing “connected” to a cell phone or something to mimic that.
I’d also be swayed by your Endo - whatever he/she is used to he/she will be more able to help you with. this is also true if you have a diabetes educational center or something of that sort you like nearby. That shouldn’t be your only decision, both the Endo and the educational center should be able to help you with anything, still can be another box to check, though.
Love my minimed and they just came out with an updated version of their pump (first real changes in 10 years or more, IMHO).
I know that Animas will let you do a saline trial - they told me that I could if I wanted to do that.
True about the dummy OmniPod plus you don’t get to know what the insertion feels like. My OmniPod rep asked if I wanted to demo one with saline for more of a real experience.
former MM user here… for about a year and a month. now on oPod (through the graces of a well-timed insurance change). I added a Dexcom 7+ about two months ago. love them both. recommend them both.
get the mini med . it is absolutely amazing
Hi - So I restarted my dexcom sensor after 7 days. But how long will it go. You mention above you got 9 days out of one of them. What happened after 9 days, did it shut off or did you start to get irratated at the site so you stopped it. Thanks just curious.
Thanks - I actually chose the pod and like it a lot. Is there anything that is better about minimed over the pod?