MM780G Insulin Pump and sensor

[Ilse]

Hi there!

I am Ilse and I am new to this forum. I have diabetes type I since about 10 years and picked up my third pump today, it’s the Medtronic MM780G. I am one of those people who is completely comfortable being a cyborg and think the tech on my body just increases my quality of life enormously. I have been using my previous Medtronic pump in conjunction with the Free Style Libre sensor for 2 years now and like the Libre for being small and giving me good insight in my glucose levels and patterns.
Medtronic has always appealed to me for their ideas of a ‘closed loop’, i.e. a pump and sensor that together ideally do what a healthy pancreas does, providing us diabetics with about the same normal life as others have. About 8 or 9 years ago, I had the opportunity to try a Medtronic sensor together with their pump. It was absolutely crazy! The sensor needed calibrating all the time and was not accurate in the first 1-2 days and also not accurate in the last days of its only 7-day lifetime. There were so many alarms, and especially at night. I am a vast sleeper and can (unfortunately) sleep through hypos but also through alarms. My poor partner at the time would, however, wake up every time and, in the end, I decided that this sensor is just not right for me and my partnership.

A lot has changed, however, and Medtronic seems to be getting closer to the ‘closed loop’. Can anyone advise me on the Medtronic sensors now? How efficient are they? What do they cost? Do you think it is worth the money?


Thanks a lot, and all best wishes,

Ilse

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

One of our hosts @SB2015 is due to switch to the MM780G soon (not sure if sensors are likely or whether Libre will be continued), and moderator @MrDaibetes is using the MM670G which has the earlier version of Automode.

I used the MM640G with Enlites, which I could reliably restart for 14 days of good data and I absolutely loved ‘smartguard’. I swapped to Guardian G3 (which replaced enlites) towards the end of my time with my MM640G and found them just as accurate as Enlites for me, though they requested calibrations more often, particularly overnight.

G3 sensors are £50 each near enough, and are listed for 7 day wear, but some people can restart for 10-14 days fairly regularly. Transmitters are £250ish I think, and are guaranteed for 12 months.

I think there is supposed to be a new medtronic sensor ‘out soon’ but that could be years away with the way these things go!

When it came to upgrade I decided to switch to Tandem tSlim with Control IQ (their version of automode) and I am self-funding Dexcom G6.

I have been very pleased with the accuracy and ease of use of the Dexcom, which gives me excellent results such that I rarely feel the need to fingerstick check any more. They are factory calibrated, but you have the option of calibration if you need to pull a sensor into line at any point.

There are always a few things about pumps that drive you nuts, but I have been very pleased with the tSlim and the way its algorithm helps my BGs - especially ‘sleep mode‘ overnight. I’m looking forward to my next HbA1c as my Time in Range results are looking very perky these days.

 

[MrDaibetes]

I do use the sensors, I'm not sure on cost as I have mine funded. They are very efficient in my opinion and I have also used dexcom. I find guardian sensors much more accurate, the only thing that annoys me is how you insert them but I am used to it now, so it isn't an issue for me.

 

[SB2015]

I am awaiting a start up for the 780G. I will be self funding the sensors required for this pump to act as closed loop. I have no experience of using the Minimed pumps and have been an Accu Chek fan so far with excellent support. As @everydayupsanddowns says every pump has its pros and cons and we only have each one for four years which will pass so quickly.

I have good control, with the last HbA1c at 44, and my TIR around 80% but I am hoping that the new pump will mean that I can use a bit less of my time thinking about my Diabetes.

I look forward to hearing how you get on and working with each other using this new pump.

 

[Flower]

I use G3 sensors with the 640g . I haven’t had an issue with accuracy and without any hypo awareness I rely on them to be accurate and keep me as safe as possible.

I find the calibration slightly annoying when I start a new sensor and calibrate after 2hrs warm up then again approx 5 hrs later- it always seems to be around 2/3 am and I haven’t found a way around it unless I start each new sensor in the morning.

I have restarted sensors sometimes and get approx 5/6 days extra but it can be a faff removing the transmitter without dislodging the sensor (transmitter needs to be disconnected & recharged then reconnected to extend sensor life).

I haven’t used any other type of sensor so can’t compare but for me they are a lifeline.

I hope things go well for you and your MM780G pump.