Hello everyone, I am new here and have an appointment with my CDE on Thursday morning so I can try the T-slim. If all goes well, I will officially switch following the trial!
I wanted to get your feedback on a conversation I had with a Medtronic rep over the weekend. Understandably, they are trying to convince me not to switch. (I've been using a Medtronic since 1992!) The Medtronic rep told me there was "no way" Tandem could possibly get approval anytime soon from the FDA for the new pump in which the Dexcom technology will be integrated. She told me I would be out of warranty on my T-slim (and we know it has a 4-year warranty) and still waiting for the FDA to approve it. This sort annoyed me. I asked her how could she be so confident, and she kept citing the FDA's rejection of the integrated technology with the Animas Ping. She said even though the Ping has the Dexcom technology in Europe, the FDA would not approve it here in the U.S. I think the "rejection" she's talking about probably happened before Medtronic came out with the Revel, so I bet things are different now. But her confidence in this bothered me, because I was really looking forward to an integrated pump with Dexcom technology being available sometime reasonably soon.
Has anyone heard anything about the FDA approval, or does anyone have any ideas on this? I have a feeling the Medtronic rep's supposed confidence was just a sales tactic, but I wanted to see if anyone knows about this.
Also, now that I'm reading the reviews on here about the T-slim, I see a variety of opinions. I'm most looking forward to wearing something that doesn't look like a pager from the 90s, so that's my main reason for switching. But I'm all ears if anyone has additional feedback. I guess it's a good thing I'll be trying it out with my CDE's help before buying it...
Thanks for your input!
katie
If you like a pump that was designed more than a decade ago, and has only had minor changes since, Animas & Medtronic both fill that category. I went with a Tandem because I wanted a newly designed device. It's smaller but holds more than the Animas, it's waterproof and I never have to worry about getting it wet, and it doesn't require buying expensive lithium batteries. I used Animas for 8 years, and was happy for the switch. I've seen a lot of Medtronics, and have just never been impressed. Medtronic may feel safe with the only combined CGM/pump in the US, but just read reviews about their CGM system and you can tell that Dexcom is significantly better reviewed. Although I wish Tandem and Dexcom would mesh soon, I'm okay with it being separate devices.
T:Slim does not look like a pager as you mentioned, and is so small and smooth I just slip it in my pocket, no one ever sees it.
I have been on the T-slim for nearly two years and love it. While a new integrated pump will not be FDA approved anytime soon, the existing pump does have a bluetooth and potentially can be activated/integrated if approval does move forward.
As a working professional it is important for me not to have a pump that looks like a giant pager. Very discrete and no one even notices you have one. Super easy to use.
To me the most important criteria one should use is what pump / CGMS combination will give you the best results so that you can achieve your goals (for me that's a low A1c). If you're interested in having an "integrated" pump and CGMS, I have some thoughts...
Based on my own experience for the last two plus years, the Dexcom provides a superior CGM product with less issues, error messages and longer sensor life (up to 3 weeks sometimes). I had the Revel and tried to use their CGMS, but had very disappointing results. And it doesn't seem to have changed much recently, based on feedback I've seen on Tudiabetes. I now have the Tandem pump and really like it, and am looking forward to the integration of the Dexcom CGMS with the T:Slim. However, even if it doesn't happen for a couple of years, I feel the combination of the t:slim and the Dexcom (integrated or not) is a better overall strategy for managing my diabetes. Although the Medtronic offers both in one piece of hardware, based on responses I've seen on this forum, it doesn't provide the same level of accuracy or ease-of-use as the Dexcom CGM. People may still like the Medtronic 530G pump, but if they buy it to take advantage of the integrated CGMS that Medtronic offers, they may be disappointed. Eventually they may decide to go with the Dexcom CGMS and use the Medtronic 530G for just the insulin pump function.
P.S. I'm optimistic that the approval for the T:Slim / Dexcom integration from the FDA will occur in less than two years. I think things are slowly changing at the FDA, and they may be more open to integrated hardware and a more rapid approval process. But who knows, it's a government agency!
Good Luck with your t:slim trial!
Rodger
According to tandems second quarter report the integration application has been filed with the FDA.
They were aware of all the additional testing and data that the FDA wanted for the Vibe application, and the Tslim pump was approved under the most up to date regulations. Tandem has been talking with the FDA on a regular basis, so I'm thinking they will be more likely to get it right the first time.
You will find some interesting threads if you search for tandem dexcom integration.
http://www.tandemdiabetes.com/News/2014/Tandem-Diabetes-Care-Report...
Regardless of wether they get it integrated in the near future, I'm wanting to stay in the pipeline. Have you seen the Beacon Hill study?
http://diatribe.org/issues/59/new-now-next/1
This is where tandem is going eventually - dual chamber pump with dex and control algorithms in one device.
I totally agree that the Dexcom technology is way better than Medtronic's. I had a pretty frustrating experience with the Medtronic sensor a while back.
Thanks for your input- I'm glad to hear you like your T-Slim!!
This is such good info- thank you!!!
I'm really glad to see another positive review- thank you for sharing! I agree about needing to keep the pump a little discrete; that's the main reason I want to switch.
I start on my new T slim on Wednesday! The T slim rep told me that the combined CGM approval is two years maximum. T slim seems to have a good reputation with the FDA and the technology is being used in the artificial pancreas project so I,m hopeful the approval will be sooner as this is one of the reasons I decided to switch
Hi Katie,
I just started on a t-slim about a month ago, after being with Minimed for many years. The minimed salesman seemed pretty dismayed by my switching as well, although he took a little different approach. For me, the question isn't if tandem will have the t:slim G4 up and running by the time my warrantee runs out. To me the issue is whether I want to buy from and support a company that has dragged its feet on innovation while carrying a 75% market share, or to invest in a company that is sticking its neck out to try something that can be a real life changer for diabetics in the near term. Maybe we'll see the G4 by 2017, or maybe not. It will come when the FDA is satisfied it is safe. But when you look at the 6 steps that the FDA has layed out for these competitors to produce a real working artificial pancreas, Minimed is on stage 1, while tandem is at stage 5! Who will get there first? I have little doubt tandem will produce a real life-changer long before the stodgy Minimed corporation gets around to it. People are starting to move to Tandem, and minimed sales people are starting to feel a bit worried. Sales at Tandem went up about 75% in the last year from what I gather from their stock report, with their last quarter being particularly strong.
I personally want to invest in and support the corporation that really will change my life--whether that change comes in 3 years or 7. I've had enough of the status quo. People like Ed Damiano have a real personal motivation to make real change, not just to hold on to corporate profit and minimize risk. GO TANDEM!!
Yes, I totally agree!! It makes sense to go with a company that is making bigger strides! I didn't know that stuff about the 6-step process. I really do think the FDA will approve the integrated model at least before my warranty runs out. The Minimed rep just seemed so indignant about it-- it really got on my nerves! But I understand why they feel worried. SO MANY people are switching, it seems!!
I started my T-slim trial a week and a half ago, after my CDE taught me how to use it, and I LOVE IT! This is the best pump EVER! I am loving how small it is. THANK YOU TANDEM!!!
I wouldn't worry about the MM rep. She's just trying to keep a client. The problem that happened with Animas was that they didn't file correctly and missed some steps, therefore they had to go back to the drawing board. Then, in the middle of that, the Seven+ was upgraded to the G4, so new workings had to be done around that. They sort of shot themselves in the foot with that one. Tandem, from what I understand, worked *with* the FDA to make sure they had done everything correctly before sending in the paperwork for it, and it can take up to 18 months for a decision, so it may be the end of 2015 before we know anything, though they expect it sooner.
Thanks for the info! This is all really good to know.
I am excited for them to get it approved!! It will be awesome to just have one device.