Hi!
Is anyone on this??? Would you tell me about it Please??? I need to know information because my soon to be husband wants to know how it works and the warranty on it??? Anything else to could give me… Thanks
Hi Shawna,
Yes, I’m on both the Minimed Paradigm pump and have the CGM system (though I don’t wear it all the time).
The pump itself is just like any other pump. But when you have a CGM, your BG (measured every 5 minutes) is automatically transmitted to the pump. On the pump, you can then view a graph of your BG over the last 3 hours or the last 24 hours.
The CGM includes a little sensor that you insert (this is separate from the catheter your pump uses for insulin) into yourself and a transmitter (about the size of a stack of 3 quarters) that attaches to the sensor. The sensor can last for between 3 and 14 days (some people get more life out of them than others) and then it needs to be replaced (they are $35/each and unfortunately most insurance doesn’t cover them yet).
I love the CGM, but it’s not always as accurate as I’d like (I usually get a very good accuracy for about 6 days and then it slowly gets less accurate until I remove it). It really helps you tell in advance when you are heading too low or too high, and that allows you to correct things before they get bad.
I don’t know about the warranty, but you can probably read about it on their website: http://www.minimed.com/
If there’s a local Medtronic representative, you should contact them and see a demonstration.
Shawna,
First - I am on it and love it. Second - I work for Medtronic and completely understand it. In an attempt not to sound like a sales guy, I can tell you it’s a great device for the right people.
Some info: it communicates with your insulin pump. The pump is warrantied for approximately 4 years. The cgm transmitter is warrantied for 9 months. However, this may vary depending on your insurance company. My device is
Shawna,
I got the Minimed 722 and CGMS in July. I tried it for a little over two weeks and stopped using it. I had two main problems:
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I could not get the transmitter to “talk” to the sensor that I inserted for the first 8-10 hours! It kept giving me a “lost sensor” alarm and telling me it “couldn’t find” the sensor. This did not happen when the Medtronic rep was doing my training, but happened each time after that. I called the Medtronic rep and she just told me to keep trying to calibrate it. When it finally did start working, it was extremely inaccurate, even after the first day. I called the 800 number and they finally concluded that I am probably one of those people who doesn’t have a lot of interstitial (sp?) fluid circulating around in the area I inserted it (my lower abdomen). My Medtronic rep did say that she wondered whether I had enough fat under the skin where I put it (I loved her for saying that!!! LOL). Anyway, the Medtronic expert on the toll-free line recommended that I massage the area before and after inserting the sensor to see if that would help with both the “finding” of the sensor and the accuracy. I never once had a reading that was within 50 mg/dL of my meter’s reading! I even got a new meter because I started to worry that my trusty stand-by was wrong. But it was the sensor. So I could not calibrate the sensor without getting “cal error” and subsequent “bad sensor” alarms. So I wasted quite a few.
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I found that the adhesive that keeps the sensor on the skin was VERY uncomfortable. Medtronic sent me a variety of skin preps after I told them about this, plus I got a ton of skin preps from my mom (who is a CDE), and none of them helped. After the first day, it was so itchy I could barely stand it. But I sweat a good bit when I run, and I run at least 3-4 times per week, plus it was during the summer, so maybe that was the problem. Or maybe I just am one of those people with sensitive skin. I wish they would make the adhesive out of the same material that the Silhouette has, because I have no problem running with that! I tried to rig it so that I had a barrier of another kind of adhesive in between the sensor and my skin, but it didn’t really work-- I was still very uncomfortable.
It could be that the problems I had with it are just unique to me-- several people who have it really like it. I think that you are definitely doing the right thing by asking for input from others.
Good luck,
Katie
Thanks for yall input… The reason why I ask these qustions because I need one very badly… Most people can tell when they have a low blood sugar… I can not… I don’t have symptoms… I’m looking at Minimed and Dexcom… I know my health insurance won’t cover the CGM… (Medicare and Kansas Medicaid)
I know what you mean about not being able to feel the lows; I have that problem sometimes, too. My main symptom is feeling a little tired, but I also get tired if my bg is high! So, it’s difficult for me to distinguish.
One thing that helped me was the tips that I read in the book “Diabetes Burnout” by William Polonsky. The book has a chapter on hypoglycemia and has a bunch of tips on how to recognize the symptoms, even if you don’t think you’re having any; for example, the book recommends guessing what your bg is and writing down your guess alongside a description of how you feel at that moment, all before you even stick your finger. That helped me recognize that I was actually having some symptoms that I didn’t realize before. Let me know if you want more info.
Good luck, and have a great weekend,
Katie
Thanks Katie! I’ll get that book! Have a Wonderful Evening!
Hello, my name is John Groeneveld and I live in The Netherlands. All symptoms you reported about the Metronic insulin pump are familiar to me also. Have you in the mean time (you have wrote this article October 5th 2007) a solution for the inaccurate readings and unpleasant adhesive. I can read the sensor rather quickly but especially during the nights I get alarms of “low signal” even when the batteries are full and even when the distance between pump en sensors is less than 3 inches.
My only “good” remark to US customers is that the price of a sensor is $ 35.00 and in my country we pay about 50 Euros and you know probably that the value of the Euro is higher than of the dollar.
I appreciate a response because I am a new user starting beginning this year and I had already several accidents (1 almost fatal) because of low sugar levels. When you response send me an Email to john@mooring-tools.com
I have a Transmitter from MiniMed that is out of warranty now and I lost my health Insurance due to being laid off. If anyone can swap one that is working or one that I might be able to obtain reasonable, it would be appreciated. I also have some sensors that i could trade as I have 6 boxes that I can’t use due to the fact that MiniMed sucks in customer service and is not willing to do anything for me. Reply to a brittle blood sugar person. gubostonsports at yahoo dot com stewart
I have the 723 Revel system with CGM sensor and transmitter. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Im happy to help if I can.
What happened with customer service? What did the do/say? Im just curious…
Try calling MiniMed and ask for a demo. And, of course, nearly all the documentation there is can be found on their web site including marketing stuff, product docs, training material, and the really technical prescribing information. Have at it!
What is wrong with your sensors? Anytime I have had an issue with a sensor they would send me a replacement via next day air at no cost.
If you don’t have insurance the CGM from MM is ~$1000 for the transmitter and 10 sensors. Additional sensors are $35 each! They last between 3 and 6 days.
You may be able to purchase them for a discount as you won’t be going through insurance; can’t hurt to ask.
I have the MM CGM and Revel pump integrated as well. I love it and I have not had issues with he sensors as others have had, as long as I insert and calibrate when my BG are stable as instructed in the manual/training. The first day it is definitely not too spot on but close, but once a new sensor settles in for me it is VERY accurate (to within 10 pts or so or dead on) and I have been able to get 6 days out of each sensor (restart the sensor after 3 days - they are only approved for 3 day use currently). Love the data I get from the software. I also love only carrying one decive around - not another receiver as with teh Dex and NAvigator. If I wasn’t getting accurate or close results, I may have a different view - but so far the MM CGM is really working for me.
I have the MiniMed system and they say mine is out of warranty and is a Canadian version. This is odd as i got it direct from MiniMed in the USA and shipped to Boston. MiniMed sucks that they wont ship me a new sensor for no charge and I have been having a tough time with my brittle blood sugars. Looks like they could give a ■■■■…
I love my MM system. I have both the pump and CGM as of now MM is the only all in one system which to me is great as it is way easier then carrying two pieces on my belt on in my pocket.
Pros :
All in one
Easy to navigate through menu and CGM graph
bolus wizard with me I have 4 basal rates at different times throughout the day aswell as three carb counts and two sensativity factors works great for me.
so many options for infusion sets
costomer care works great with me
the care link upload for cgm is on mm site for graphs and avg’s for you to log in it is wireless and easy to use just log in and put in usb no software to download.
If you get a bad sensor or bad infusion set they will send out new ones and a shipping label for you to send the bad ones back
very durable
Con’s:
Not waterproof
pump clips tend to break ( I just put it in my pocket )
cgm does have bigger insertion needle then campatable cgm’s not horrible but bigger none the less
Too me the benefits outweigh the cost as I have no hypo awareness as well as this has really helped me improve that I used to get down to the 20’s before I had any symptoms at all but now I feel and others notice in the 40’s so well worth it for me and the doc says this will con’t to improve over time as my sugars stay in range
I have it. It has good and bad. I am hypo unaware so need CGMS. When I started pumping I found it was fairly easy to use, maybe I just had a good trainer. I like the bolus wizard…different basal rates etc…
Customer service is normally very good–but not always
however…infusion set issues and leaking resevoirs have been infuriating to say the least . And after 2+ years the pump is not working 100% and not looking forward to a parade of refurbs that I have seen happen to many, so have just been toughing it out…that may not be able to last much longer…(buttons not working right/consistent–doesn’t take a bg calibration unless through the bolus function)
AS my husband has a medtronic spinal cord stimulator we had thought they would be the best and I am dissapointed to have issues half-way through its “life” I am exploring options, including switching to a different brand (both pump and infusion sets)
the CGMS can be very accurate or very off…My personal opinion–is some batches of sensors are not as good as the others…the transmitter life for me was very good–my first lasted 14 months
the introducer needle sucks rocks…the three day replacement does for the same reason–I am not one who can trick the sensor and wear longer—my body wants it out in 3 days–period
The adhesive is also quite irritating (I’ve had no prob with their infusion set adhesive–why they don’t use the same kind is mysterious) . I have to use IV300 under and over…the design of the sensor makes it floppy if you don’t use something so keep the transmitter secure it is very easy to pull a sensor out accidentally.
But, if I find no other vialbe ($$) options, I certainly will stay on the MM pump and CGMS
What date did you purchase your pump?
Medtronics keeps very good records as they are required to. If you purchased your pump with a US Rx there will be no issue getting warranty support for the life of the warranty.
I don’t want to call BS but there has to be more to the story.