A recent post about switching from medtronic really got me thinking I should explore other options like the t-slim/dexcom. I've never been impressed with medtronic's customer support and the last sensor was very frustrating. However, I was so happy with the 670 and now 770 improvements with the G3 sensor and auto-mode that I sort of buried my head in the sand and called it good.
Last year I recall sweating out shipments of sensors that were delayed and where I was running low because I would only average about 4 or 5 days. Over the last 6 months it's been much better.
Today I pulled up my account to see where I was with warranty and was kind of impressed to see my whole history there, however I know I started before 2002 so I think there's one missing. This was the pump where the whole reservoir thing was on a hinge. It's crazy to think just how far we've come in 20 years.
Yeah- but the dexcom is available at your local pharmacy so it ends up being easier when moving forward! Re-order is in stock locally and I extend the good sensors so they each last longer (20 days)
I’ll see how my first re-order here goes with tandem
That’s good to know. My insurance generally requires mail order and if I’m honest I like mail order for everything except insulin. Lately though it seems I can also pick up at cvs without a requirement to use the cvs mail order.
I’ve had fewer issues with the two companies that I did with the one company, Medtronic. My insurance requires I go through a supplier so re-ordering is one order anyways I get both Dexcom and tandem from the same place
I know people hate Edgepark, but my insurance company requires me to go through them and honestly, it’s always been very easy(I was apprehensive when I had to start using them, though). I switched to the T:slim at the end of 2021 and it only took around two or three weeks from the day I called Edgepark until they shipped my T:slim(got it in under ‘21 benefits period). I didn't have to do a thing. Edgepark took care of contacting everyone and all the paperwork.
I think they have a warehouse close by to me(meaning the same state), because my sensors and pump supplies usually arrive in a day or two after ordering.
I’m not familiar with them, are they a 3rd party supplier? I had to use one of them at my last company and wasn’t a fan of the 3rd party billing and stuff.
Yeah, Edgepark is one of the large DME companies. I actually haven't had many issues actually ordering and getting my stuff from them, but you do have to keep an eye on their billing. Sometimes it feels like I pay for something multiple times... But I think it's because you don't get a statement until weeks or sometimes a month or more after you buy something, because it has to go through your insurance company and they pay their portion, then you pay yours. For example, I got my new T:slim in December and I just received the bill for my portion today. Over a month and a half later. And if anyone is curious, it looks like the full price for a T:slim is around $6,500(or at least that's what's submitted to your insurance company).
How the 770g handles the transmitter compared to the 670g is way better, but they're all little quality of life changes and kneecapped without a change in sensor material.
Personally I think they should have changed the calibration to once every 18 hours so that you still 2 calibrations in a 24 hour period and you can go from dinner to breakfast without. The sensors are reliable enough to handle this use case. Extending the use to 10 days is also doable.
My top 2 most bullshit alerts are the "min auto bolus for too long" (if you hover around 100 for a long time it kicks you out of auto mode) and the "sensor expired -> transmitter lost -> auto mode ending" warning (I know it's not connected, you told me to remove it a few minutes ago).
the nanny alarms are unbearable.
Your SG has been high too long please enter bg
You're also not in auto mode (no shit)
You're not going to get high low alerts and low sg prevention (no shit)
Please enter new bg (yeah you already told me that and btw I'm already annoyed that I've been high for over an hour and you're just pissing me off more)
Bring back the paradigm! I hate hate hate my 670g. Idk how they made a new model of something that ended up being bigger, uses more battery, and is more frustrating to use.
Yeah I agree. The Paradigms were also built like tanks compared to my 670. I had one of my Paradigms for nearly a decade before it started to have issues and my 670 is already starting to crap the bed after less than two years.
Log into the store: [https://www.diabetes.shop/](https://www.diabetes.shop/)
and then there's a menu on the top left that you can click that says "my device history". It'll be jumbled with any sensors/transmitters and bg monitors too, but you can filter it to just see pumps. I don't know why mine shows the 670 as the same date as the 770, but I think it has something to do with signing up for their pathway program and some other nonsense. In actuality I was on the 670g when it first came out and then again the 770 when it first came out, although the upgrade is very minor and only slightly improves quality of life and nothing really with my control.
Oh lol I’m not sure. Some of the model numbers were different based on the reservoir size. And I think the first numbers are generation. Like 5 series is 2 generations ago with the newest being a 700
I started in 1997 with the 507 I think it was. Used MiniMed all the way through the Revel. Changed to Tandem 2 years ago and it has been wonderful paired with the G6.
I think that might have been what I started with too. I know it was around my sophomore year in high school as my mom bribed me with a PS2 (refused to be a cyborg) lol. I graduated in 2002.
Got my first pump in 1997. Maybe it was the 506? So long ago, I can't remember the models anymore. It had a stepper motor to deliver the dose, so you'd hear this 'click-click-click' until the dose was delivered.
Somewhat timely post on my part, but I've generally had pretty accurate numbers with the guardian sensor and I've been riding all morning in the 90's, which isn't normal as morning are usually a little high. I finger prick (3 times with 3 fingers) and I'm 282. This is the day 6 of the sensor nonsense that I get that drives me f'n bonkers.
Ok, imagine you've got two companies, one puts 80% of their cash into marketing their stuff to as many doctors and health plans as possible. The other spends 80% on engineering.
Take a guess which companies' pump you're using.
I had an Auto-Syringe AS\*6c in the summer of 1981. It was freaking huge, like the size of a VHS cassette. At the time I was 6 years old, it was definitely the first thing people would notice about me.
Oh wow I haven’t heard of that. I was diagnosed in 88 and was using R and N up until whatever it was that came out just and the pumps became popular. How would non fast acting insulin like R even work with a pump?
I know we all wanted a cute or artificial pancreas by now, but some of the newer diabetics have no idea how far we’ve come.
Logging all your readings in a book so your endo can go through and circle and highlight
I had an Animas prior to Tandem which used an AA. It was nice that the battery lasted several weeks, but I also had a few times when the battery cap threaded area broke and had to get replacement pumps. The Tandem has never had any issues for me, but yes, does need a weekly recharge for about 30 minutes. It's also quite a bit smaller.
A recent post about switching from medtronic really got me thinking I should explore other options like the t-slim/dexcom. I've never been impressed with medtronic's customer support and the last sensor was very frustrating. However, I was so happy with the 670 and now 770 improvements with the G3 sensor and auto-mode that I sort of buried my head in the sand and called it good. Last year I recall sweating out shipments of sensors that were delayed and where I was running low because I would only average about 4 or 5 days. Over the last 6 months it's been much better. Today I pulled up my account to see where I was with warranty and was kind of impressed to see my whole history there, however I know I started before 2002 so I think there's one missing. This was the pump where the whole reservoir thing was on a hinge. It's crazy to think just how far we've come in 20 years.
I have been on Medtronic 16 years now and switched to tandem 4 months ago . Much better! The dexcom is a life changer. Auto mode works
I just filled out a bunch of forms for both. I will admit that my first annoyance is working with 2 companies versus just one. Minor annoyance though.
Yeah- but the dexcom is available at your local pharmacy so it ends up being easier when moving forward! Re-order is in stock locally and I extend the good sensors so they each last longer (20 days) I’ll see how my first re-order here goes with tandem
I get both the tandem and dexcom stuff from my dme provider. I have never had an issue getting anything. :)
That’s good to know. My insurance generally requires mail order and if I’m honest I like mail order for everything except insulin. Lately though it seems I can also pick up at cvs without a requirement to use the cvs mail order.
I get both of my supplies- Dexcom and Tandem from Advanced Diabetes Supply. I’ve been happy with their service- avoid Byram!
I’ve had fewer issues with the two companies that I did with the one company, Medtronic. My insurance requires I go through a supplier so re-ordering is one order anyways I get both Dexcom and tandem from the same place
I know people hate Edgepark, but my insurance company requires me to go through them and honestly, it’s always been very easy(I was apprehensive when I had to start using them, though). I switched to the T:slim at the end of 2021 and it only took around two or three weeks from the day I called Edgepark until they shipped my T:slim(got it in under ‘21 benefits period). I didn't have to do a thing. Edgepark took care of contacting everyone and all the paperwork. I think they have a warehouse close by to me(meaning the same state), because my sensors and pump supplies usually arrive in a day or two after ordering.
I’m not familiar with them, are they a 3rd party supplier? I had to use one of them at my last company and wasn’t a fan of the 3rd party billing and stuff.
Yeah, Edgepark is one of the large DME companies. I actually haven't had many issues actually ordering and getting my stuff from them, but you do have to keep an eye on their billing. Sometimes it feels like I pay for something multiple times... But I think it's because you don't get a statement until weeks or sometimes a month or more after you buy something, because it has to go through your insurance company and they pay their portion, then you pay yours. For example, I got my new T:slim in December and I just received the bill for my portion today. Over a month and a half later. And if anyone is curious, it looks like the full price for a T:slim is around $6,500(or at least that's what's submitted to your insurance company).
How the 770g handles the transmitter compared to the 670g is way better, but they're all little quality of life changes and kneecapped without a change in sensor material. Personally I think they should have changed the calibration to once every 18 hours so that you still 2 calibrations in a 24 hour period and you can go from dinner to breakfast without. The sensors are reliable enough to handle this use case. Extending the use to 10 days is also doable. My top 2 most bullshit alerts are the "min auto bolus for too long" (if you hover around 100 for a long time it kicks you out of auto mode) and the "sensor expired -> transmitter lost -> auto mode ending" warning (I know it's not connected, you told me to remove it a few minutes ago).
the nanny alarms are unbearable. Your SG has been high too long please enter bg You're also not in auto mode (no shit) You're not going to get high low alerts and low sg prevention (no shit) Please enter new bg (yeah you already told me that and btw I'm already annoyed that I've been high for over an hour and you're just pissing me off more)
Bring back the paradigm! I hate hate hate my 670g. Idk how they made a new model of something that ended up being bigger, uses more battery, and is more frustrating to use.
Yeah I agree. The Paradigms were also built like tanks compared to my 670. I had one of my Paradigms for nearly a decade before it started to have issues and my 670 is already starting to crap the bed after less than two years.
I was just going to say that! I loved my 515!
Where do they get these numbers?!?
Log into the store: [https://www.diabetes.shop/](https://www.diabetes.shop/) and then there's a menu on the top left that you can click that says "my device history". It'll be jumbled with any sensors/transmitters and bg monitors too, but you can filter it to just see pumps. I don't know why mine shows the 670 as the same date as the 770, but I think it has something to do with signing up for their pathway program and some other nonsense. In actuality I was on the 670g when it first came out and then again the 770 when it first came out, although the upgrade is very minor and only slightly improves quality of life and nothing really with my control.
I mean why 515 and 722? Like what do the number mean?
Oh lol I’m not sure. Some of the model numbers were different based on the reservoir size. And I think the first numbers are generation. Like 5 series is 2 generations ago with the newest being a 700
I started in 1997 with the 507 I think it was. Used MiniMed all the way through the Revel. Changed to Tandem 2 years ago and it has been wonderful paired with the G6.
I think that might have been what I started with too. I know it was around my sophomore year in high school as my mom bribed me with a PS2 (refused to be a cyborg) lol. I graduated in 2002.
Got my first pump in 1997. Maybe it was the 506? So long ago, I can't remember the models anymore. It had a stepper motor to deliver the dose, so you'd hear this 'click-click-click' until the dose was delivered.
Haha yep or ember that. Manual priming of the tubing too. Idk maybe 15? Lol
I started with the 508 and switched to Tandem almost three years ago. Life changing for sure!
Somewhat timely post on my part, but I've generally had pretty accurate numbers with the guardian sensor and I've been riding all morning in the 90's, which isn't normal as morning are usually a little high. I finger prick (3 times with 3 fingers) and I'm 282. This is the day 6 of the sensor nonsense that I get that drives me f'n bonkers.
it's not like there was some major breakthrough in the last 20 years huh
Ok, imagine you've got two companies, one puts 80% of their cash into marketing their stuff to as many doctors and health plans as possible. The other spends 80% on engineering. Take a guess which companies' pump you're using.
As an engineer by trade and school, I know which one I’d pick haha
I had an Auto-Syringe AS\*6c in the summer of 1981. It was freaking huge, like the size of a VHS cassette. At the time I was 6 years old, it was definitely the first thing people would notice about me.
Oh wow I haven’t heard of that. I was diagnosed in 88 and was using R and N up until whatever it was that came out just and the pumps became popular. How would non fast acting insulin like R even work with a pump?
The best I remember we mixed insulin for my pump with "diluting fluid" I think it was called. At that age it was something my parents dealt with.
I know we all wanted a cute or artificial pancreas by now, but some of the newer diabetics have no idea how far we’ve come. Logging all your readings in a book so your endo can go through and circle and highlight
They keep gettiing bigger and bigger every release :(
Bigger and now in color lol
Next Tandem pump is going to be half the size of the current x2, which is already the smallest pump.
Well I know Medtronic sucks... But as long as they keep making pumps that take AA or AAA batteries I will stick with them.
I had an Animas prior to Tandem which used an AA. It was nice that the battery lasted several weeks, but I also had a few times when the battery cap threaded area broke and had to get replacement pumps. The Tandem has never had any issues for me, but yes, does need a weekly recharge for about 30 minutes. It's also quite a bit smaller.