Hi everyone. I am not a huge poster on the site but, I though I would share this. I read quite a bit of your posts and have had wished for some comparisons in the past. So, I had been on the Medtronic revel system for over two years. Recently I switched to the Dexcom cgm after reading so many great things about it. I want to say that I typically had thought that I would always want a system where the CGM is integrated with the pumps display. Well I had that and now I don't. Which do I like better you ask???? I am in LOVE with my Dexcom and my care has changed for the better. It has been a month now and this is what I know.
1 - Dex is crazy accurate. Stunning at times. Revel Not so much at all unless you eat perfectly all the time with no snacking ;)
2 - Dex does not hurt at all while inserting. Revel makes you harpoon yourself and it hurts no matter what your told.
3 - Dex stays on a week or more for many. Revel 3 days and thats it. Harpoon again.
4 - Dex display is awesome and battery life is superb. Revel display is tiny and black and white.
5 - Dex does not need to be recharged. Revel Does but, not a huge deal.
6 - Dex stays on and the tape is sufficient. Revel hangs oddly off the skin requiring more tape which annoyed my skin.
Now for the things that being integrated made is not so great for me.
1 - When I suspend my pump at the gym or for a shower having Dex by itself makes it so I still know my status. This is the best part EVER!
2 - If I do get an alarm with dex I can simply look at the display and not have to fiddle with the pump itself. I have learned to appreciate this.
3 - Battery life on my pump is way better with the revel cgm turned off.
4 - Alarms on the Dex are way less annoying than the revel though I understand that some of that is in the settings. My revel just went off all the time and drove me more nuts than anything. I guess the settings could be tuned more. It was just "always something" though.
Anyway, My next pump will probably be the T:Slim because I like what I see with that company. Currently though I am thrilled with my CGM and my pump must as a pump.
My DREAM set up would be a T:Slim / Dexcom set up where you could use the dexcom display, or T:Slim integration or a smartphone to get your info. Smartphone for day time. integrated display for night time. display for the gym or activity. It would be awesome to be able to choose what make the most sense for that particular day. For now the extra little display does not bother me at all. Especially for the help it gives me. Accuracy is amazing.