Looking for a new pump

lilme20 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 09:38 PM

hi all i'm looking to get a new pump any suggestions?

Rddoms · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 10:01 PM

I get my ping on Tuesday, so I will let you know what I think on Friday. The Animas pump is teaming up with Dexcom soon as well, and that will make for an unbeatable system.

I wasn't a fan of Minimed because of the customer service, but I'm sure not everyone has the same experience. Also, their CGMS sensors are huge, and hurt like **** when I inserted them.

What pump are you using right now?

Lizzy · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 07:18 AM

Well, today marks my 3rd year anniversary of being on the Animas 1250. I have always had good results with it and very good service when needed. I am hopeing they will be integrated with the Dexcom when I am ready for a new one since I am also using the Dexcom 7+. Just remember to get your new one based on your own wants and needs, not by what others suggest.

poodlebone · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 08:12 AM

My only experience is with Minimed. I've been using a MM pump for 4 1/2 years and added the CGMS about 1 1/2 years ago. Unlike the other poster, I have no issues with the size of the Minimed sensors. The needle looks huge but I rarely ever feel it. I was terrified before my training and it just wasn't an issue. Overall the size of the sensor & transmitter seems to be smaller than either the Dexcom or Navigator and alsos eems much more sturdy. I've heard of so many receivers & transmitters for the other systems dying suddenly, or a piece snaps off and it doesn't work.

However, that's all CGMS and not everyone is even interested in that. All of the pumps have features that aren't on the others and they're usually minor. Animas has a very small basal & bolus rate which is great if you're very sensitive to insulin. Minimed and Accu-Chek have the biggest reservoirs, so if you use a lot of insulin those might be a better choice. OmniPod has no tubing but the Pods are somewhat big and many people have issues with them not working. The Pods do have automatic cannula insertion which is good for people who are afraid of needles (yes, even diabetics can be afraid of needles!). The Pod also shuts down after 3 days (plus a few hours, I think) so if you're caught somewhere without an extra Pod, you're stuck. If you leave the PDA behind or lose it, you can't bolus.

I have had no problems with Minimed. In the past 4 1/2 years I've spoken to two people who were jerks. I just called back later and spoke with someone else. Most of their people have been great.

kgm0612 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 08:15 AM

It's coming up on 4 years next month......MiniMed 515.

My advice.......call the different pump companies and set up an appointment with a representative. This way you can get the information you're looking for, be able to actually see & hold the pump and learn its features. Then you can decide from there.

Good Luck!

Karen

lilme20 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rddoms

I get my ping on Tuesday, so I will let you know what I think on Friday. The Animas pump is teaming up with Dexcom soon as well, and that will make for an unbeatable system.

I wasn't a fan of Minimed because of the customer service, but I'm sure not everyone has the same experience. Also, their CGMS sensors are huge, and hurt like **** when I inserted them.

What pump are you using right now?

Cool that would be great, i've read info on the ping but it's always better to talk with someone using the product then just reading what the sales team says! at the moment i'm on the Deltec Cozmo. i've had it for probably 4 years now but they arn't making it anymore and mines just starting to go on the fritz.

lilme20 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 07:36 PM

thanks for all the insight everyone. i've had a little look at some of the pumps mentioned and still going through the rest. thanks again for you help.

Rddoms · #8 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 06:59 AM

I am absolutely thrilled with the ping so far. It is very easy to navigate, the Inset infusion sets are very comfortable, and I like the menu system better than with the Paradigm system. With the ping, there are less sub-menus to go thru to get to a particular setting (hopefully that makes sense). I will update next Friday and tell you how it worked thru finals week.

Subby · #9 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rddoms

I am absolutely thrilled with the ping so far. It is very easy to navigate, the Inset infusion sets are very comfortable, and I like the menu system better than with the Paradigm system. With the ping, there are less sub-menus to go thru to get to a particular setting (hopefully that makes sense). I will update next Friday and tell you how it worked thru finals week.

You find the interface good compared to the minimed? Personally I thought it seemed clunky, going by the flash demo of the pump on the ping site. I use a big variety of dual and square boluses, and it seemed to take a lot more steps to work with those on the ping. The settings menu seems weird to me, you seem to have a whole stack of pages to go through, compared to a nestled hierarchical menu on the paradigm. Does the remote work differently? Has anyone used the flash demo, is it still up to date?

Don't get me wrong, I assume the menus work just fine as no-one seems to complain. But when I tried out the demo I was expecting something slicker and more streamlined.

Rddoms · #10 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 08:14 AM

As far as steps to go through, there are a few more with the ping. My point is that it is easier to find every setting with the Ping. It may take a step or two more to change said setting, but every setting is easier to find with the Ping (in my humble opinion).

Subby · #11 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 08:27 AM

Fair enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilme20

hi all i'm looking to get a new pump any suggestions?

I think Liz above had some good points to raise between the few pumps you have to consider. Some might make good obvious sense like a larger reservoir for the 722, or finer tuning for the ping if your insulin needs are low (therefore changes to dosage when adjusting, small). I assume you might get a better deal with one or the other financially according to your situation, have you sorted that out? After that it might come down to basically personal preference and taking a jump for it.

I also have had no real issues with minimed, they promptly replaced a pump with a stuck button when I informed them at about 3pm by the next morning, and other troubleshooting help has been timely and reasonable. I've had a couple of more terse conversations, but in the end they have delivered - every time. I can't think of anything to complain about with the pump as a traditional tubed pump, or a single feature "out there" that I really miss. It's a pretty vanilla affair as far as I can see, but I prefer it that way. I don't want to love my particular pump as if it's an ipod, I just want it to be invisible to me so I get on with life. I clip it in my pocket and forget about it, when time comes to use it it's dead easy, and that's the way I find it works. I don't sit there wishing it had a bigger screen or that I could take it scuba diving. If these things do matter to you, be sure to check out the Animas.

Lack of luer lock connection, meaning the sets available are more limited, is often seen as a major limitation of the paradigm system. Maybe, but I have found that the 5 or so major types (and variations of length of cannula etc) have provided me more than enough to find good set solutions - and I seem to be quite a tricky case when it comes to sets. Some barely work for me.

I used the paradigm CGMS a month or so ago, and I completely forgot the sensor was there, no issues for 6 days. Accuracy was reasonable to show me important trends, and I thought it all worked as a great system - if only it was affordable here. Maybe sometime soon.

Rddoms · #12 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 08:40 AM

Other infusion sets can now be used with the Minimed, from what I read. I saw that they offer a reservoir with a luer-lock fitting.

When getting a new pump, try a few types of infusion sets. Insets are extremely comfortable tus far, and are pretty small. Qiucksets have an easy connection method. I am waiting on the orbit and orbit micro samples, and expect those to be rather nice. When you meet with the pump representatives, tell them that you want to try different infusion sets, and they will be happy to accommodate.

Infusion set information, pump compatibility and manufacturer links

The above link is the most comprehensive list of infusion sets that I could find, hope it helps.

lilme20 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 07:35 PM

thanks for all the tips and pointers guys. i havn't really looked at the finance side yet. i know that sounds silly, looking at the product and not the price, but thats just the thing i want the best i can get. once i have a list of the once i'm going to aim for then i'll look at the prices. i'm not a tomboy but i'm not a girly girl either, i love to have a wrestling match with my brothers and i give them back as much as they give me so it's really a mater of getting something thats easy to use and that i'm not going to break with in a few months of having it.

amccrazgrl · #14 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 08:39 PM

I have the Cozmo also since 2005. My is on its last legs also. I had to call numerous pump suppliers for a new cartridge cap. Now I have a black cap and blue pump. I also noticed my clear area where u can view how much insulin left in the resivour has a crack.
I'm sad as I'm not a big fan of change but,
my mom just got a Ping about 6 months ago and loves it.

The only things I don't like are the no set change reminder and smaller resivour (can't spell.)

fenagle · #15 (**permalink**) 11-12-2009, 03:09 AM

One thing I have found on all of the forums, we are all very biased toward the pumps we are currently using. I must also add that I would be very surprised if we weren't. Why would we be using a pump that we didn't think was the best. I have the Ping, started on the 2020. I am very pleased with the customer service. Not having a pump expert answer the phone at 5:00 am is not a big deal for me, since when I call them at that hour someone always gets back to me within 5 minutes. As for comparing the functionality of the different pumps, I would not be able to help you. I wore the MM for 3 days with saline when I first started looking at pumps. I didn't know what I was doing. If you were to wear one, or even play with one, I am sure you would know what you are doing and what you are looking for in a pump. Give the companies a call. Good luck and remember, whatever selection you make is the right one for you.