I’m not a big complainer, but they got it wrong. At least for this kid. I got my Animas Ping the other day, a replacement for my trusty ol’ 1250 that went off warranty. I was holding out for the CGM-Pump combo as I’ve been a Dex user for 3 years. But the Animas rep that called told me to look for this in a year. Big delay is underway. For Pete’s sake people - If Steve Jobs worked for Animas we would have had a combined CGM/pump 5 years ago, and people would be trying to contract diabetes to get one!
But I love the color display! Moving from monochrome to 4 color was exactly like the leap I made in 1988 when I went from monochrome DOS to Windows 3.1 Woo hoo! And I enjoy the fact the pump is actually larger - having giant bulky geeko crap on my belt makes me a real chick magnet - bigger is better! Wait till they see me whip out the toaster-sized meter controller unit (not that it will fit in a pocket - the damn thing is huge, and heavy)! I'd be at home at any Star Trek convention with my tricorder-sized technology. I just need a nifty leatherette case with shoulder strap for the meter and call me Sulu.
Honestly, I think I'm gonna throw the Ping meter in the drawer along with my old Palm Pilot (no wait - it would crush anything it landed on). I am already (one week in) simply controlling everything from my pump. It's faster, easier, fewer keystrokes, and I never forget it.
In the quest to make the life of a diabetic simpler, easier, and more manageable, the Ping is a giant step backward. Don't they get it?
I am in the market for a new pump and I also have a 1250. Guessin’ I should think again before “upgrading” to a Ping? Doesn’t Animas have a return program within 30 days or something? Been a while since I bought a pump, so I can’t remember. I am limited to an Animas or a MiniMed pump though because I won’t buy one that doesn’t have a low-profile clip attached to the pump to put it on my waistband, etc and they are the only two companies I have found that have that. Other companies offering pumps in various colors makes no sense when one has to then put it in a case with a clunky clip.
I would love a CGM so long as it doesn’t mean attaching something else to my abdomen. I already have almost 16 years of infusion set scar tissue. I want them to put a chip in me to read my BG. You know, like the tracking chips they put in pets only with BG reading technology. Just a little piece of rice size thing. I know I’m dreaming though.
Your comments had us rolling. We are Mac fans and Trekkies, so I shared it with everyone in my family even though I am the only one with diabetes, my constant companion for 38 years.
I understand your clip needs entirely. I wear mine this way too. The Ping works fine in this respect. And the color screen is leaps and bounds ahead of the display on the 1250 - this alone makes it worth upgrading. In fact, it’s the only justification for an upgrade. But the damn pump is about 15% bigger - in length.
When you find that chip, let me know. I’ll be second in line behind you!
After a time, you may find that “having” is not so pleasing a thing,
after all, as “wanting.” It is not logical, but it is often true.
– Spock, “Amok Time”, stardate 3372.7
If Steve Jobs had to get his products approved by the FDA before putting them on the market, the first generation iPod would be out sometime next year.
My understanding is the Animas pump/ Dexcom integration is complete, but waiting for FDA approval.
I agree with you on the Ping. I went from a 1250, to a 2020 and was offered the Ping upgrade which I declined. IMHO, the Ping screen is a step backwards. The first generation integration will NOT have the Ping meter integrated, but supposedly the second generation will.
Supposedly, you can still get the 2020 pump, which is about 1/4" shorter than the Ping, but you have to ask for it.
Um… you really want an answer to that? No. They don’t get it. They probably don’t have a single person with diabetes on staff to tell them what it is they need to get. Kind of like the makers of pump-wear for toddlers who think it’s OK to have a slot in the back of the shirt big enough to pass the pump through, without considering the fact that children bounce around a lot, which means the pump can fall BACK through the slot while they’re playing/sleeping/rolling on the floor (which is why I ended up having a friend design me a pump pocket that I can sew onto my son’s shirts that has a slot large enough to pass the infusion set clip through, but not the pump). So write to them and tell them what it is they’re not getting - there’s a slim chance your message might make it to their R&D department.
I have an Accu-Chek Combo, you should ask about it. It is available in Europe but I don’t think in US but you should find out about it, It is the same idea as the Animas Ping but is not bulky and the meter is neat also.
I spoke with Animas today - they were very responsive. I’m getting a 2020 on monday - exchanging my ping. I still have the full warranty, etc. The 2020 is new, not refurbished.
Cargo pants my friend. Start to wear only a military inspired wardrobe. LOL, but seriously, I hated the huge meter kit also, but this is a lifestyle that I need to live, so I adapt. I now wear cargo pants 3 days a week, and all my jackets have pockets that fit the hulking meter case perfectly. Now I am used to it, and feel kinda naked without its large girth in my pocket.
to each his own, but I test, bolus and go on with my business in less than 1 minute. No pulling the pump off my belt, no having to re-secure any tubing. 99% of the time, those around me have no idea what I am doing, unless they know I am diabetic. I do think the meter and case is too big, but using the meter to signal the bolus is a really nice feature, should you want to use it, so a step in the wrong direction? Dont think so. Its a step in a direction that you might or might not benefit from, should you give it a try.
I agree that the ping meter is rather large, but I like the fact that during the week when I am wearring suits, I can keep the pump strapped to my leg and just clip the meter to my belt (use a cheap phone holster); I throw a few strips in a small vial along with a lancet and I am good to go. When I get home and on the weekends, I clip the pump to my belt and use what ever meter I have laying around.
Cargo pants…me? I switched to using debit card exclusively so I wouldn’t have to carry change. I pick up and carry my cell when I have to have it - and refuse to strap one more freakin’ thing on my belt! My Dex receiver, which I carry faithfully, goes in a hip pocket. All other diabetes swag goes in a backpack.
This may come from my cycling…when you work seriously hard to keep weight down, aerodynamics efficient, and hardware to a minimum, you look at the Ping control meter-module and think, “Yeah, I want that brick to tote along all flipping day!”
But again, kudos to Animas - I can’t wait to “downsize” to a 2020.
Im with you though on bulk. I would happily pay more for a meter that is thin as the size of an iPod nano. Why cant they make these things that size? Why do they have to be clunky, old looking technology and just a PITA to have on you. I guarantee that if meters were the size of a Nano, more people would carry them with them, thus preventing any issues due to not having your diabetes gear with you. I swallowed the huge, bitter pill of lugging this clunky meter case with me and got used to it, but I would sell out in a heartbeat if they made a sleek, modern solution to the 1980’s looking meters we use now
I don’t have a problem with the size of pumps and meters necessarily. The first insulin pump they asked to test years and years and years ago would have to go in a backpack. I declined the technology at that point. I didn’t jump on board the insulin pump wagon 'til the early-mid 90’s when they could be worn on a belt instead of on back straps. My first meter was 5x7 or 6x8, something around that, and was over 2 inches thick. I had one, but rarely used it since I wasn’t too concerned about my BGs then. When I almost lost my eyesight from retinopathy in 1982, I tried a little harder, but still didn’t like to be bothered as often as I was supposed to. I do now and to me the size is soooo much smaller than they used to be that it isn’t an issue. The difference in size from back then and now is a greater decrease than say the first iPods to current day iPods. Granted, I don’t have a meter/remote unit because I have a 1250, but even then, they are way, way smaller than the 80’s meters in my experience.
I went from the 1250 and upgraded to the Ping. Now I just recently used the $299 upgrade for the Omnipod. Boy do I love that. I only have to get the PDM (which is longer than the Ping Meter) out of my purse when I test (yea for the .3 size of blood instead of 1.0) or when I bolus. The 2nd generation is alot better than the original. I find it easier than the Ping, very user friendly. It has some of the features I originally liked on the Cozmo - like being able to set bolus reminders. You can create alot of presets for ease of use. I love the screen - better than the Ping’s, easier to see the words, and there is a great home list that you can see most of your normal options - less keystrokes. Have you actually seen the Ping remote? It is Very Very Very slow to respond. The Omnipod remote moves quickly, wakes up quickly. You can see all of your records in one place. With the ping you have to go to the remote for the BG info, then to the pump for history info. If you take a correction bolus and food bolus at the same time the Ping reports do not break it down. The Co-Pilot software for the Omnipod has really improved over the years and it will break down how much of the bolus was for meal or for correction. My CDE likes the omnipod’s reports better. I would consider the Omnipod before the Ping if I were you.
