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If you use an insulin pump, did you try out any pumps before you committed to using one?
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I’ve used multiple insulin pumps, but not through samples. I would switch after my warranty had ended if I wasn’t satisfied with my current pump.
Me too, Theresa. I was started with Minimed, went through several iterations of that, tried Omnipod, was looking at other options and was ready to go to Asante Snap right when they folded, and now with Tandem. Really liked the idea of using the glass prefilled cartridge with the Snap, but am happy with Tandem.
Trying out an insulin pump was not an option offered to me. I used Medtronic/Mini Med the first pump because it was the one my doctor mentioned. I switched to Tandem years later, again without a trial period.
I was nervous about how my skin would react to the adhesives, so my CDE gave me a deactivated Omnipod to wear.
Back in 2000, Medtronic had 85% of the market share and that was the only pump suggested to me by my endocrinologist at the time.
My local health authority organised a session where companies could present their pumps and answer questions. No one was offering free trials though omnipod offered non-working models to try.
I decide on my own which pump to use. I started out in 2001 on a Medtronic. Used it a short time and stared on a Desitronic until they stopped making pumps. Went to Animas until they went same as Disetronic. Went on Medtronic. Switched to Omnipod a couple years ago. Now I am on my Medtronic 770g and it’s CGM. Love it!!!
I no longer wear a pump, haven’t for 10 years. But up until recently, the endocrinologists and CDEs would only consider Medtronic. Same for CGM: one CDE who was wearing a Dexcom, said I would never be able to get one, only Medtronic. After I quit pumping, I was finally able to get a Dexcom.
The trial periods are a joke. I was just off MDI and learning a pump, adjusting settings, etc takes much longer than 10 days to sort out. At the 1 month mark, I knew the pump system would not work for me, and I was stuck for 4 years.
I suffered with it a full year, then learned of a better health insurance and enrolled. They said they’d cover a new pump for me, and I switched after carefully “playing” with all the ins and outs the first several days. What an improvement.
What pump did you finally choose?
My first was the Omnipod, that was 5 years ago. I then went to Tandem, almost at my 4 year mark with it.
I went to a TCOYD conference and was able to see all the pump options then available.
I just found out the ONE conference is on for August in San Diego!
I’ve never been offered a chance to try alternatives before deciding. I just compared the features of each pump online.
My first endo had a Minimed loaner pump that I was able to try before I got my own. I knew I wanted a pump as soon as I learned they existed, but my endo wanted to make sure it was going to work for me before we embarked on surmounting the insurance barriers.
The yes option would be I tried other pumps but no trial or sample.
My endo said the Medtronic was probably the best when I got a pump, but I knew tubes were not going to be a good option for me. It was Omnipod or MDI. Omnipod gave me a couple of pods to try for “feel”. They did not have any insulin in them.
I originally chose Minimed/Medtronic because it was the only pump my insurance covered decades ago. When I began looking at new pumps 2 years ago, I wanted to test out the Omnipod through their free trial offer, but a prescription was required for the sample, and that would lock me in to using Omnipod, according to insurance. I got to try out a tandem at my doctor’s office for a day (no insulin delivered) before I opted to use Tandem. I think the trial offer from Omnipod is a scam, so I hope to hear that others were able to do it successfully.
I got that too. Then, they said once I got a real one with the Rx, I had 10 days to change my mind. Took more than 10 days to get the settings anywhere near close to working for me…I lost track of time and missed the deadline.
I was on a medtronic pump b4 I switched to tandem. I did get a sample cgm from dexcom b4 I totally switched to dexcom/tandem
I used Medtronic because it was the only one insurance approved at first but when I could changed to the one I used now because it for my insurance and my needs
I tried a clinic pump, I could not see the real time data until I returned it to the clinic for down load. It was more than 20 years ago.
I went on to use Autosyringe, Disetronic, Minimum, Animas and now a Tandem pump.
I had a prior one and could only switch to a Dexcom to use the CGM system.
I wish I could have tried all the available options before committing to one. I was on Medtronic’s for 16 years before switching to Tslim. I was able to do a trial with Omni pod. Just would have been nice to try all the other options.
Insurance only covered medtronic
I used different Medtronic models for extended periods of time, I tried Omnipod, but it didn’t deliver the small amount of insulin I needed back then. ‘Decided to trial a new Medtronic before switching to Tandem which I like most aspects of, mostly it’s compatibility with Dexcom and now Control IQ. If Medtronic had been compatible with Dexcom or had a better sensor, I probably would have stayed with them.
Getting a trial run on a machine that expensive seems like more work than it’s worth. Wish it was an option tho!
I started on the pump almost 34 years ago it was a new life first time I felt somewhat normal. Medtronic was the only one available and was so welcomed.
No, I wasn’t offered any free trials. After 60 yrs of MDI I went to my first PWD conference where I was surrounded my 90+ adults wearing many varieties of of diabetes devices. There was a short Q and A with a Medtronic rep, a conference member wearing an Animas Vibe and another conference member who was involved in the development of the iLet pump. I returned from the conference knowing that I wanted to switch to a pump but knew nothing about any of the details. I researched low income assistance, found that Animas offered a substantial discount and that was the deciding factor.
When I started pumping in 1997 the endocrinologist I was seeing due to insurance only used MiniMed. I wanted a pump & at that time they were the best & latest on the market so I was okay with it. I have done an Omnipod trial, I like the idea of no tubs but it was hard to keep on, for me.
My Endo C-PA reviewed choices with me. I had no choice since Johnson & Johnson would no longer support my Animas Vibe.
I did not try out other pumps before getting the one I wanted, but my previous pump was a different mfg and I knew I did not want another pump from that manufacturer….
When switching from Medtronic to a different pump and cgm system, I wore a saline trial of Tandem with Dexcom G4 and a saline trial of Omnipod with Dexcom G4 … gave me the information I needed to make a decision. I chose to go with Tandem.
I went with my endo’s recommendations. My very first pump was Medtronic and infused saline for a few days to get used to having the pump on. I’m now on Tandem and switched right over.
No. I had already started using Dexcom CGMs and I went to a type-1 diabetes convention in the Cleveland area in the spring/summer of 2019. I was checking out the different pumps as I was planning on starting pump therapy. After seeing that the Tandem pump was already communicating with Dexcom CGM, I decided to go with Tandem as opposed to Medtronic. I remember sitting at a table for lunch with a lady who had an omni-pod and remember her complaining about the size of it (it did look unusually large on her arm so that was off-putting to me). I also had a nurse who told me that Tandem was a much wiser choice than Medtronic.
My Endo has a person on staff that knows about the pumps available and helped me determine which one I would try first. I am still an OmniPod user.
I have used 3 different pumps over the last 12 years. So much better than injections. I try to stay on top of all of the developments and I also read user reviews so that when it is time to upgrade I am prepared to either stay with what I have or make the jump to a new device.
Ironically a FB group and even here some seem real critical of MEDTRONIC, my only concern is their target range (120), otherwise everything about it is exceptional. The only benefit of my last endocrinologist was leading me to pumping, MEDTRONIC was the only option for me. Refused pumping several times because of fears of damaging it but the rep/educator assured if I would be replaced. Cracked it nut worked perfectly, but a battery issue got a new one within 24 hours and an offer for a prescription of Lantus sent to the pharmacy. Great technical support and customer service.
The clown who sold me the pump got a larger kickback from particular companies. Can’t prove it, but 100% sure of it, he’s still making his living from selling them and the business they produce, training, psychology, education….
A good living
I wish this was an option over the last 30 years, you buy it you’re stuck with it, choose carefully.
No. We were not even aware that there were choices. Endo ordered pump while our son was still in the hospital, and he started on it two months later. That being said, he was diagnosed at 18 months of age (9.5 years ago), and Medtronic 530g was the only pump available that delivered .025u.
In 1998 a rep for Disetronic gave me a Sample Pump and Saline to try it out, the Rep from MM said they would Not lend me one to try, he was so cocky about having “the Best” and I{ have Never gone with MM/M but have lost so many friends who did :'(
This was not an option when my doctor suggested Medtronic. I went with her suggestion. Once the pump was out of warranty I chose to switch to Tandem and am very glad I did! In fact, my warranty was just up again and I got another Tandem!