At last! DSN called re: new pump!

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PattiEvans

PattiEvans

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Had a phone call from the “Pump DSN” at the diabetes centre yesterday regarding replacing my Spirit Combo on which the warranty runs out next month. She has made an appointment to see me on 23 November to run through the pros and cons of the two pumps on offer, which are the Medtronic and the Omnipod. She’ll show them to me and go through their features. Unfortunately I barely got a word in edgewise during the phone conversation, so I don’t know which models are on offer, Medtronic 640 or 780 and whether the Omnipod is the Dash or not. Srill, it does give me a basis to start some research.

I’d be Interested to hear from people on either of those pumps. I’m leaning towards the Omnipod, I gather it has a handset but am I right in thinking the handset isn’t a meter?
 
Hi Patti i have been on the omnipod dash since june the first 4 to 5 wks the freedom from tubes was brilliant and using the pdm that has no cgm saves getting the pump out for a bolus and settings ect but i did have a problem with several pods witch turned out to be the pdm at fault witch hear in france they replaced in 2 hrs by post since then i have been making miner basal adjustments and has been fine since, i did have medtronic 640g before which is a good and easy to navigate settings ect but is a heavy pump mine came with a contour next link CGM which you can bolus from that saves getting the pump out and it does have a good variety of cannulas with different tube lengths i hope i have given yo a small insight to both pumps,
 
Mmmm thank you, that's interesting. I have been on a Roche Combo for 8 years, it has a pdm which is also a meter, so only one thing to carry., but I do like not having to get the pump out to bolus. I hear the Omnipod customer services are quite good here.
 
Hoo flippin Rah, Patti. At the very least get a free dummy Omnipod by ringing them and asking, to see if you are allergic to their adhesive. I wasn't BUT they cover a skin area twice as big as Roche cannulas so that's different for starters and I didn't like that cos I have long had a finite amount of flesh which absorbs insulin well and already find replacing them every 2 days to be exceedingly tedious.
 
Jen, I've already had the dummy pump. Do you think they will send another?
 
trophywench said:
Hoo flippin Rah, Patti. At the very least get a free dummy Omnipod by ringing them and asking, to see if you are allergic to their adhesive. I wasn't BUT they cover a skin area twice as big as Roche cannulas so that's different for starters and I didn't like that cos I have long had a finite amount of flesh which absorbs insulin well and already find replacing them every 2 days to be exceedingly tedious.
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i use cavilon on more sensitive sites which works fine i fill with about 120 units of fiasp which lasts 3days and some times i go the extra 8 hrs if its not convenient to change on time,
 
Hi @Pattidevans from another ex combo user.

I am using the Medtronic 780G. It weighs about the same as the combo, but you do need to access it. I have got over that by stuffing it in my bra at the front if wearing a dress, or under the strap at the side if wearing a skirt or trousers. This drove me potty at the start. It it is fine now.

I am using it in a closed loop with the Medtronic sensors, and would not want to go back on that now. I ran it in manual for about a month at the start to get used to the change over. They are very intuitive and much the same as the combo. You can enter a glucose value from your Libre for bolus decisions if you are comfortable doing that, which we weren’t able to do with the Combo.

if there are any questions, ask away
 
….. and I generally change my sensor every three days. The cannula patch is much the same as for the combo. Similar choices of 90 or angled. There is one very similar with an inverter device.

I find the support excellent, and my supplies arrive in good time.
 
It is true there are 3 inches between my breasts when lying flat on my back whilst naked but not between the underwires on my bra whilst dressed. Likewise, not enough room under the sides of bras, hence not options open to me. I have to have pockets! With dresses, this involves opening the inner seam of the pocket(s) leaving a gap wide enough to get the business end of the tubing through, to attach to the cannula.
 
That's good news @Pattidevans I've only had one pump the Omnipod but I was always anti the tubes and wires of the older style pumps but i have been very happy with the Pod.

They wouldn't send me a 2nd trial pod when I asked.
As I'm retired and daily about the house I tend to only keep my phone and L2 reader with me. If I'm out for a meal or overnight I take my pod PDM with me then.

I'm male but the Pod fitment is easy peasy but of course I have none of the issues Jenny mentions. 😱
My skin is perfect after Pod use but I do use a adhesive release spray to unstick it so it peels of simples.

Good luck do let's know which way you choose and why.

Best
 
Matchless said:
i did have medtronic 640g before which is a good and easy to navigate settings ect but is a heavy pump mine came with a contour next link CGM which you can bolus from that saves getting the pump out and it does have a good variety of cannulas with different tube lengths i hope i have given yo a small insight to both pumps,
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The 640 weighs 135gms with a battery and cartridge full of insulin
 
Thank you everyone for your comments, all taken on board. @SB2015 I’d love to do the looping, but I can’t see me being funded for the sensors and from previous research re costings I am even more unlikely to be able to fund them myself.

I don’t seem to have any problems with adhesives, neither from cannulas nor from the Libre. I do use Cavilon under the cannulas. I started that when I had a box of duff sensors that had barely any sticky in them, but Roche replaced them.

I am definitely leaning towards the Pod. We go on holiday quite a lot and despite being 75 I still enjoy sunbathing and swimming (Hubby says I’ve not yet got to the stage where I frighten the wildlife when wearing a swimming costume). The tubed pump is a veritable PITA and stops me going in the sea as much as I would like due to the hoo ha of taking it off, putting the plug in etc and worrying about BG levels due to the time it’s off. Plus it’s awkward to wear with a costume.

At present I just carry my phone when I go out as it reads the Libre. I take the PDM +lancing device and strips only when we are eating out.
 
Continued: Sorry... iPad charge ran out and have had to fire up the Laptop.

I've really not got much room in my bra (like @trophywench) being a bit top heavy. I've hardly worn a dress or skirt for the last 8 years as it's so much easier to stick the pump in the pocket of my trousers, so I'm looking forward to being able to wear a dress more often. Wedding invitations are coming in thick and fast this year... another arrived this morning.

Yes.... so leaning towards the pod... and that will lead to opening up more places to put it i.e. not practical to put cannulas with tubing on my arms and I find legs and back awkward. Obviously I shall be shown the actual pumps on 23 November and have the pros and cons explained.

Glad to hear any more comments and I'll definitely let you all know what transpires!

Just edited to add that I currently only fill my Combo with 140u to last 6 days, so presumably I could adjust that for the 3 days the pod lasts?
 
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Pattidevans said:
Continued: Sorry... iPad charge ran out and have had to fire up the Laptop.

I've really not got much room in my bra (like @trophywench) being a bit top heavy. I've hardly worn a dress or skirt for the last 8 years as it's so much easier to stick the pump in the pocket of my trousers, so I'm looking forward to being able to wear a dress more often. Wedding invitations are coming in thick and fast this year... another arrived this morning.

Yes.... so leaning towards the pod... and that will lead to opening up more places to put it i.e. not practical to put cannulas with tubing on my arms and I find legs and back awkward. Obviously I shall be shown the actual pumps on 23 November and have the pros and cons explained.

Glad to hear any more comments and I'll definitely let you all know what transpires!

Just edited to add that I currently only fill my Combo with 140u to last 6 days, so presumably I could adjust that for the 3 days the pod lasts?
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just thought say my diabetic nurse said you donot have a 4 year contract because its a throw away after 3 days so you ycan change your mind at any time and go for another pump which was a plus for me if something better came along .i would check as i am not in the uk.
 
Matchless said:
just thought say my diabetic nurse said you donot have a 4 year contract because its a throw away after 3 days so you ycan change your mind at any time and go for another pump which was a plus for me if something better came along .i would check as i am not in the uk.
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One thing the nurse said on the phone was "You need to make the right choice as you will be stuck with it for four years". So obviously it's different here! I think the hospital enter into a contract with the manufacturers to get better prices.
 
Yeah, all the ones I could have in a different part of England to Patti, still a 4 year contract. Oh - and I think it's the CCG that enter into the contracts not the individual hospitals.

@Leo - as the only people you are allowed to see re your diabetes say the CCG looks after your D, ring them, repeat what you have been told and ask them why they will not allow you to see someone properly qualified and equipped to assist you especially as you work for a hospital that can??
 
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