Cozmo vs Paradigm??

[Metermaid]

:confused: I just rec'd my Paradigm 522 in the mail and now that I am reading the tons of info that came with it:eek: , I am wondering if I need to research this a bit more before hooking up to this. I noticed by reading all of your comments...that Cozmo is also a pump being used. I just went on their site, and it does seem pretty good too. I only went to MM because they kept calling! I went on a 'compare pumps site' and the Cozmo sounds lighter, smaller, and has that CGMS that is attached. How do you all feel about this?? Have any of you used both, so you could give me a better idea of the ease of use etc?? Also, if I were to go with MM Paradigm, how did MM decide to send me the 522 vs the 722?
And they sent the Quick set infusion sets with 9mm and I am not sure if all those choices are the right ones either. I guess the most important question is which pump and then the other stuff can be worked out with trial and error.:confused:
HELP!

[solox316]

Hello, I have used both. I used the Cozmo for 4 years, then switched to the paradigm in Aug of 07.

I loved the Cozmo, it had a lot of neat little bells and whistles, which I thought I would miss with the paradigm. Things such as meal builder and adding custom built "commonly eaten foods". After only a short time, I no longer missed them.

The Cozmo doesn't have a CGMS built on, it is simply a Freestyle meter than can clip on to the back of it (also making it SUPER thick... IMO) The paradigm does real CGMS software built in, but you need to have the extra hardware.

The paradigm is easier to navigate and use at first, but the Cozmo is easy to use as well, once you are used to it.

Personally, I like the size of the paradigm better. It is wider and I think longer, but it is thinner, which is the most important to me.

The 722 holds 300 units of insulin, the 522 holds only 180. Other than that, they are exactly the same. Not sure why then would send you one over the other without having that conversation first.

I would have to assume there are threads on here about pump comparisons if you search for them, that is, if someone more experienced than myself doesn't come along as post those links.

After using both, I would stick to the paradigm in a heartbeat. I use the 9mm quick sets, always have. I love them. I am sure there are threads about infusion sets as well...

[Metermaid]

Thanks for the input!! Appreciate it! Do you know if the 722 is bigger than the 522? Also, Cozmo's website said it is 'watertight', the Pardigm is only 'splash resisitant'...do you miss that?? It seems better for a pump to be 'watertight', whatever that may mean. Thanks...Rita

[JediSkipdogg]

The 722 is bigger, I believe by either 1/4 or 1/2 inch longer due to the cartridge holding more insulin.

As for the watertight vs. splash resistance. The MM is in a way watertight. They lost the FDA title of watertight I believe with the MM 508 which was prone to cracking. However, as far as I'm aware, they have since fixed that problem, but haven't been able to gain watertightness back from the FDA.

NO pump is watertight if it cracks and I would say all pumps are prone to cracking over time. I am surprised that Animas never lost watertight on their 1200 and 1250 pump since it was prone to cracks at the battery cap area. They of course fixed the problem on the 2200 model, but the FDA never did anything to the 1200 or 1250 model which I sent 2 back for cracks and I don't abuse my pump.

If you wear your pump in a place where it may be submerged, check it for cracks first. Look over the entire thing before entering a pool or any water if you wear it in there. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[Metermaid]

I can wear the MM paradigm pump in a pool? That would be excellent! Not that I swim that often. But the shower?

[JediSkipdogg]

I can wear the MM paradigm pump in a pool? That would be excellent! Not that I swim that often. But the shower?

If you check for cracks first. I always take mine off during the shower as there's no convenient place to put it that I won't knock it on the bottom of the shower possibly cracking it or yanking at the infusion set possibly yanking it out.

I'd say a pool is fine, but definitely check for cracks and make sure the buttons aren't damaged. Don't wear it in a hottub or jacuzzi though as the heat will probably damage it if not at the least cook the insulin destroying it.

I still remove mine during a swim though as I don't want it damaged. The only time mine has seen water was during canoeing for a day as the canoe was tipped over about a dozen times.

Keep in mind I use an Animas, but that is what I have gathered from MM users. And my Animas has cracked. I found it cracked the week before I went canoeing and thought I wouldn't be able to go but my new pump arrived Thursday for canoeing on Saturday. If it wouldn't have arrived or I hadn't seen the crack, I defintely would have either not gone or had a non working pump that evening.

[solox316]

Thanks for the input!! Appreciate it! Do you know if the 722 is bigger than the 522? Also, Cozmo's website said it is 'watertight', the Pardigm is only 'splash resisitant'...do you miss that?? It seems better for a pump to be 'watertight', whatever that may mean. Thanks...Rita

I never have worn my pump in the water. I always take it off before swimming or bathing. The closest I get is on the boat it stays on. So that isn't really a factor for me.

[Dewey]

On the flip side, I used a number of MiniMed models of pumps throughout the years until around the beginning of 2004. I switched to Cozmo & have been with them since. Though I now own a MM Guardian CGMS, I've stuck with the Cozmo because I like it.

Nobody can say which pump or company is "better/best," because each pump has specific features that are best for the person using that pump. Personally, I'm extremely satisfied with Cozmo for the features & customization available to me. Others may like MM or Animas better, for reasons specific to their wants & needs.

I've swam in the ocean, lakes, rivers, pools and even sat in a hot tub with my Cozmo without any troubles. When I had my 512, I sat in a hot tub with it also.

I know it can be a hard decision, especially because you'll be living with your choice for the next several years. The best thing to do is what you are doing, and that's asking questions, reading, researching & looking at comparisons of features. I think you'll be pleased with your MM, but if you try it & decide you're not happy with it, I do believe that each company offers a trial period. Hope this helps. :)

[Funnygrl]

I've used the Cozmo and the Paradigm also.

The Paradigm feels like there's been more thought into the way programming "flows" while the Cozmo has more innovative features. Honestly, I wish there was a way to take features from each pump I like and combine them into one pump.

For example, on the Paradigm bolus history you can just flip through the amount, bg, carbs, and time. Clicking on it gives you an overview of the type of bolus and the bolus wizard details. The Cozmo has a similar bolus "summary" but if you want deatails, you need to go to a different history menu and try and find that bolus in a history that spreads info for one bolus onto about 10 different screens- no joke.

Meanwhile, on the Cozmo you can view bg history and IOB on the status screens at any time, whereas on the Paradigm the bg history is only on the pump if you gave a bolus with it, the last bg is only on the status screen if it came from the meter, and the IOB you need to enter the bolus wizard and go through there to see.

The Cozmo has a lot of cool features like the Hypo Manager, custom boluses, custom temp rates, and weekly scheduling. Very nice.

Meanwhile the Paradigm clip is way easier to deal with, and the Paradigm shape is way more comfortable to wear.

The Paradigm it's easy to pass the bolus wizard and just program a manual bolus. On Cozmo you need to go through the bolus wizard with entries of "0" and overrule the end amount.

On the Paradigm if you have an active dual or square wave, it tells you how much is left and for how long right on the status screen. On the Cozmo you need to scroll through the uber-long bolus history again.

I like how the Paradigm's bolus wizard shows me a summary of how it calculates the bolus, but hate how it vibrates. at. each. step. of. the. programming. I also like how the Paradigm let's you adjust the time frame after a bolus to get the alarm as you program it (Cozmo it's a preset time frame, and you basically choose yes or no as you program). Meanwhile, the Cozmo gives you an opportunity to test and cancel the alarm before it goes off, while once an alarm is programmed on the Paradigm you can't cancel it till it goes off.

The Cozmo is also nice because it has more reminders and alerts, and finer increments for bolus amount, duration of insulin action, and temporary rate time frame. It's nice to be able to program a temp rate for up to 72 hours.

Meanwhile, I like how the Paradigm labels the "estimate" amount in the bolus screen, and you can scroll back easily to this amount. On the Cozmo if you forgot the amount recommended and scrollled away from it, you need to go back then forward. If that makes sense.

There are things that are blatantly obvious that I'd like to see both pumps change. Like why do neither have a temp basal history where you can just see when you used a temp basal or suspended? Why can't I choose whether I want to use the audio bolus in carbs or unit increments (it's set to carbs on the Cozmo, units on the Paradigm)? Why can't I choose units or percentage change when programming a temp basal as I'm programming it, instead of needing to set this up separately?

I thought I would notice huge differences when changing pumps, but I really didn't. It's just minor things where I prefer the way one pump does something to the other.

[Funnygrl]

http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/pumping-insulin/20772-paradigm-cozmo-monster-comparison.html

[Doug]

there were many reasons I picked the Cozmo
One that hasn't been covered in this thread is the sales and marketing tactics and by connection the ethics of the companies

I was Dx'ed in 1988 and for years the Minimed sales guys have been promising that a CGMS was 3-5 years away - they also stated they had the ONLY solution. Facts be ****ed

Another thing to consider is that they are the only company that has designed a proprietary cartridge and sets. In the beginning they were the ONLY source for those supplies. Im sure they say the design was changed to improve things. But the Luer lock has been working well for dozens ( if not hundreds ) of types of medical devices. So was the connector designed to help the users, improve safety, improve medical outcomes or to improve revenue ?

[solox316]

Meanwhile, on the Cozmo you can view bg history and IOB on the status screens at any time, whereas on the Paradigm the bg history is only on the pump if you gave a bolus with it, the last bg is only on the status screen if it came from the meter, and the IOB you need to enter the bolus wizard and go through there to see.

The insulin on board home screen was great on the Cozmo. Although it is simple math, it sure was nice to see it right on the screen.

As a matter of fact, all the home screens, as options, we great. You could switch between IOB, basal pattern, last bolus, etc.

So quickly I have forgotten some of the things I loved.

I agree, there could be a perfect pump if we could just take features from both.

[Funnygrl]

I agree, there could be a perfect pump if we could just take features from both.

Yeah, and that's the thought that just sprung me to my 1093 word diatribe. As someone who's used both, you'll understand exactly what I mean by most of my points, I think (hope?).

[JediSkipdogg]

I should also mention there's the Animas 2020 out there which is pretty cool. Might want to take a look into that at Animas Home - Animas Insulin Pumps (http://www.animascorp.com)

There's also the Omnipd, Spirit, and Nispro (sp?)

[Funnygrl]

I should also mention there's the Animas 2020 out there which is pretty cool. Might want to take a look into that at Animas Home - Animas Insulin Pumps (http://www.animascorp.com)

There's also the Omnipd, Spirit, and Nispro (sp?)
Nipro.

Yep, lots of choices. I recommend an informed decision, as one may suit your needs better than another.

[Metermaid]

Thanks everyone for all the good info....one other point I noticed on MM vs Cozmo web sites...is it true that the Paradigm takes a lot longer to deliver a bolus compared to the Cozmo. I was playing around with the 522 in demo mode and it seems forever to deliver 1 unit!!!

[solox316]

You can set the bolus delivery time on the Cozmo, so it will change the volume of each "spurt" (for lack of a better word). The Paradigm gives the same volume, therefore taking a longer time to give a larger bolus. The paradigm is quieter though while delivering, but neither is "loud".

[notme]

Slow delivery isn't a bad thing. When you get your insulin slowly you have less of an issue of pooling and stinging. I have never felt a bolus....even a large one.

As far as the watertight issue, here is what Medtronic had to say.

The Truth About Watertight (http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/watertight.html)

The Truth About WatertightIn the summer of 2003, Medtronic Diabetes removed its watertight claim from the labeling for its MiniMed Paradigm® insulin pumps, as a result of a number of units that had experienced water penetration through cracks in the insulin pump case. While insulin pumps are designed and manufactured to be quite sturdy, they are not bullet proof, and cracking is possible. Because we cannot prevent cracking with absolute certainty, we continue to label our product as water resistant, not waterproof/watertight, and recommend that insulin pump users do not intentionally submerge their insulin pump in water. We believe that our position is the most responsible one to take and creates the appropriate level of awareness for our customers. At the same time, should our customers experience water ingress for any reason, we will replace the insulin pump according to our normal warranty policy.


Other insulin pump companies claim watertight status in their advertising materials, but warn of the same potential for cracking and water ingress in separate documents. The attached excerpt is from Animas' recent summer 2004 customer newsletter:

"Check the pump case for cracks. If the pump has been dropped or knocked against a hard surface, it is possible the case may have cracked. If you see a crack in the case, do not put the pump in water."
Similarly, the following is from Smith's Deltec User's Manual (p. 73):

"As long as the pump's labels and outer shell are intact (no cracks or chips), the pump is watertight.."
Ultimately, there are many things to consider in choosing an insulin pump company - technology, service, support, experience, and track record, as well as vision and commitment to the future. As the world leader in insulin pump therapy, we at Medtronic Diabetes continue to set the standard in these areas with our MiniMed Paradigm insulin pumps.

Still, if watertight is a deciding factor for you, make sure you really understand the truth about watertight.
For more information on watertight or any other area of interest in our products and services call 1-866-948-6633 (toll-free) to speak to an insulin pump therapy consultant.
© 2008 Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
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[4RDUKE]

My son uses the Cozmo and it's wonderful for us and others who he is in contact with that might have to assist him in managing his diabetes.

I would recommend that you get a loaner to test for about a week as we did using saline. We tested both of them out along with our son and we decided on the Cozmo. I would think that the older you get and better you become at managing this disease that you would need the functionality of the Cozmo less and less but its a great tool. Especially the meal tool and customizations and we actually sync our sons pump up with the computer to download data to his Endo. We also have all his data and over the past year and half can really chart his changes. We need its flexibility also as our son is active in TKD, baseball, Royal Rangers, drumline, choir and human video drama.

Watertight is just that not water proof and if you think you can go swimming with electronics on you are fooling yourself. You can both temporary wet/splashed but not submerged. We have purchase an Waterproof Aquapac for when we are on the boat or somewhere where he might get submerged in water and decides not to just disconnect himself. Which is what he does for swimming or at the beach while in the ocean. Then he also checks himself every hour to make sure his BG is in check.

[Keezheekoni]

I have a Cozmo and swam with it in Vegas last year. Dewey and I were also in the hot tub for quite a long time. :)

A month later I went to Cali to visit family and on the second day there I went swimming in my MIL's pool. When I went to check my bg later that afternoon I got a stuck screen. I then looked at my pump and there was water in the battery area. I must have tightened the cap too hard... they had a new one for me out the next day, with a reminder that they do allow us to get a loaner pump for vacations, just in case something like that happens.