Medtrum Nano - battery depleted

[CharlieP]

Hi. I've had two 'battery depleted' errors recently. I live in the Netherlands and don't speak Dutch very well, so I have battled to communicate with the NL Medtrum helpline. I was told to merely wipe down the underside of the pump base and reuse, and was told that the battery "doesn't run down". There is also no mention of a battery in the Medtrum Nano guide, but I presume the battery is the pump base. I have a new pump base but can't find any instructions on how to add a new pump base to the system. If I go into settings/insulin pump/Pump Base there is a greyed out option to delete the current pump base, so not possible to delete it, so I can't add a new pump base, which I had hoped would solve the battery problem. It's been a bad 6 weeks with using the Medtrum Nano - 6 occlusions, two battery depleted alerts and one patch error - 9 wasted patches in 6 weeks and a huge amount of frustration. Any advice on the battery depleted issue appreciated. Thanks

 

[Inka]

Welcome @CharlieP 🙂 Sorry you’re having pump problems. I’ll tag @helli for you as I’m pretty sure she uses that pump.

 

[helli]

Thanks for the tag @Inka.
Yes, I use a Medtrum pump. Like @CharlieP my first few weeks were not great but, once I got use to its quirks, it has been good.
Regarding occlusions, I find it occludes when I take large doses. If my bolus is greater than 4 units, I used the combo bolus option.
It has been a very long time (years), since I had a patch error (apart from battery depletion errors).
Recently, I had a few of these battery depletion errors. I was told this was a pump base issue although it is reported as a patch error. As the contacts looked fine (I check them at every pump set change) and I was confident the patch was fully engaged with no gap for water to get in, I was given a new pump base.
The option to change pump base is greyed out when the pump is active. You need to deactivate it first (Insulin Delivery-> Deactivate Patch).
Then, you should be able to delete base and add a new one (Settings->Insulin Pump->Pump Base->Delete Pump Base).
After that you can add a new base.

The UK Medtrum team are great and always eager to help me out. I wonder, Charlie, if it is worthwhile calling them when you have support issues. They may not be able to provide new kit but they could walk you through how to change settings.

 

[CharlieP]

Thanks @helli and @Inka for the quick responses. I've actually used the medtrum nano for about a year now. It works well for a number of months and then I hit a patch of occlusions and then it's fine for a few more months and then a group of occlusions again. I hadn't checked against bolus volume but will watch out for that. Battery depletion is a new issue for me. @helli thanks for the tip on deactivating and then deleting. Yes, you're right, I think the UK helpline is probably a much better option. Super helpful - much appreciated.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope the pump base workaround does the trick @CharlieP

 

[helli]

then I hit a patch of occlusions and then it's fine for a few more months and then a group of occlusions again. I hadn't checked against bolus volume but will watch out for that.

Probably worthwhile clarifying this a little.
The official advice I was given was to combo/extend boluses bigger than 5 units. I usually combo bolus and am overly cautious so do this for anything over 4 units. As my insulin dose is relatively low, this is never a problem for me. I just have to remember to adjust the percentage on combo to give myself all the correction and at half the bolus upfront (unless its for pizza which as a complete other ball game).