First day pumping!

[BenEBrady]

Well, yesterday was my first day with my new MiniMed 722 pump. Things went fairly well. I've only run into a couple of 'minor' issues... the max bolus limit is a bit of a pain and I was not able to set the sensitivity to the values my CDE wanted, but it's close. Naturally, because the settings are quite what they should be, the Bolus Wizard calculations are a smidge off and I had to do a few correction boluses, but I am SO glad to be off the syringes... I was getting darn tired of 8-10 injections a day (350-400 u / day). I was also able to cut my insulin usage quite a bit, :D which was what I was hoping to do. The variability rate of Lantus was a real pain to deal with.

I do have one question for people using the MM pumps... They recommend Energizer AAA batteries, but has anyone had any experience using the NiMH rechargeables? I have some already that I use with my TENS unit and I'm just wondering if there would be much of a problem using the rechargeables in the pump...

[Gordonm]

Do not use the Nimh batteries. They do not provide a full 1.5 volts. Even though they say 1.5 after the first little bit they lose the top charge and stay at about 1.3 volts. I was into RC cars for a few years and dealt with this charge issue a lot. This will play havoc with your pump. The battery life is pretty good but I pump a lot less insulin tha nyou do so they will not last as long. Really the batteries are probably the cheapest part of pumping. I have heard the Lithium Ion batteries are better and last longer but are more $$$. Mine last me 3 to 5 weeks so it is not really an issue for me. I buy them in quantity so the yare cheap. Always have spares.

[BenEBrady]

Hi Gordon,

Thanks for letting me know about the issues with the batteries. I figured they might not be up to par, whch is why I decided to ask... I was also curious about the Lithium Alkalines so I may try those.

[poodlebone]

I have never tried any other battery in my MM pumps except Energizer. I'm using the CGMS now and a battery is only lasting about two weeks. I'd love to know if others have had success with the lithium AAAs in a Minimed pump and how long they last.

I'm not too worried because the alkaline Energizer batteries are cheap enough but I'm always afraid of it suddenly dying without warning. It seems that my battery indicator goes down to 1 bar quickly and stays there for a long time.

[JediSkipdogg]

Pumps measure the battery based on voltage output from the battery and nothing else. In reality, this is a bad way to measure since measuring mAH would be better, but that's another story.

What happens is pumps are programmed for a certain voltage as max battery. Then when it hits another voltage level it drops a bar and so on.

Most AAA and AA alkaline are rated 1.5 volts, but seldom have that off the shelf. The lithium batteries start out around 1.5 volts, standard alkaline around 1.4, and NiMH around 1.3.

On the Animas pump (the only one technically able to accept lithium ion) you select what kind of battery you are putting in it. That helps to keep the voltage drop on par with the battery meter. Lithium stay higher alot longer and then all of the sudden drop off. NiMM start out low, stays even, then suddenly drop off. Alkaline is the only one that drops evenly over it's life.

Essentially, there is no harm to the pump no matter which one you put in it. However, it can seriously mess with the battery meter and pumps are set up to shut off (allow no delivery) when the battery gets to a certain level. So if you put a Lithium Ion in a pump that can only take Alkaline, it will show full battery and the in one day you can go from full to nothing.

I might be getting a Cozmo soon and I plan on still using Lithium Ions in it, but I'll just keep spares more easily accessable.

[Subby]

I have never tried any other battery in my MM pumps except Energizer. I'm using the CGMS now and a battery is only lasting about two weeks. I'd love to know if others have had success with the lithium AAAs in a Minimed pump and how long they last.

I'm not too worried because the alkaline Energizer batteries are cheap enough but I'm always afraid of it suddenly dying without warning. It seems that my battery indicator goes down to 1 bar quickly and stays there for a long time.

I don't know if you've tried the e2 advanced Energizer alkaline batteries - I saw them on special and decided to try them in my pump. I'll post how much life they give my pump. If they do give longer life, they may be worth getting when at a discounted price, if they have much more juice. I like you get concerned about my pump turning off quick.

Also, I have had some bad batches of the normal Energizers. With one packet each battery failed the initial test. The last battery I had in there gave me a low batt warning and shut off in about 2 hours. Thank goodness I wasn't out bushwalking without a spare.

[BenEBrady]

... Thank goodness I wasn't out bushwalking without a spare.

One of the things I'm now trying to get used to is keeping track of all of the 'extra' things I'm going to have to carry with me in order to maintain my supposed 'active' lifestyle now that I'm not constrained by MDI's.... :D Guess it's time for a new fanny pack... :eek:

[Subby]

Yes, the little spares pack is a very very good idea. Give yourself a little time to sort out in your own head what spares you feel you need to carry. Don't feel it's necessarily going to be big. The bag of goodies I've settled on covers all eventualities but is only about the size of a small novel and very light.

[GeishaGirl]

Yay! Way to join the collective! I've been on my pump for a month now and I can't IMAGINE how I ever did without it! I've been able to drop my insulin by about 20% -- I was doing 33u Lantus and around 80u of Novolog EVERY DAY -- now, between basal and bolus, I'm around 70-90u/day. Still fiddling :)