54 Comments
If you use an insulin pump, do you prefer that your pump be rechargeable or use batteries?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
In the day of cable, several tv’s, flashlights, and video games I have sets of rechargeable batteries I rotate. Yeah for my pump too but carry a newer regular battery all the time “in case.” Was told not to use rechargeable because of the lifespan and the first year or so didn’t.
But around the house I’ll switch to rechargeable but it doesn’t matter, costs are insignificant.
Even though I picked batteries, I’d need to know more about how the rechargeable pump would work. Would it accept back-up batteries? How would I deal with no place to recharge it? I really don’t have enough information to make a decision.
Kristina Blake said she has portable device charging units.
I’ve used both types and don’t have a strong preference. Changing the AA battery in my old Medtronic pump was not a big deal for me. The rechargeable feature of my Tandem pump (and the reservoir bag) gives it a slimmer profile which is a plus, but I did fail to recharge in time once, lost power and went high. I also had to replace the reservoir. I now plug myself in at bedtime every few days. I’ve wondered how I’d handle recharging on a long camping trip or during an electrical outage. That could be a problem, but thankfully not one I’ve needed to deal with yet.
Rechargeable notebook, rechargeable phone, rechargeable pedometer, rechargeable lantern, rechargeable corkscrew opener, rechargeable chain saw, rechargeable grass mower, rechargeable power suppliers, rechargeable tSlim X2. Now if I could just acquire some biological, age-reverser energy-level recharger . . . ? Are you listening age researchers? (๑♡⌓♡๑)
On a day to day basis I don’t care but I did like the battery option with Medtronic and have missed it on occasion with my Tandem when a quick battery switch would have been a convenient option!
I hate how toxic batteries are to the environment, so using Tandem which is rechargeable is my choice. It is so easy to just charge my pump while I take a shower, drive my car, or my favorite way (plug in while I am at the computer). Plus the charge lasts about 4 days if I forget to charge every day.
Thanks, I just plugged in while I was reading this.
I have mixed feelings about both. I supposed rechargeable is preferred.
I lose power in FLA a lot. I want both: rechargeable with battery backup.
I used to enjoy the freedom of batteries when I had my Medtronic pump. I went kicking and screaming when I switched over to a Tandem pump. I don’t like the feeling of having to be tethered to the wall or computer. Life seemed simpler with batteries, and less confined.
Just charge every time you take a shower. That should take care of most of your being connected while charging.
I do prefer to recharge. Love not buying batteries. Just nervous about the possibility of any extended power outages.
Any one who has been in a natural disaster knows it’s easier to find batteries than a charging location when electricity is non-existent for days. I will always choose batteries.
I assume batteries might be useful if one lived away from proper electric current
6 of 1, half dozen of the other… I would actually prefer a pump with REMOVABLE rechargeable batteries so that in power failure situations where charging isn’t available, if the pump batteries need charging I could EITHER recharge the pump’s batteries OR remove the drained pump batteries and insert standard or Lithium batteries to power my pump until the local power outage situation is resolved so the pump’s own batteries could be recharged.
I prefer rechargeable. Appropriately getting rid of dead batteries is getting harder and harder. I also have portable device charging units. They came in handy during an ice storm that left us off the grid for over a week.
My old Omnipod controller used batteries. I like not having to buy batteries, but they lasted a lot longer than a charge on my new Omnipod controller. I check the charge level pretty often, but it seems like it takes a long time to get down to 60%, and no time at to go from there to 5%. Luckily, it turns itself off and doesn’t go completely dead. I do wish they had gone with USB-C though. I have to keep a separate charger for my pump from my phone.
For the last year of my Animas pump use, I actually HAD the best of both worlds since the Animas Ping pump I had could be powered by Alkaline OR Lithium batteries and the last year I used my Animas pump there were rechargeable Lithium batteries that worked in my pump. If the pump had built in battery charge options it would have been even better, but my last year with my Animas pump, I was powering my pump with ONE rechargeable AAA Lithium battery that powered the pump for a week or longer and I only had to switch from the rechargeable Lithium battery to a standard Alkaline battery during the times when my pump’s Lithium battery needed recharging.
I also recycle all the batteries.
My pump is rechargeable bit I would prefer a battery. Recharging is frequently required and a cord is just more to take when traveling.
I prefer to recharge my pump if it is a tubed pump and battery’s if it is a disposable pump or Omni pod
Batteries are more environmentally harmful so rechargeable is my vote. I have a small portable USB charger that works for power outages.
My pump uses batteries, but I believe I would “prefer” a rechargeable option. I realize I could use rechargeable batteries, but Medtronic strongly cautions against it (unless it’s the only battery you have) so I just don’t.
My pump has rechargeable batteries and I like it that way. I live in California so because of earthquakes I did buy a small solar power battery for my phone and pump.
I switched from Medtonic to Tandem because the tandem pump algorithms and the use of the Dexcom sensor are much more accurate. However, I miss the one month Medtronic batterly life compared to the 3 day Tandem rechargeable battery life.
I used a Tandem X2 which has a rechargeable battery. However, a AAA battery is the easier and faster to replace. No cord attached to your pump. Yes, the X2 can be charged from any USB jack, but you can’t move till the pump recharges. You can disconnect the pump, but not for any long period of time.
I chose a rechargeable pump. The only time I wish It ran on batteries was when we have a power failure. It makes me nervous. Too bad they couldn’t have a rechargeable one with a back up battery just in case.
I used one of the first pumps back in the 1980s, made by Cardiac Pacemakers. It had a nonstandard rechargeable NiCad battery that had to be recharged each day. It was terrible, as I had to make special arrangements for charging if I was in situations where no electricity was available. The batteries were removable, so I could charge one while another was in the pump. I’m sure that the current rechargeables are better, but since my experience with that first pump I have always been glad to be able to just change to a new battery when needed. I have a large stockpile of batteries so I will never run out.
I’ve been using Omnipod for about 6 months and haven’t had to put a new battery in the handheld.
I have of pumps
I put batteries because I envisioned the pump having to be away from me to recharge.
I’ve used both, and adjusted to whichever method the pump used.
I prefer replaceable batteries. While it doesn’t happen often, I have had to revert to using an old pump for days to months while waiting for a replacement or a new pump. I know that I can put a battery in a 10-to-17 year old pump and not have to worry about going back on injections and especially not having to inject long acting insulin. You can’t store a rechargeable pump for that period of time and expect it to work. I can carry a spare battery and change it in seconds rather than be tethered to a power source.
I do use rechargeable NiMH batteries in my pump. Each lasts around 2 weeks. I have 8 of them so always have several charged and ready to use.
Probably because I don’t used the CGM capabilities of my Medtronic pump, a single AA battery lasts me months. If I change to a rechargeable pump, only getting a few days of battery life will definitely be a sore point. Forgetting to charge or not having a source of electricity for charging is a pain for a phone or my IPad, but if my pump turns off that’s dangerous! They really need to provide an alternate to charging since it’s a medical device.
I have no preference. The pumps are similar sized.
We live in a rechargeable world now sorry but I can depend on batteries. Sometimes at an inopportune time it needs power.
Tandem so I recharge every few days (maybe 5) when I’m on my PC and I have a 10 ft. USB Cable for charging when I wake up early
Rechargeable because I already feel guilty about all of the DME packaging I generate.that gets dumped in the landfill.
I said no preference because I couldn’t decide.
I’m not attached to batteries (and they are harmful to the environment), but I do worry about getting caught out not being able to recharge (like in a power outtage… also, hiking away from power sources… like in the mountains… not that I do that, but if I did, there’d need to be some sort of power source to charge up with.)
I had a battery charge pump for over 25 years before getting a rechargeable, and I did prefer the battery, just one less thing to have to keep an eye on. But it isn’t a strong preference, wouldn’t change for it.
Having used both types of pumps, the battery type is less time consuming & safer in an longer lasting emergency situation. I’m using a re-chargable pimp now & 1st thing I bought was a large power bank (20000mAh Power Bank) potable charger just in case we lose power. The t:slim X2 uses $ 9.95 mini usb cable for charging & for uploading info. I would prefer a another type of charging port ( USB “C”)
For the past 10 years I’ve been using a pump that has required a battery – convenient if one has batteries on hand! Frustrating, when traveling and a spare battery has been forgotten – then scrambling to find a battery asap! Switching to a pump this spring that will be rechargeable. Jumped at that opportunity, as in most cases, one can find an outlet to recharge the pump when it’s getting low.
I prefer the batteries. The Medtronic 770g is great for me. I lived in South Florida and went through 3 hurricanes and had no electricity for days. This terrifies me. I recycle all of our batteries, so environment is not an issue.
Me too!
The ONLY way rechargable batteries will work is if ther is one on the charger and would replace the one in the pump when it discharged. ZERO down time is MANDATORY!
I would rather use batteries just in case of power outages.
I use batteries in my pump. I prefer batteries. Rechargeable things usually don’t remain charged long.
I am about to change from a Medtronic pump to a t-slim pump. I didn’t realize the t slim pump is rechargeable. Why couldn’t they make it to take both rechargeable OR regular AA or AAA batteries? I have used rechargeable batteries in the past years ago, but they got to where they didn’t keep the charge very long. I am supposing that t-slim’s batteries are better than that?
My charge lasts probably about 4-5 days but I usually don’t let the battery get that low. So easy to charge every day since if you charge everyday (while in the shower for instance), it probably only takes about the time it takes to take a shower to fully charge
I prefer the batteries. We went through an ice storm a few months ago and lost our power. I was in a panic that my T-slim would run down before we regained power. I never found myself in this situation with Medtronic as I always had batteries on hand.
I prefer the rechargeable pump. When I travel to see my son in the UK, batteries would weigh down my luggage. And the pump itself is also much lighter. For a rechargeable pump, in case of a storm, the pump will hold its charge a few days, and I would have to get to an area with electricity pretty quickly, as otherwise I could no longer get all my prescriptions filled and so on using my computer or phone. Also, when traveling, I bring a backup charger, which could be used in an emergency. It is lighter than those batteries I used to need for my previous pumps.
I didn’t know there are pumps using non-rechargible batteries! Would that eliminate the 2 hour wait time to receive bgs reading on my pump???
I chose “rechargeable”, but there are downsides to both power options. My Tandem pump does not seem to deliver insulin as well with lower battery life (less than 75%). Daily recharge is annoying and dangerous if you forget or don’t have a cable or port handy. Batteries are very convenient especially when traveling or away from charging ports. Rechargeable is more cost effective given the high cost of batteries. Battery-driven pumps result in a heavier and bigger pump.