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Which pump?
- Thread starter Amberzak
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Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
We've only ever had the Accu Chek Combo and I can't recommend it highly enough. The test kit acts as a remote control so you can do all your boluses etc without having to fish the pump out from under your clothes. The test kit/remote is exactly like the Expert but with a bit of extra programming to allow it to communicate with the pump, so you should find that easy to use.
The main downside with this pump is that it won't integrate with CGMs. We've never tried CGM and daughter doesn't want to either at the moment, so that isn't a problem for us. But if you think you might be wanting to use CGMs then it might be better to consider one of the other options.
Of course they might offer you the Insight instead, in which case I can't help you!
Whichever pump you pick you will eventually love, just be prepared for some hard work for a little while as you get it all set up correctly and get used to it.
Good luck 🙂
The main downside with this pump is that it won't integrate with CGMs. We've never tried CGM and daughter doesn't want to either at the moment, so that isn't a problem for us. But if you think you might be wanting to use CGMs then it might be better to consider one of the other options.
Of course they might offer you the Insight instead, in which case I can't help you!
Whichever pump you pick you will eventually love, just be prepared for some hard work for a little while as you get it all set up correctly and get used to it.
Good luck 🙂
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Roche have a new pump the 'Insight' out now, which may be worth looking at too if you want to stay with Roche from your Expert experience.
Medtronic are just launching a new replacement for the Veo (which integrates with CGM) called the MiniMed 640G (there's a thread about that in the pumping section). All sorts of new cleverness to potentially avoid many many hypos if used with sensors, and lots of other great features if used without, including some 'bolus from BG meter' options, though the full bolus wizard is still on the pump with Medtronic.
The other pump that integrates with CGM in the UK is the Animas Vibe, which uses Dexcom sensors. General feeling is that Dexcom tend to last longer (especially if you are comfortable restarting sensors), which could be important if you want CGM but are self-funding.
Alternatively, if you are concerned about tubing you could always look at the Omnipod. Has never appealed to me, but lots of people are mad about them.
To be honest it's a very personal thing - and if it's your first pump you can't really go wrong. Once you've got your head around it you will LOVE it!
Medtronic are just launching a new replacement for the Veo (which integrates with CGM) called the MiniMed 640G (there's a thread about that in the pumping section). All sorts of new cleverness to potentially avoid many many hypos if used with sensors, and lots of other great features if used without, including some 'bolus from BG meter' options, though the full bolus wizard is still on the pump with Medtronic.
The other pump that integrates with CGM in the UK is the Animas Vibe, which uses Dexcom sensors. General feeling is that Dexcom tend to last longer (especially if you are comfortable restarting sensors), which could be important if you want CGM but are self-funding.
Alternatively, if you are concerned about tubing you could always look at the Omnipod. Has never appealed to me, but lots of people are mad about them.
To be honest it's a very personal thing - and if it's your first pump you can't really go wrong. Once you've got your head around it you will LOVE it!
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Anyone getting a Roche pump is getting the Insight now I think. My Combo is due for update quite soon and it better be an insight LOL
The snag with the Combo - which won't apply with the insight - is(was) the size of it since it took (takes) a 300ml reservoir - and you have people say with other pumps Oh I keep it down my bra inside one of the cups - Really? - surely not if the pump doesn't have a remote? and in any case the Combo practically fills a 36B bra cup on its own so where does your boob go!
I think whatever pump you land up with you'll love anyway to be honest.
It's only when you live with em that you get to pick flies with anything. But there again, while you can pick flies, I don't think you always notice so much the things yours does really well, that maybe others aren't so good at.
Elsewhere there has been discussion about the Combo not showing you the current state of the battery - it simply doesn't. It gives you an alarm and message when it's getting low which it repeats at intervals after the first one BUT you still have a day or so to get a new one in so it doesn't cause panic. The meter's the same so no paranoia.
Anyway the Insight does so again - NP !!
I have of course, never used any other make so nothing to compare.
The snag with the Combo - which won't apply with the insight - is(was) the size of it since it took (takes) a 300ml reservoir - and you have people say with other pumps Oh I keep it down my bra inside one of the cups - Really? - surely not if the pump doesn't have a remote? and in any case the Combo practically fills a 36B bra cup on its own so where does your boob go!
I think whatever pump you land up with you'll love anyway to be honest.
It's only when you live with em that you get to pick flies with anything. But there again, while you can pick flies, I don't think you always notice so much the things yours does really well, that maybe others aren't so good at.
Elsewhere there has been discussion about the Combo not showing you the current state of the battery - it simply doesn't. It gives you an alarm and message when it's getting low which it repeats at intervals after the first one BUT you still have a day or so to get a new one in so it doesn't cause panic. The meter's the same so no paranoia.
Anyway the Insight does so again - NP !!
I have of course, never used any other make so nothing to compare.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
PS Pumper Sue is actually the only regular poster I have come across so far who has actually changed makes of pump and her old one did do things better than the new one from what she said. However since they stopped making her first one - she was stuck with having something different. That's not quite the same experience that will apply to most of us.
Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Actually that is one slightly annoying thing about the Combo - when the handset battery is low you get no warning of how low it is, it goes from fully functioning to battery low and it switches the Bluetooth off immediately to save power. So whilst you can still do blood tests you lose all connectivity with the pump, so you have to replace the batteries immediately if you don't want to be faffing about doing all your boluses manually on the pump!
I suppose that's only a minor niggle though!
I suppose that's only a minor niggle though!
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Yes - but you have to do that anyway all the time with pumps without a remote!!
Mind, I've never had the Bluetooth stop when the battery low indicator has come up - I spose if you ignore that until you get its last warning it might. Do you always turn the meter off as soon as it starts delivering any bolus? cos otherwise the Bluetooth just stays on until the meter turns itself off and there's no point once it gets stuck in, cos it's already told the pump what to do and it does it. And of course uses more battery power.
Mind, I've never had the Bluetooth stop when the battery low indicator has come up - I spose if you ignore that until you get its last warning it might. Do you always turn the meter off as soon as it starts delivering any bolus? cos otherwise the Bluetooth just stays on until the meter turns itself off and there's no point once it gets stuck in, cos it's already told the pump what to do and it does it. And of course uses more battery power.
Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
That's why I love the Combo - I'd really miss the remote functionality if we switched to a different pump. Especially on a child in the middle of the night or when out somewhere. I suppose if I'd been given a different one to start with I wouldn't know any different!
When I do boluses I always watch it start to count down and then switch the remote off, I don't watch it count down all the way.
We actually get over 3 months out of a set of lithium batteries which is pretty amazing - and pump and handset always fail very close together so now as soon as the handset advises low battery I change the pump one too. I don't think the pump itself switches the Bluetooth off when it advises low battery but the handset does, I always get a message something like "low battery - pump unavailable" or something. Have never tried to turn the Bluetooth back on again, I just change the batteries at that point!
When I do boluses I always watch it start to count down and then switch the remote off, I don't watch it count down all the way.
We actually get over 3 months out of a set of lithium batteries which is pretty amazing - and pump and handset always fail very close together so now as soon as the handset advises low battery I change the pump one too. I don't think the pump itself switches the Bluetooth off when it advises low battery but the handset does, I always get a message something like "low battery - pump unavailable" or something. Have never tried to turn the Bluetooth back on again, I just change the batteries at that point!
trophywench
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well yeah - ditto - when ones needs a battery - the other gets it too - don't want sibling rivalry do we Sally?
The battery changes just aren't that frequent that they are annoying, to me.
The battery changes just aren't that frequent that they are annoying, to me.
spiritfree
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I am on the new Accu Chek Insight pump and I can't praise it enough. The handset is just like a mobile phone, so it doesn't cause other people to notice you and want to know all about it. The meter is smaller than the combo and it is easy to use. The information on the screen can be made larger, for people who don't see to well. The cartridges are pre-filled and the pump screen tells you what to do through every step. It is a really great new pump and I would recommend it to anyone.
Nyadach
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Currently using the Medtronic 530 and it's been great. Taken quiet a pounding also over the years. But must admit I am drooling over the new 640g which looks very nifty.
Link to 640 review
Link to 640 review
Hi Nyadach, To those who don't know Nyadach. Here is a little storey. He is a lad that travels more than 40miles on a bike to see his Diabetic Dr. He has done "Lands End-John o G" by himself, camping on the way. No help or back up van. T1 on a long journey. All for JDRF. When he says pump has had a hard time ! Well 😱
Nyadach
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It had a really hard time in Oct, head on smack against a tree. Didn't notice it had grown leaves till the next food stop (had a small bush sticking out of it). Mangled the infusion set though which I didn't notice till after the event, but it lived and I'm still using it. 🙂
p.s. Great seeing you Hobie 🙂
p.s. Great seeing you Hobie 🙂
heasandford
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I have a Roche Accuchek Combo which I would certainly recommend to anyone. The only thing about the new Insight is that I read somewhere (where?) that the cartridges only hold 200ml, which may mean changing more frequently? The Combo holds 315ml, which is perfect for me for the maximum 6 days allowed between cartridge changes
trophywench
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
The Insight does only hold about 200 heasandford. The bespoke Novorapid cartridges for it only hold 180 - ideal for moi, can't wait !
315ml lasts me nearly 11 days - far too big.
315ml lasts me nearly 11 days - far too big.
Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
200 units might just last us 6 days if we're very lucky, but not if daughter is on a growth spurt! I usually put 220-250 in depending on what BGs have been like (usually higher and needing lots of corrections when growing). So that's one thing I don't like the sound of for the Insight. However I don't think we're due for a new one yet, is it every 4 years that you get a new one? In which case we've still got another year and a half with the Combo so I don't need to worry about it yet!
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