Question for Ping users...

[Rddoms]

I used to pump with a MM 722 with CGM. After 3 years without a complication, the pump leaked overnight, sending me to the hospital with severe acidosis. This happened on Dec. 16 as well as on Mar. 6! Needless to say I quit using the MM 722, and was stuck with a $30k hospital bill, $5k of which was an out of pocket expense.

Two years later, I am contemplating returning to pumping. In 8 months, I will be starting the clinical science years of medical school. Basically, I will be working in the hospital all day with a schedule that is anything but regular. Pumping allows for more flexibility, plain and simple.

I will not use a MM product (although I have the **** thing sitting on my desk). Because the Ping will have integrated CGMS soon, that looks like the pump for me. CAn some of you Ping users tell me about your experiences with the system?

For people using DexCom7, what are the probes like? The MM sensors were HUGE, and were rarely accurate. Does the DexCom system generally have positive reviews?

Sorry for the long post, and any help is appreciated.

[telizas]

I decided on the Ping partially because what I have read from people on the Dexcom is that its more accurate. Now, take that with a grain of salt, because this is all anecdotal from forums like this, when I was looking into getting a pump. Now, once its integrated with the Ping, who knows? But overall, it seemed like people were happier with the Dexcoms than with the the Guardian.

I don't know if the Minimeds have this, but you can preset limits on how much insulin to stop at over a day... you can of course change this, but generally speaking, it will stop you from giving yourself more than XX units in any one bolus. Now, if there was a major malfunction, then, well, it wouldn't work, but there are set-able limits. (I use mine to let me know I'm having a carby day. :) )

[HuskerMychal]

I use a ping and have for about 4 months, LOVE IT. I tried the Dexcom for a couple weeks. On me it read consistantly about 20% higher than a finger stick. But they do say the new intergrated one will be more accurate. I am going to try it to be find out. I did not find the sensor to be to large. A bit larger than a set for the ping.

[JediSkipdogg]

I can't comment on the Ping as I have not used it but I have used previous Animas pumps. Their pumps are great pumps fully of many features. Where was your MM pump leaking at? Just curious what the problem was.

For people using DexCom7, what are the probes like? The MM sensors were HUGE, and were rarely accurate. Does the DexCom system generally have positive reviews?

I can comment on the Dexcom as I've been using it over two months now. The propes are very small, much smaller than MM. I even personally think they are smaller than an infusion set. I have never had any pain besides a minor prick inserting them. Their system is pretty accurate. I find it generally always 10 points off for some reason. Even when I calibrate it, it won't take the exact reading I enter, but one approximately 10 points off. Not sure why on that part. But it's consistent, so not a problem for me.

I wear one sensor for approximately 14 days. I think 17 is the most I got out of one. And when they die, they die. It's easy to tell when you enter a calibration and it takes it, yet you are rising and it's dropping or something like that.

My biggest like of the system is the small transmitter. Much smaller than the MM and you don't have to recharge it, which makes the restart of a sensor much easier. Basically, just a two hour wait restarting on the receiver, no removal or reseating needed.

Another MAJOR like over the MM is you can calibrate while your rate is changing. I try to calibrate as close to 100 mg/dl though as BG meters are most accurate at that reading, so I figure I need the most accurate calibration point to enter. But you can calibrate while you are going up or down and the system stays on accurately. You also are not forced to calibrate. With the MM if you happen upon an inconvenient calibration time you stop getting data. With the Dexcom, you still get data, it just yells at you continually (I want to say every 15 or 30 minutes) until you calibrate, but you still get data.

My dislikes are the receiver battery kinda sucks. With modern technology I can't believe it only last 3-4 days before needing recharged. I generally just plug it in overnight with it in my bed so that's not an issue, just an annoyance. Why they couldn't put better batteries in it or even user replaceable is beyond me. Yes, in a year or so they claim the battery will have to be replaced and that requires buying an entirely new receiver. STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My other dislike is no memory. I think this is how they keep the transmitter/sensor so small and also require it to not be recharged. If you get out of range of the receiver, you will lose data. It can also partially throw the data off requiring you to recalibrate early. Generally though, not a big deal.

I highly recommend the system and can answer any questions about it.

[Rddoms]

Thanks for the replies!

The MM 722 was leaking where the cannula and the adapter meet (the adapter connects the infusion set to the reservoir). I am an active sleeper, but MM called their product leak-proof. Bad form!

So I have been trying to get more info on the Animas pump with integrated CGMS, and it seems as if the remote-meter will not be a part of the new system. Can anyone confirm or deny this, because the remote makes the system more discreet.

[spinnb7]

i have had my ping for a little over a year now, and its been great. i love pumping, its easy to use, no problems with hooking it up to the computer.
i tried the dexcom when it was the 3 day and did not like it very much, i had a lot of problems with it, but i have been told the dexcom 7 was way better.

[butterflykisses]

Sorry you had a problem with MM pumps. I never had a problem with the pump, but their customer service and billing. What made me go with the Ping this time was the meter/remote.I love not having to pull out my pump to deliver boluses/correction. It's also nice to be able to check other information, like cartridge level. It bothers me to think that they would integrate CGM and take away the meter remote. Maybe having two different sources trying to communicate with the pump at the same time is the problem? I hope to be able to be able to afford CGM at some point and would hate to have to give up one for the other. :(

[sarahspins]

I love my Ping, the Meter/Remote makes bolusing super simple and easy, and I really like the Dexcom system a lot too.. I am anxious to see them integrated, however I have to say that I did NOT choose the ping based on the future CGMS integration. I've heard rumors that the first generation integrated pump will NOT offer the meter-remote, so I may not upgrade right away if that is the case... the dexcom receiver is really easy to carry around in a pocket, so having a second device is not a big deal for me.

[Bethanne]

Thanks for the replies!

The MM 722 was leaking where the cannula and the adapter meet (the adapter connects the infusion set to the reservoir). I am an active sleeper, but MM called their product leak-proof. Bad form!


I had this problem once. Strangely enough, I wouldn't call it bad form. I mean, products are recalled from every industry every day. You'll hear stories about sensors being bad, test stripes being bad. Sh*t happens. The pump, itself is a good pump and it has so many worthwhile features, I can't imagine going with another company for my pump.

As far as the Dexcom goes. I have one, and like the accuracy. There are cons, mostly being that it's not hooked to my pump and it doesn't have a memory. Those are bigger than I thought they were going to be. I'm considering switching. I met with my MM rep last week and got a taste of her data software... and wowza! I was impressed. It would be nice to have one rep, one CDE, one go-to gal.

I think, either way, you'll be good. The inaccuracy is because the sensor does not test your blood. if it says you are falling, you've already been falling... that's just the nature of the beast.

Good luck!

[yanki01]

woohoo, just got approved for my PING pump today. sorry for the thread jack but wanted to get it out! Im excited!

:D

[Rddoms]

Hopefully I will be approved for the Ping and a DexCom 7 within 2 months! Wish me luck.

[Mich]

I'm at the tail-end of my Cozmo warranty and have been eyeing the Ping. It looks fine, and you all make it sound good, The screen is small, but the writing is large. I am excited about the Dexcom 7.

A friend of mine just went from the Cozmo to the Ping and says one thing she doesn't like is that you can't back it up when you change your mind in the middle of programming a bolus. She says you can only go forward and have to cancel the whole thing and restart. Does this present a problem to any of you?

Mich

[sarahspins]

A friend of mine just went from the Cozmo to the Ping and says one thing she doesn't like is that you can't back it up when you change your mind in the middle of programming a bolus. She says you can only go forward and have to cancel the whole thing and restart. Does this present a problem to any of you?

You can back up if you're using the Meter-Remote to program a bolus. I program 99% of mine that way (since I always test before meals/snacks - it's convenient to do it on the Meter-Remote).. so it hasn't been a problem for me.

On the pump, the process of programming a bolus is almost the same, but there is no back button. You have to go all the way back to the main menu if you change your mind.

[Funnygrl]

Thanks for the replies!

The MM 722 was leaking where the cannula and the adapter meet (the adapter connects the infusion set to the reservoir). I am an active sleeper, but MM called their product leak-proof. Bad form!

So I have been trying to get more info on the Animas pump with integrated CGMS, and it seems as if the remote-meter will not be a part of the new system. Can anyone confirm or deny this, because the remote makes the system more discreet.
This sounds more like an issue with an infusion set/tubing than the pump. Most infusions sets are made my Unomedical regardless of which pump company sells the pump or the sets. Therefore, you're likely to be using the exact same tubing regardless of what pump you buy. If you're so worried about DKA, untethered pumping may be an option to consider.

[butterflykisses]

A friend of mine just went from the Cozmo to the Ping and says one thing she doesn't like is that you can't back it up when you change your mind in the middle of programming a bolus. She says you can only go forward and have to cancel the whole thing and restart. Does this present a problem to any of you?

Mich

The Ping is no Cozmo, that's for sure! I'm not sure about what "back it up" means, but if I'm understanding, its not been a problem for me. I accidentally go into the wrong bolus screen all the time, usually the "normal" bolus, and yeah, you can't hit a back button to go back to the main bolus menu. However, its not difficult to get back to the bolus menu since its the first option on the main menu, a couple of button pushes. That's just on the pump though. If you use the meter/remote to give your boluses you can go back. The thing that drives me crazy is the combo boluses.

What drives me nuts is the combo bolus menu. I use this one a lot, changing the duration and percentages a lot. You first put in the amount of insulin you're going to deliver using arrow buttons, then push "OK". It automatically goes to "GO". If you want to change the duration you have to use the arrows to go back up, push "OK", use the arrow buttons to change it, push "OK" and it goes back down to "GO". So if you want to change the percentages you have to arrow back up, push "OK"...you get the picture!!! Its a major pain in buttocks! It really took me a while to get use to the navigating the Ping after using the Cozmo.

If you go to the Animas website under Support, click on the Ping and at the bottom of the page is link "How to use your OneTouch Ping". That will give you an idea about how the navigation is.

[akielpinski]

I have used both the MM sensor and the Dexcom sensor. For me personally, there is a comlete night and day difference between the two.

The MM sensor is very uncomfortable (I can barely keep it on for the three days without going crazy) and the readings rarely match my bgs. And it's not consistantly off in one direction, so it's hard to track. For instance, the CGMS said I was 80 and finger stick said I was 60. Later, CGMS said I was 140, finger stick said 200. So it's not consistantly off in one direction.

The Dexcom sensor is very comfortable, I could barely tell it was there. I felt like I could wear it forever. There were periods where it wasn't exactly on, but more times than not it was. It was much more helpful in trends and catching highs and lows.

This is just my personal experience. I'm sure there are those who've had great success with the MM CGMS.

[Rddoms]

The MM sensor is HUGE, and the introduction needle is even bigger. I felt like a cougar bit me everytime I changed it! I'm about to get started with the Ping and Dexcom 7 (to upgrade when the integrated pump/CGMS system is released.

I will never use a MM product again, but that is due to unfortunate past experiences.