[Type1Ely]

Hi everyone i'm about to get the pump the first week of October and i'm not sure which one would be best for me. I'm deciding between the Cosmo or Medtronic. I take a minimum of 14 units of insulin per meal and my insulin to carb ratio is 1:3! are some pumps able to hold more insulin and if so which ones? also, does the injection site get easily irritated or infected and does it hurt? It doesn't hurt when i give myself injections because i take about 6-7 a day(more if i have to correct bg). I'm just wondering if there's a preferred pump for anyone. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Gordonm]

The pumps pretty much do all the same things. It boils down to which one suits you the best. There is no one best pump. I am on the Medtronic 522 it holds 180 units. The 722 will hold 300 units I'm not sure on the others. Trial some of the pumps. Most of the reps will let you "use" one for a few days. This is just pumping saline or I just used it like I normally would but it was not hooked up and had no insulin in it. I was set on the Animas until I tried them all out. I preferred the Medtronic but looking back the Animas would have done just as good.

Do the sites get infected, They can. I have been pumping almost 2 years and no infections or even iritation. It does not hurt at all. Maybe a slight pinch when inserting but after that I cannot even feel it is in. There are many different types of sets you can use. Also a personal prefference. You may find your I:C ratio changes also the amount of insulin you use. I cut my usage back about 25% when I went on the pump.

Good luck it is the best thing I have done. Why did I wait so long to do it.

[notme]

Hi Ely, Go to the pumping insulin section on this site and read read read. There is several stickies that compare pumps and pump companies. We are al different and like and want different things.

This thread is particularly good as it explains the pro's and con's of the different pumps. Pump Comparisons.....All about pumps/companies

[kgm0612]

Hi Ely..........

Another suggestion would be to call each pump company and ask them to have a rep in your area call you. Have each rep come out to your house and actually show you the meter and it's features. This might help you to make your decision.

Good Luck!

Karen

[Type1Ely]

thanks for the advice that thread is very informative! i'm still reading since there's a lot of pumps to pick from.

[Type1Ely]

i'm glad that pumps can hold up to 300U of insulin because i seem to have to take a lot more than before but i expected that. and i'm happy to hear it doesn't hurt-thats a relief! and i'm sure once i get the pump i'll be in love with it because taking so many injections a day gets to be overwhelming. thanks so much for the great advice

[Lloyd]

The Cozmo holds 300 units.

Note that filling the tubing requires around 20 units, depending on the length of the tubing, so you really need a pump with 300 unit capacity.

-Lloyd

[Tropical83]

Hi Ely, I use the Minimed Medtronic and that's the only pump supplier I've ever used so I really can't give you any info on a variety of pumps.

I will say that I have had itchy sites but it was only when I didn't change within the given 3 - 4 day time period. I've never had an infection but when I take a really old site out it leaves the area itchy, it goes away after a little while.

Good luck picking out a pump.....it feels like Christmas when it comes in!

[NoelD]

I think trying both out will help you decide. You should be able to get a loaner from each company's local rep, or at the very least, an in-person demo.

My ratio fluctuates from 1:3 to 1:7, depending on activity, the wind, the sun & moon, and a few other things. You're not alone.

[GMG]

Ely,

Those are really good questions. I recently began pumping insulin after about 6 months of MDI. I was originally diagnosed as a Type 2, but was rediagnosed a Type 1.

Like you I have high insulin requirements. My correction factor is 1:10, and my insulin to carb ratio is only 1:5. What does all that mean? It means that due to the high amount of insulin I am taking, I needed a 300 unit pump. There are only a few pumps on the market that are 300 units.

The Cozmore pump by Smith Medical is an okay pump. It is 300 units, it has a standard infusion set connection called a Luer lock connection; that means you have more types of infusion set available to you. The Cozmo pump is one of the most feature rich pumps on the market. In short, it does alot! Why didn't I choose the Cozmo pump? Because it is ugly! If I am going to have to use the pump in front of people, I want it to be have a contempory look. The Cozmo pump looks like it was designed 20 years ago. Functionally, a great pump; just not very impressive in the design department.

Another 300 unit pump is the Nitro Amigo. I've seen this pump in person and it looks cool. But, it is a little larger than the other pumps. Also, the Amigo takes a special battery that you can get at the Pharmacy; but maybe not everywhere else. The Amigo seemed to be a basic pump. Nothing too special; but nothing too terrible either. Why didn't I choose the Amigo? Well, honestly it hasn't been on the market in the US very long. In fact, Nitro pumps are only recently available in the US and I didn't want to be a pioneer!

The last 300 unit pump is the Medtronic Paradigmn 722. The 722 has a sleek thin design, comes in four colors, is feature rich, interfaces wirelessly with the glucose meter and my home computer, and has the optional Continuous Glucose Monitoring built right into the pump. Medtronic's customer service people are awesome. From the time I placed the order until I had the pump was 7 days. I accidently ordered the incorrect infusion sets....and Medtronic arranged for an exchange at no cost to me...not even shipping!

As you've probably guessed,,,,I chose the Medtronic 722. I've been pumping for about a week and love the pump and the security of knowing I can contact Medtronic any time I have questions.

And for those who are thinking I work for Medtronic, I don't. I am actually a Financial Analyst; working in insurance.

Good Luck Ely.....sorry for the LOOONG post. But just wanted to help out a kindered 300unit pumper.

GMG

[Dewey]

Hi Ely,

I think the best way to find out which pump will suit your needs, is to physically get a feel for each one in hand. I've heard folks complain about the looks of the Cozmo, but I've been with the company for four years & loved every second of it. I went for functionality over fun/form factor, and have been very happy. Personally, I loved the look of the Cozmo, but to each his or her own.

Though I opted for the One Touch Ping this time, it was an extremely difficult decision to make, because I loved the Cozmo so very much (& Still do!).

My best words of advice are to try & (possibly, if able) trial each pump, and as said before, get a feel of each pump in hand so that you can make the best decision based on your needs. Choosing a pump is a very difficult decision & never one to make lightly - as it will be with you for the next several years. Hope this helps!

[Lloyd]

If you have an insulin to carb ratio of less than 5 carbs/ unit, Cozmo can be set more accurately.

I have a ratio set of 1:4.4 on my cozmo

With mm, I would have to choose 1:4 or 1:5, no tenths allowed.

It does not seem like much, but I would have a built in 10% error on my bolus with MM. I would have to continually manually compensate.

-Lloyd

[Type1Ely]

I've trialed the Cozmo already and like it a lot. In my case though, it is a matter of which pump my insurance will cover the most. When buying my insulins(humalog and lantus) and test strips my insurance covers a lot of it but i'm not sure on the pump. My endo's nurse is supposed to call my insurance and ask them which one they'll cover more-the cozmo or medtronic but i wonder if the ping holds 300 units like the other two. do you know if it does?

[Type1Ely]

GMG,
Thanks so much for the valuable and in-depth info on the pumps. I of course want the pump that holds 300 Units, just have to make sure which one my insurance will cover. I think i'll give my insurance a call myself instead of waiting for my endo's nurse to do it-just so I have an idea of what to expect. I can't wait to get the pump because I know it'll be extremely beneficial and a lot easier for me to give myself a bolus if I need it. It sucks that my insulin to carb ratio is 1:3 because it requires me to take a lot more than I would like to but it helps me stay within normal ranges of 70-130 after meals. I hope that my experience with the pump will be as good as everyone else's. i'll keep you all posted on my first days with the pump whenever I get it(i'm not sure if my doctor has them in stock or if I have to wait for it to be mailed in) but it'll be like christmas, according to what I've bee told

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by Type1Ely

...but i wonder if the ping holds 300 units like the other two. do you know if it does?

Unfortunately, the Ping only holds 200 units. I was hoping that it would hold 300, but it doesn't. If I need more insulin, I simply refill the cartridge & reload the set. It seems to work well, but it's a bit of an annoyance in comparison to the Cozmo (i.e. if I'm on more insulin, I have to refill or replace the cartridge/set with the Animas more often). Plus, the Ping doesn't have a reservoir window, so you have to look at the screen to see how much insulin is left in the reservoir. With the Cozmo, you can just look at the window, or at the screen (after you press a button) to see how much is left.

I know it's a hard decision & that insurance doesn't make things easier sometimes. Hope things fall into place & hope that you wind up getting the pump that suits your needs.