Hello

[Troupey02]

Hi there ,
Just joined today although been a type 1 for 47 years
Currently on the Omnipod but by opted to come off the freestyle Libre after approximately 3 years due to it being too unreliable.
I’ve been offered to choose between the dexcom with tslim pump or the Medtronic 780 and Guardian sensor
Not sure but I’m tending to lean towards the medtronic after looking at reviews and videos

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Troupey02
I am using the Medtronic 780 with the Guardian 4 sensors, and very happy to answer any questions that you have.

 

[Troupey02]

Hi,
thanks. The review I saw was for the guardian 3 sensor which seemed to be a bit of a nightmare . I’ve heard the G4 sensor is a lot better. My worry is i do a lot of exercise early in the day and I’d normally run my sugars high as they come down quick , but don’t know how a closed monitoring system would handle this. The last thing I want is a load of hypos when I’m exercising

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Will you have a chance to try the Medtronic sensors before you decide?

If the sensors give you a decent feed of information I think any hybrid closed loop has the potential of providing huge benefits. The algorithms all work slightly differently, and some will suit some people better than others - but my experience of predictive low glucose suspend on Medtronic 640G, and now Control IQ hybrid closed loop on the tSlim is that having a bit of diabetes kit actively helping out in the background 24hrs a day is a complete revelation.

 

[Troupey02]

Hi,
No unfortunately not so I have to make my choice based on other users. Spoke to my Diabetic nurse yesterday who is very much in the know and i made the choice to get the Medtronic 780 with the guardian 4 sensor. Has a lot of good reviews . My concern was hypos while exercising but I’ll have to try it and see. There’s an exercise mode on the pump , which can up your sugars to 8.4 and if you start to fall it slows or stops the supply . You can put it in this mode a few hours prior to exercise and set it as a daily function

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi,
No unfortunately not so I have to make my choice based on other users. Spoke to my Diabetic nurse yesterday who is very much in the know and i made the choice to get the Medtronic 780 with the guardian 4 sensor. Has a lot of good reviews . My concern was hypos while exercising but I’ll have to try it and see. There’s an exercise mode on the pump , which can up your sugars to 8.4 and if you start to fall it slows or stops the supply . You can put it in this mode a few hours prior to exercise and set it as a daily function

Yes you might find exercise mode is sufficient for your diabetes, or you might find you need a combination of exercise mode and adding carbs.

My experience with a hybrid closed loop is that there is a balance to be found between the information you need to provide the pump, and the behaviours you need to adopt to help the algorithm work for you 🙂

 

[Troupey02]

Yes you might find exercise mode is sufficient for your diabetes, or you might find you need a combination of exercise mode and adding carbs.

My experience with a hybrid closed loop is that there is a balance to be found between the information you need to provide the pump, and the behaviours you need to adopt to help the algorithm work for you 🙂

I think Exercise mode and a banana or a small bowl of porridge before I start

 

[jlury]

Hi.
CGM: I have been using DexcomG6 CGM for a few years and find that it is superb - very easy to use, reliable and accurate. Dexcom is the gold standard in CGMs and they are just about to bring out the G7 which . I used a medtronic CGM approx 4 years ago but had to stop because for me it was inaccurate and unreliable, it was also a real disappointment because I had been using dexcomG4 before that which was superb by comparison.
Pump: a month ago I switched from a medtronic640G to a TandemTslimX2. In my experience the Tslimx2 is quite different to "old style" pumps, it is a bit more fiddly with the cartridge change and I had to make sure I got the type of infusion set that was best for me (90deg insertion does not work for me, but 30deg insertion works great. but this was the same with medtronic). And now I am loving it. The control IQ is very good, like others have said, you have the controlQ actively helping in the background 24/7 but when you exercise you can try the Tslim exercise program or set up your own program just as you do currently.
At first I was very cautious of the ControlQ, I did not want to hand over the control to the pump after so many years of doing it all myself!, but now I am a total convert. I wish I could show you my CGM trace from last night which just bumps around at ~6mmol/l while control IQ tweaks my basal all night.
I also love having the CGM display on my pump screen. the Tslim does feel a bit more delicate than my old medtronic640G, and of course there are always details that niggle you a bit, and so far the Tslim has been fine living in my pocket. It also feels like 21st century technology, which is a good feeling after starting with a glass syringe 40+ years ago!!

 

[jlury]

ps. "EveryDayUpsandDowns" has summarised it very well when he says "My experience with a hybrid closed loop is that there is a balance to be found between the information you need to provide the pump, and the behaviours you need to adopt to help the algorithm work for you 🙂"
When I am doing heavy long duration exercise I run my BG high and set my own pump program of very low basal. Then at the end of the exercise I restart contolIQ and it helps me get my BG back to normal without so much "rollercoastering" as I used to have.

 

[Troupey02]

Hi.
CGM: I have been using DexcomG6 CGM for a few years and find that it is superb - very easy to use, reliable and accurate. Dexcom is the gold standard in CGMs and they are just about to bring out the G7 which . I used a medtronic CGM approx 4 years ago but had to stop because for me it was inaccurate and unreliable, it was also a real disappointment because I had been using dexcomG4 before that which was superb by comparison.
Pump: a month ago I switched from a medtronic640G to a TandemTslimX2. In my experience the Tslimx2 is quite different to "old style" pumps, it is a bit more fiddly with the cartridge change and I had to make sure I got the type of infusion set that was best for me (90deg insertion does not work for me, but 30deg insertion works great. but this was the same with medtronic). And now I am loving it. The control IQ is very good, like others have said, you have the controlQ actively helping in the background 24/7 but when you exercise you can try the Tslim exercise program or set up your own program just as you do currently.
At first I was very cautious of the ControlQ, I did not want to hand over the control to the pump after so many years of doing it all myself!, but now I am a total convert. I wish I could show you my CGM trace from last night which just bumps around at ~6mmol/l while control IQ tweaks my basal all night.
I also love having the CGM display on my pump screen. the Tslim does feel a bit more delicate than my old medtronic640G, and of course there are always details that niggle you a bit, and so far the Tslim has been fine living in my pocket. It also feels like 21st century technology, which is a good feeling after starting with a glass syringe 40+ years ago!!

Thanks for the great reply to an alternative. It certainly gives me a harder choice ha. Yes I remember the glass syringe and the metal needles that you had to use til they had a barb on the end and you’d have to force them in. Also the old style urine check. 5 drops of wee 10 drops or water and a clinitest tablet that would change colour