I am an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic that reacts more like a type 1 diabetic. I am going to try the pump but I get concerned when I read about peoples problems. I am a 56 year old Canadian male with a active construction job that has a various activity level day to day. I am not overweight and do not have any weight control problems.
I would like to hear you recommendations on pumps and reliabilities.
Dan
I have had my minimed for almost 4 years and have never had a pump failure. It is a tubed pump, so you would have to determine the best way to deal with the tubing.
I love my Ping, but it's a very personal choice. Here is a chart comparing pumps that will give you an overview of their specs.
I think the only way to really chooses what's right for you is to put your hands on each one you're considering. My endo's office had them all, so though I was already pretty much decided it was useful handling them all first.
With any pump, there's a learning curve, and in the end it's well worth it!
I have a MiniMed pump and have been very happy with it. The screen is a little bit "old school" but it's very solid. I studied martial arts and have had a couple of bike wipeouts that the pump survived fine. 3.5 years into the 4 year warranty, it failed last summer but it was at the end of a 14 mile run that started at 87 degrees and was probably in the low 90s by the time we were done? I was drenched, including the pump. I got a "button error" message, called MiniMed (freaking out, of course, it was Saturday of 3 day holiday weekend...) and they said "we'll get your new pump in the mail ASAP...". I took it home, dried it out, still nothing. I left it in the sun to dry it more, nothing. Then I put it in the freezer, so I didn't have to hear the beeping, took it out the next morning (we were partying...) and it worked! I was too gun shy to try it ("Man fixes pump in freezer, ends up dead...") but it impressed me that it at least seemed to work?
It kind of reminds me of a Hiwatt guitar amp, really sturdy and simple but does exactly what I want it to do and does it very well. I've read lots of Omnipod issues "every time I change a pod my BG goes through the roof..." and also quite a few people mentioning "I got my waterproof Animas wet and fried it!" posts about those. The Animas Ping does have a much snazzier display though.
I have an Animas Ping. This has been a wonderful pump for me. It has a variety of infusion set options that include steel or teflon canula, different lengths of tubes and being available from various suppliers. I like the colour screen for my old eyes. I like the various fail-safe procedures built into the machine so that boluses are not accidentally delivered. I like the ease of inserting their infusion sets. (Insertion techniques very with different sets.) The Animas tracking software has been very easy to use and has very good reports. The meter communicates with the pump, so all the pump bolus functions can be done by the meter only. This makes it nice to hide the pump under clothing if necessary. Batteries seem to last about a month, which, I think is pretty good. This pump is waterproof and has taken several bumps without fail. I find it to be reliable and durable. There is a myriad of accessories available for it. The Animas customer service and pump training have been superb.
As others have said,it is necessary for you to decide which pump will be correct for your needs. The Animas came to me highly recommended by both a friend and a relative. In my case, the Animas representative seemed very interested in helping me get a pump and my experience from the Minimed people wasn't so good. It is all a matter of looking at what was out there and what will fit your needs. Be sure you have a comfort level with a pump before you choose it. Once you get it, it is pretty difficult to change brands under most insurance terms.
I am very happy with the Animas Ping. Good luck in your choice. Please keep us posted as to what you choose.
Brian Wittman
Acidrock,
I couldn't help but notice your comment about your pump and its damage during exercise on a very hot day: ..."14 mile run that started at 87 degrees and was probably in the low 90s by the time we were done? I was drenched, including the pump. "
Of all my years in working as a theater/stage technician, perspiration is a big problem for wireless microphone transmitters worn by actors. Warning, this might be TMI, but what we did was to take a non-lubricated condom and encase the transmitter pack inside when we strapped the transmitter to the actor. the latex condom stretched enough to get around the microphone transmitter pack and provided an open end for antennas and micro wire connections to the microphone itself. I would think it would work to protect a pump as well. Note, be sure the condom chosen is of the non-lubricated variety.
Just a thought. If you were to try it, please let me know the result.
Brian Wittman
Jisy
That's a good idea although, since the MM has the CGM in it, I keep it handy to keep an eye on things when I'm running? It would also certainly liven up the conversations along the trail? What I've started doing is putting into a ziploc bag which works ok but maybe your solution would keep it more secure?
I should call MM and see if they dx'ed the sucker as I'm signed up for another season of running this year and, if spring is any indication, it's likely to be hot again!
I forgot to mention that small rubber band can be used to seal the open end, if necessary. that will sufficiently keep moisture out. Good luck. I hope it works for you and generates some good stares and conversations too!
As a termite inspector in California my job requires me to “snake” in and out of tight spots under houses and attics, as you know not all crawl spaces are alike.
I decided to go with MM. I have had it know for the last 6 months and like you I really didn’t think it would work with my job, truth be told I was really thinking of different employment within my field. Well days turn to weeks and now months. I have to say its the best decision I have ever made going on the pump and has not slowed me down at all.
I bought a sleave from the MM site for added protection, best 10 bucks I spent and with the adhesive on the infusion set has not failed me once. My only problem is when I get out of an attic I need to be a little bit careful cause if I use my body and slide out, then I rip out the site, and it’s only happened once.
I hope this helps
each company lets u try a loaner. I suggest that because they are different and cost so much.
Wow, this condom idea is a great one!! I too use a plastic baggie, along with a spibelt (I enclose my pump in a plastic baggie and then store my pump in a water-resistant spibelt that I got at my local running store). I too run outside during the summer and tend to get very, very sweaty. Not to mention the times I have gotten stuck in the rain. I will give the non-lubed condom thing a try!!
Acidrock - please let us know what minimed finds out regarding your old pump. I am curious.
I have the Minimed Revel and love it. It comes in 2 different sizes, so you can pick the reservoir that fits your needs (I use the 1.8 ml which holds 180 units of insulin; there is also one that holds 300 units). The Ping only comes in one size, which holds 200 units of insulin.
Overall, the Minimed has exceeded my expectations. I've had my Revel for a year now and it has worked flawlessly. I've gone hiking, camping, backpacking, distance running, cycling, etc -- and this baby has just kept on ticking!! I do put a small screen protector over the screen and I use skins available from SkinIt.com to keep it somewhat scratch-free. Despite all this activity, I have learned how to stash it inside a spibelt and tuck the tubing in my pants to keep it out of the way. Never ripped out a site or damaged my pump.
With pumps, you have to be a little creative. Thankfully, they are pretty small now, but you have to find creative ways sometimes to hide it. I know some people will cut very small holes in their pockets and then run the tubing through the hold and keep the pump in their pocket. This keeps the tubing AND the pump out of the way. Some people completely rely on Spibelts. You have to experiment and find what works right for you.
I would highly recommend getting one. If you're active and have any kind of variable schedule, a pump is really going to help.
Hi Danboy, I use OmniPod and absolutely love it. I agree with those who say that it's a very personal decision and that you should try each one out. I was on MDI for 25 years so was very slow to move to a pump because I found the tubed pumps intimidating and complicated.
My experience with OmniPod has been that it is so super easy to use. There is no insertion set to deal with like there is with tubed pumps. You stick the pod on and press a button...and it's automatically inserted. I've had no pain and no bruising. I honestly forget where I have it placed. I love having the benefits of variable basal rates and the other benefits of a tubed pump without having tubing to tangle with in my clothes or while sleeping.
People often say that there is a big learning curve with pumps but I have not found that to be the case with my OmniPod. Maybe it's because I was on MDI and carb counting for so long that I didn't have to learn that part of it at the same time. As far as the operational aspect of the OmniPod, it's easier to use than my cellphone, that's for sure.
With respect to the earlier comment about BG going through the roof after pod changes, I have not had that experience as a pod user. My experience thus far has been one of ease of use with no pod problems. I have read similar posts about high bg levels after insertion site changes on tubed pumps as well so I think this is one of those your experience may vary kind of things.
Ultimately, you have to decide which one you feel most comfortable with but definitely try them out. The flexibility in making changes to basal rates is worth it.
I'm a 40 year MDI Type 1 Diabetic. Getting serious about pumps this year (yes, finally...) I'm leaning toward the Omnipod, but barely. I wore a demo unit for one weekend, and that was not too great an experience. After about 24 hours, the unit had completely fallen off my skin due to my clumsy ways. I was wearing it on the back of my arm, which seemed like a good place but turned out not to be. It soon became part of me, and I forgot it was there. Then the trouble started. First whacked on a door frame, followed by a number of other obsticals. It finally tore off, leaving the sticky pad on my skin but no pump from this repeated abuse. That slowed my consideration of a pump quite a bit, but I'm back into research on them and still prefer the Omnipod format to other pumps. Going to try a demo unit again, but in a different body location. Hopefully with better results this time.
I also found this pump: http://www.solo4you.com/ Any one heard of it? It has one single option that the Omnipod doesn't have that interests me. You can bolus from the pod itself, without the remote device. If Omnipod were to get that, I'd be 100% for Omnipod. Though the Solo is not water proof, and seems a bit more work to use. I hear that the Omnipod will be release in a new design this Summer, so I'm hoping to see at least this improvement added. The only news I heard on the new Omnipod is that it's supposed to be smaller in size, but with the same size reservoir or bigger. Here's a pic I found of the new Omnipod.
I'd never thought about screen protectors. Do you just use the ones created for cell phones and cut to the size of the pump screen?
No, one usually comes with the pump and then you can order replacements.
I'm not sure if you meant lens film covers or the "skins". For my Ping, a free skin was offered when I bought it but I had to order it. I ended up not liking the skin - it's very thick and makes the pump bulkier. I believe the medtronic skins are thinnner covers.
You say you "react more like a type 1" - have you been tested to make sure you are, in fact a Type 2, and not a type 1? Antibody testing and c-peptide are the way to know. You will have an easier time getting approved for a pump if you are, in fact, a Type 1. Many of us are misdiagnosed due to age.
Thanks Zoe. I meant the lens film covers. I have the skin, one of the first things I got to make sure my pump stays pretty like me LOL. I have a minimed/medtronic revel and don't recall getting a lens cover. I'll go back through my things, if not I'll be at the endo tomorrow I'll ask there and then call my medtronic rep if they can't help.
The Solo system is appealing to me (as an OmmniPod user) because of the ability to just snap the pump out of the cradle. Thats why there's no need for it to be waterproof because you just snap it out and snap it back in.
Being able to bolus from the pod itself wouldn't really appeal to me because I'd have to be a contortionist to be able to see to do that with many placement options.
According to the website, it's "FDA-cleared" but not available for sale yet. I wonder how long before it will come out.
In the summer of 2010, I went the Animas Ping. The main reason I went with that pump was because it was waterproof and my insurance wouldn’t cover the Pod. The pump lasted about 8 months before Animas replaced it. The replacement pump lasted two months before it died. When the 2nd one died, I went round with Animas because I didn’t realize that their replacement policy was that they could send a refurbished pump, which they did. I did not want a refurbished pump and just wanted a label to send it back to them. They ended up giving me a new pump. That pump sat in a drawer for a year and in Jan I decided to try pumping again. Pump #3 lasted not quite 48 hours before it died.
The Ping has a very high failure rate – I am not the only person that has experienced that. I know a couple people using the Ping’s predecessor and are worried about having to get the Ping when their pump dies.
I have a bunch of friends using MM pumps and the majority of my friends have not had to have their pumps replaced. If I ever decide to get a pump again, I would definitely go with MM.