Enlite sensors

Type 1 and LADA
1

I wonder if I can use this with my current revel. Only a year old I have 3 more years. The sensors look like they will fit my mini link transmitter. I would think it would work minus the suspend feature. Which since I’m on the subject. Could easily be added to the revel via a software update. Of course this would not encourage pump upgrades. I get that but when a simple software upgrade could bring a pump to spec. And they won’t. It’s a little irritating. My insurance won’t let me upgrade they only allow new pumps. Every 4 years. Mm won’t allow me to upgrade on my own as it would violate the contract with my insurance co… Sigh
The question of the sensors is not listed on the Medtronic site. My guess is they will charge me 500 dollars for the new inserter even if it is comparable.

Sorry I’m so negative. It’s just I feel these companies treat us like a cash cow and we have few choices. And all the choices treat us the same way

2

http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/treatment-and-products/minimed-revel-insulin-pump I think you asked this ??
I wear a Veo and live in Canada

3

yes i know the revel can use cgm but will the new enlite sensors work with the revel? or do I have to stick with the harpoon sensors for 2 more years.

I product tested a combo insulin set and sensor for medtronic about a year ago. It made no sense to me as you need to change them together. I really hope they are not requiring that combo set forthe new pump. I guess ill call tomorrow.

4

I was on my way to Vegas when I got the announcement but am back and going to give Medtronic a call today to see what they say about this issue. I think it works. I have little use for the autoshutoff feature and just got another pump under warranty.

5

Timothy , try this link ...http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/treatment-and-products/enlite-sensor
In Canada the Veo accepts the Enlite same as previous sensor ( which I already have forgotten the name off , unless I research my files ) This is the Canadian site http://www.medtronicdiabetes.ca/en/minilink_transmitter_sensors.html

6

Ok I got the answer I just got off the Phone with Medtronic.
The new sensors will work with the Revel pumps but of course they will not sell them separately. If you want to use the Enlite sensors, you must upgrade to the new system.
It is a total annoyance and absolutely a scam in my opinion,

The only good thing is that they are offering a $400 dollar upgrade if you are still in warrantee. Actually 800 but you get a $400 credit for turning in your old pump.

So I went to my endo and talked about it, Insurance will not cover an upgrade so I would have to pay it myself or wait the 3 years till I can get a new one. They did however give me one sensor to try. It works seamlessly, I'm wearing it now, and have had it on for 6 hours. The sensor is smaller and goes in easier with a smaller needle. As far as accuracy goes I have not noticed a difference yet.

But really this irritates me more. The products work together, but they will not sell them.Instead I need to pay $400 to get a pump with a feature that I do not need ( auto off) My current revel pump wakes me up when I go under 70 mg/dl, so I really do not see the point.

My doctor faxed over a prescription anyway and see what happens when I try to order them.
I'm guessing they will send me the old soft sensors or just send nothing.

The rep on the phone told me that If I don't have a 530 I absolutely can not buy the Enlite sensors, so I am not hopeful.

They claim it is the FDA, but really if they are approved and I have a prescription then can sell them. Minoxidil was a blood pressure pill that was sold and when they realized it could grow hair, doctors were prescribing it for hairloss and having it made into a topical med years before they started making it for that purpose.

This is all another way to squeeze us, and because they know we have few choices.

Since I have 3 years left, I am going to wait it out, and maybe the dexcom/Animas combo will be approved in the USA by then. I am pretty sure the Dexcom is still a better sensor. I wont have a chance to really know that though.
I need a new minilink system too, pretty soon as mine is about to go out of warantee, I am therefore left with getting another softsensor deal or move to the Dexcom now. SIGH !!

7

Does your insurance require you to purchase from Minimed ? I used the Sof-sensor for 3 years, and never got them direct from MM. I don't get any of my pump supplies, nor my past 2 pumps direct from MM.

Wonder if my 6-year old MM transmitter would still work if I got my hands on a sample Enlite ??? I'd love to compare it side by side with my Dexcom G4.

As for the FDA, I had heard that since the MM 523/723 and other pumps say to change the sensor at 3 days, that would 'confuse' users with the Enlite that is supposed to last 6 days.

8

Everyone uses them for 6 days anyway, besides a software update could easily fix that problem. The new pump is exactly the same except for a software update, It makes the whole thing silly and irritating. Throw away a perfectly good pump instead of updating it.
My insurance works directly through MM, I call my doctor and he orders them. There is no other war for me to get them.Kaiser Permanente

9

Thanks for sharing Timothy. This is very disappointing news about Medtronic's position regarding this technology. The pharmaceutical industry must have more leverage in the US than in more civilized countries like Canada, etc.

10

this is confusing to me , a CANADIAN GAL ...I got my Veo ( 554 ) 1 1/2 years ago and able to use the " old sensors ...3 days use " . Enlite became available in Canada spring 2013 and use with my Veo ( 554) ...6 days use .

11

I was griping about this on twitter and they requested contact info (towards the end of "business hours" yesterday...) so I messaged them my email and am trying to organize questions, etc. to think of to ask them (e.g. how do are levels on the new pump set, as the shutoff makes me a bit apprehensive...) besides "how do I get the sensors without a new pump?"

12

The answer is these sensors work with this pump *only* so you have to get the new pump. I tossed the other questions out the window as I can call them back but really, do I want to mess around with kicking ■■■ or not? Hmmm...

13

Well lets start out with the lie that it will not work, as I already know that they DO work with the Revel. The sensor clicks into the transmitter just as the SOFTSENSORS do. THe pump does not even know where the signal originates. I have been using this new Enlite sensor for a week now. I reset it already and still working. Just so you know, if you do not take the transmitter off, you can restart the sensor with no wait time, it will say wait for 2 hours but it will come right up with "check BG now" and then you are restarted. SO really it is not so much of an inconvenience.

As far as the VEO goes, Those pumps are made to accept either sensor, This proves my point about the fact that they could and should allow us to use the ENLITE sensors with our Revel pumps.

The VEO is the exact same pump with " suspend " feature, as the new 530 pump. They just changed the name so we would not see that we are getting old technology and forced to upgrade to it, just to get the new sensors.

It is a complete scam. I need to get a new MINILINK as mine is about to expire. The cost is about $700. Of course my insurance pays most of it costing me about $140 dollars. The upgrade to the new pump and sensor will cost $400. I might bite the bullet, but I am still irritated to no end.

14

New info. My doctor seems to think he can go ahead and order the new sensors, knowing that it is not "supposed" to be used with the revel. I guess if your doctor is willing to order them or write a script, then you can do an endrun on this issue, Ill let you know what happens.

15

Very odd way of doing business ..I have a sense, that SOFTSENSORS are going to be phased out or are already phased out in Canada ...and pumps prior to the Veo are not supplied anymore either .Timothy , did you mention to MM " how it is done across the line and in Europe " ?? Let's face it the secret is out :) PS I believe , no Extended Health Plan in Canada covers sensors !

16

Quick question as I'm late to the dance here; when did you upgrade to the Revel, and didn't MM offer you the whole "free technology upgrade" deal?? I'm with Kaiser and MM called me as my old pump was nearing the end of my warranty- they pushed really hard for me to get approved thru Kaiser to upgrade to the Revel before 12-31-2012; they pushed REALLY hard that I also ask for the CGM because then they could give me the new technology upgrade guarantee thing for free. I called MM last week to find out what was happening with the enlite and they said there is a special team that will be contacting current users that have the technology upgrade deal.
Soooo, it seems like Kaiser dropped the ball here? I'd say call MM back and find out why they didn't give you the new technology upgrade deal?! And yeah, Kaiser sucks, and MM does treat us a bit like cash cows. Wish they'd sink some more of their funds into a cure; but at same time the better technology sure is cool.
good luck!

17

I did not get the free tech upgrade, it was $200 and totally out of pocket, so I didn't bother, Mine still has 2 years left in warantee, so maybe they had a different deal for you. Still I hope you know that your warantee date does not change when you upgrade, either free or if you pay for it. If your warantee runs out in Dec 2013, then your new pump will go out of warantee in Dec 2013 as well even though it is brand spanking new. It is how all the pump companies do it, not just a MM thing. If I was that close to the end, I would just wait until I could get a new one through the insurance and copay.

My doctor ordered me a box of Enlite sensors today. I have no idea what will show up, either the old softsensors or nothing at all.

He thinks they would not dare change his orders, but I do not know what will happen. I will post it here when I get them.

When my transmitter dies, I am considering moving to Dex anyway. I really do not want another device to carry, but I am considering it.

If the Enlite sensors turn me on, Ill consider getting a new transmitter deal.

18

I’m starting a new 722 in Singapore and the Medtronic rep has oferred me enlite sensors straight away. Yes they work. After 3 days you need to tell the pump “new sensor” but it WILL continue with he old calibration, so no need to wait 2 hours.

I think this has all been said now, but I just wanted to back it up.

19

It's almost like whatever deal they made with the FDA to grease this is controlling or limiting their language. The person who called me was very guarded in their language, like, "it only works with the 530G because that's what it's approved for" or something like that. I should have taken better notes but I was lounging around blasting the Dead so I wasn't really "on" my "ask insightful diabetes-related questions to cut through the BS" business. It may also be that that's "the official answer" now, because they are still ramping up production (which seems ridiculous, since they are dealing the gizmos everywhere else...). I could also see that if one were to "go rogue" and run one's sensors through an old pump, they might play hardball with your warranty.

It's very disturbing that Medtronic isn't able to address these concerns the way we want them to. We *all* know the sensors work. We're willing to sign stuff, go to doctors to get rx's, etc. to get "approved" to buy their really expensive product. They should just sell them to us. My hope is that things will relax as we get out from the initial announcement. I wouldn't bet the farm on it though, that's for sure.

20

There is a good chance that the FDA has NOT approved the enlite sensor for the Revel pump (it likely another application and another 2+ years). If a new device (enlight)is not FDA approved for use on a specific product (revel), then I do not believe Medtronic can endorse it. Sort of like Medtronic sensors are FDA approved for use in the abdomen. No medtronic staff will ever mention a leg or arm location.

I would bet a few dollars that your Federal Regulatory bodies (FDA) are the problem, not Minimed.

How are your results with the enlite sensor?