I've had type 1 Diabetes for 43 years and have been researching the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time System Insulin Pump with the REAL-Time continuous glucose monitoring system. I am presently on Lantus pens daily with Humalog pen insulin taken before meals.
After reading the materials they sent me, I would like to hear from someone who is actually using these two systems together to see how they like it. The company, Medtronic, makes it sound like the best thing next to having a new pancreas, but I'm wondering if it's as wonderful as they make it sound.
Any information would help! Pros and cons! Thanks!
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Is anyone using the MiniMed Paradigm Insulin Pump and the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System?
(3 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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I no longer use the Paradigm CGMS (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System) sweetheart ... and I offer that as a general term of endearment. It is NOT intended to be offensive, obnoxious, condescending, or sexist ... though, I must admit, I have yet to use it to an adult male, apart from my own two grown up sons and one of their friends who I've unofficially 'adopted' ... but I thought it might give you a bit of insight if I offered my experience of having used it.
I do still use the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm 722 pump but have given up ... maybe temporarily ... on using the CGMS. Sadly, because of complications of diabetes, one of which is hypoglycaemia unawareness, I no longer sense when I'm approaching, or having, an hypoglycaemic attack. The first I usually know about it is after someone has given me a glucagon injection, and I'm on my way back round.
My endocrinologist felt that the CGMS would be the best way for us to deal with the 'problem(s)' that I was experiencing. Unfortunately, this proved to not be the case. By the time the alarm went off, indicating that my blood sugar level had fallen to the stage where I was hypoglycaemic, it was too late. I was already unconscious. This was even after setting the pump to alarm when my blood sugar level had fallen to 6.5 mmol/l.
The explanation from Medtronic representatives, that I had several meetings with, was that due to the fact that the sensor is taking readings from the interstitial fluid in your body, the REAL-Time wasn't actually reading what my venous blood was. There's a small time delay of perhaps 15-30 minutes. Sadly, that wasn't quick enough for me. (I was diagnosed with 'brittle' diabetes almost 30 years ago ... a time when being brittle meant more than having blood sugars that were out of control ... as it seems to indicate these days.)
Of course, my experience is NOT the same as other people's. I've spoken to a number of diabetes patients at our local Diabetes Centre who are more than happy with the results they've been getting, though not all of them have continued using the CGMS. In some of the cases, patients seem to have derived at least some benefit from using it.
Earlier I stated that this might be a temporary situation for myself. Medtronic now have the Paradigm Veo system which, apparently, once detecting that blood sugar levels have reached the state of hypoglycaemia, will suspend the infusion of insulin. That would, obviously, benefit myself, but I don't know you, or your diabetes control, so you may not need for that to happen.
What I can say about using the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm pump is that it's been more than simply an advantage to my diabetes control. It's been a God/dess send. Prior to using a pump, I was regularly taking 7 or 8 insulin injections a day of Humalog, purposely to bring my blood sugar levels down to a near 'normal' blood sugar level. Even then, I was spending almost as much time in hospital as I was at home, with regular bouts of DKA and severe hypoglycaemia. (I class it as 'severe' when I lose consciousness, though there have been times when I have 'fitted' also.)
One brilliant thing about the company Medtronic is that their support is second to none. When I've needed a replacement pump, it's been with me within a couple of days ... the same with supplies (set changes, reservoirs, batteries, etc.)
I must admit that I was a little surprised when I clicked on the Medtronic.com website that they have no record of the Paradigm Veo system. You can, however, see it if you click on the second url below. (Although the pump looks just the same, there must be an update to the software, at least.)
I'm presuming that you're either in the UK or Ireland, seeing as this is where your question was asked, though this, of course, may not be the case. If you're in a different country, where you have to purchase your pump yourself, or get it through insurance, there's an offer until April 2010 for their Guardian REAL-Time Continuous Glucose Monitor.
Something that MAY appeal to you is that you wouldn't be having multiple daily injections. Using a pump is like having one injection every 3 or 4 days though you would, of course, especially in the early days, need to test your blood sugar level more frequently. This is down to the fact that a pump only uses fast-acting insulin, so there's an increased risk that you could suffer hypoglycaemia.
I apologise for the length of this response, but if there's anything I've missed that you'd like to know about, please do contact me and I'll let you know what I can. (Click on my avatar/photograph and send me an email.)
Be well, dear lady.
Posted 2 years ago # -
No. I want it but my insurance won't cover the continuous glucose monitoring system. :-(
Posted 2 years ago #
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