I currently use the 670G with the Guardian 3 CGM. Last year my endocrinologist recommend I try the 670G and I had no issues getting approval and I started using the system in March of 2018. My A1C is actually worse than it has ever been. The 670G target BG is programmed to for 120mg/dL and unchangeable. My target BG has always been 90mg/dL.
But I’ve had too many issues with failed sensors over the last year. I have called into the support line over two dozen times since getting the 607G. I was losing my patience and each call into the support center ended with a " … we will send you a replacement sensor". The support reps responses made it seem that the problem was me, not the product.
No matter how carefully I insert and tape down a sensor, The sensor reading becomes unstable when I exercise. Medtronic reps told me directly, “The sensor can become unstable during vigorous exercise.” It was recommended that when this happens I should replace the sensor. I exercise every day. What am I supposed to do?
Eventually, after numerous calls over a two-month span last fall, I was given a link to request a new transmitter with updated firmware. That was several weeks ago and I have not heard anything from Medtronic.
I really don’t care anymore. The system is unusable to me. If I can’t exercise safely or go hiking with a CGMS then it serves no purpose.
This week I had a long chat with my endocrinologist. She stated her other patients were doing well on the 67G and G3. They had improved outcomes but these are patients who were never as tightly controlled as I was. She called Medtronic on my behalf. A Medtronic diabetes educator called me and we spoke. She admitted that my A1C would be higher with the 670G system in auto-mode and recommended disabling auto-mode. So that is what I will do.
I may talk to my endo about going back to Dexcom. The G6 seems like an amazing bit of kit.
I’ve been saying for years that Medtronic sensors/xmitters are inferior, and when I do, much of the time I get slammed by the fanboys. I’d love to get back the countless hours (likely it exceeds 50 hours, easily) I spent with tech support, the year of not having accurate sensor data (other than a few days here and there), and people telling me how much better the new sensors are than Enlites. Crap, I was told that Enlites were better than Soft Sensors. BALONEY! I share your irritation, and frustration with Medtronics CGM products. I wish I had the SMARTS to switch to Dexcom long before I did, but I felt that the xmitter was "too large–hehe–it doesn’t bother me at all, and I didn’t want to wear a receiver in addition to the MM pump. the receiver is very handy on my waistband, so I turned out to be wrong in worrying about both of those issues. I’d be very upset if I couldn’t continue to use the Dexcom CGM. I hope you like yours if you get it.
That is the key, I have noticed that people that were very successful with their control are not as happy with the 670G. The targets achievable with the 670G just do not match up to the standards you have set for yourself. I would guess that if someone is poorly controlled in the first place the 670G might be very helpful. Personally I believe the 670G was over-hyped. It is a good system just not that good.
Could the placement of your sensor be causing a problem with exercise. You have already taken the steps of properly installing and securing your sensor. I wonder if you have tried different body areas.
All thing considered if you can’t find solutions, as good as the 670G might be the better system might be one you have used before, your own.
I guess I am one of those not well controlled pump/CGM users that benefited by the move to the 670. It has been a little over a year since I upgraded to the 670G. I had my blood tested last Tuesday and my A1c improved from 7.8 in November to 7.2. When I first started on the 670, it seemed to want to keep me at about 150 BG; however, now it seems to want to keep me around 135 BG. Instead of keeping me in target range 75% of the time, I am now more like 85% of the time.
In my case, the 670 appears to have adapted to my eating habits and matabalism.
This is one of the reasons I’d never consider a 670 pump (the other being their - and I don’t mean to insult anyone - 2nd rate sensors).
My target BG is 4.6 mmol/L (83 mg/dl), and my target range is 3.1-7.5 mmol/L (56-135 mg/dl). Over the past 90 days I’ve stayed within that range 92% of time, with the majority of the out of range readings being on the low side. If I could override the software I’d set my low alert at 2.5 mmol/L (45 mg/dl). This works well for me, my diet and my metabolism.
Growing up with T1, I was far more carefree and dismissive of the long term effects of running sugars higher than the 5-ish range, and like most of us I was encouraged to run A1C’s in the “just to be safe” low-7 range. Some of the worst advice I’ve ever been given. My current endo still gives me that advice and I simply smile and nod.
I’m waiting for a closed-loop pump that would allow me to set range thresholds that work for me, not what the FDA or Health Canada deem “safe”.
I too, don’t appreciate (although I understand) the inflexibility of the MM pump settings. I see little value in having an “automated” (haha) pump try to keep my bg’s at a level that IT wants, instead of what I want. No thanks.
I did a year long study with the 670G and couldn’t wait until the year ended. I was a loyal Medtronic pump user and probably would have purchased the 670G if I hadn’t done the study. I switched to Tandem/Dexcom and so glad I did.
I am so sorry this pump didn’t work for you. I was a very loyal Minimed/Medtronic user for almost 20 years. I had 3 of their pumps in that time frame and never had an issue with any of them. They never had any great bells and whistles, but they did the job.
And I did not go with the 670g, I went Tandem. But that being said we each have different needs and desires from our pumps. And I can’t tell you how many people I have meet that really love the results they have gotten with this system. The key take away I hear from almost all of them, is the time and work it takes to get it up and working correctly. It takes many months to get it working right. And if you have the time and patience, I think you could get good results from.
But my mind set is less is better. I want to think and do less with my diabetes not more! I was thinking why spend all that time babysitting my pump when it suppose to be babysitting me.
So not wanting to spend all that time, I went Tandem and literally think of my diabetes when I have to bolus for my meals and when I have to change sites. And of course when I get an alarm. But no more thinking and fighting the fight. The pump is doing half that fighting for me right now. And holy cow, no blood testing! I never thought I would say that, but really I don’t! And when I saw my doctor and he commented on how happy I looked, the system is the answer for me. So looking forward to maybe seeing the doctor every 6-8 months instead of 3-4! Prescription visit only!
Again, sorry it didn’t work for you and I am always sorry to hear people just turning off the auto feature because you are losing the main reason for the pump. Just so frustrating to get the pump and than being tied to it for the next 4 years!
I switched from Medtronic to Tandem. I have my training set for Tuesday! Main reason I switched: Dexcom CGM, Pump size (even smaller than the metronic 523) and the Tandem feature pipeline.
Jim, and you can “direct input” numbers on the screen instead of scrolling as on the MM pump. And it works with the G6. Can’t wait to try one out this year but my salesperson and their manager told me to hold off until Control IQ is released and we all find out if Medicare will cover the upgrade. They said there is a POSSIBILITY that if I buy it prior to the roll-out, due to contractual issues (involves the money billed for the upgrade to C:IQ) it may not be possible to upgrade the pump (that would be a MAJOR bummer). So here I am, waiting for C:IQ to rollout…
I guess I am the odd man (person) out on this one. I have been on Medtronic pumps for seven years (Revel, 530, 630, and now 670 for one yesr). This is the first pump that had actually kept me consistently in the 120 - 130 range, not counting post meal spikes. My last A1c came in at 7.2, down from 7.8 six months ago.
However, I have to admit it took six months to achieve these results.
By using a Dexcom G5, my A1c has dropped to an all-time low (over the course of 40 years) of 5.4. I despise Medtronics sensors. i spent over a year using them.
When I read your response I thought, “wait, this sounds just like me but I don’t remember writing this!” Haha . We have similar stories. How long have you had T1d?
Potentially for those with sub 6 a1c’s we might be happier with Basil IQ than Control IQ. We just don’t know enough about how Control IQ is really going to work. Hopefully Tandem will start giving out more details prior to the release.
I despise Medtronics sensors. i spent over a year using them.
. We have similar stories. How long have you had T1d?