How did you decide which pump???

[Sandy's mom]

Tomorrow is our first endo appt. since dx'd. I'm curious, what did you base your decision for which pump to get on? What the endo recommended? How much you liked your pump rep? What a friend told you? How the pump looked? What you learned from this forum? Insurance coverage? Another reason?

I know they're all good. (pumps) Just trying to make the best informed choice and looking for some wise opinions. Thanks!

[Ellen]

Features, features, features. And then what my son liked....truly, if my child liked a particular color and was old enough to understand what having a pump meant, I'd take that into account too.

[Traci]

I had compared the features, spoken with the endo, then met with the pump reps. The pump I thought was at the bottom of my list turned out to be the one we went with after meeting with all the reps. There is a link to a pump comparison (I'm sure someone will post it) that really detailed the features. I don't think my endo liked my choice either, but I think it was just not what they were familiar with. My pump had many helpful features that they were unaware of.

[Ellen]

Here's the link to the pump comparison from John Walsh's website

http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_technology/insulin_pump_models.php

p.s. my son also has a Cozmo because he liked the features

[vettechmomof2]

same as the others. we evaluated the different models and then discusse dthem with my daughter. we looked at the books and online and we narrowed it down to 2 and she wanted to try the Omnipod and pretty much had decided that was the one before trying it, she was just humoring me and we have never regretted it since.

Allene

[saxmaniac]

We narrowed it down to two (Omnipod and Cozmo) after reading feature lists, and had in-home demos. I initially suggested the pod, but was leaning towards the Cozmo until we saw it in person. The OmniPod was very compelling, both from a cost perspective and the whole tubeless design, so we picked that.

[twodoor2]

I don't think any one pump is the greatest or the worst. I think they all have things that can be improved and they all have unique features if they ever were combined, would probably make for one awesome pump. However, I went with Medtronic because
1) I like they way it calculates IOB using a true curvelinear method based on the way fast acting insulins truly are absorbed.
2) It's been around the longest.
3) Durability

[Lindy]

In our area people really only have MM - it was the only one I was really considering (had some great features, etc....).. Then I went to a conference that had all the companies with their pumps and ohhh baby did MM turn me off!!! They were putting everyone down (mainly Omnipod) to the point where I became really curious, and I hadn't been before.. So off we went to check out the Omnipod - put one on and the rest was history!!

If you can, I would encourage anyone to go to either a conference or a pump class and check out all the different pumps - see what features you will need and will actually use.. All the pumps have basically the same set up - displayed a bit differently - but the basics are all there! For the most part, your customer service from all the companies are also goint to be pretty good. You will hear some good and bad stories about each company here - which means they are all pretty equal! ;)

Here are some key features to consider - IMHO :D

1. Lowest basal setting
2. Tubeless or not
3. waterproof or not
4. Profile(s)
5. compatible infusion sets

Then there are some additional things:

1. Dual wave/ssquare wave/extended or whatever else they are called
2. software
3. they each have a calculator - all set up a bit differently

am sure there are some additional things - but to me these are the basics.. once you start really talking about things you can figure out what your child needs and what is best for the family (if the child is younger)..
GL

[Bsbllmom]

We haven't completely decided yet but we got brochures from each pump company. We read them and Christian narrowed it down to 2 of them. I want him to have the ultitimate decision. I want it to be one that he understands how to use since it will be attached to him. I think ultimately they all do the same thing and like Ellen said it just depends on which features you want.

[badshoe]

We invited the pump companies to come to the house put the pump in the kids hands and let the kids who would be using them get a feel for how to use them.

[Bsbllmom]

I forgot to mention that starting Monday Christian is going to do a 10 day trial with the Cozmo:eek: Then on the 14th he is going to The Aquarium of the Pacific to do a sleep over and trial of Animas. Those are the 2 that he has narrowed down to but leaning towards the Cozmo.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

Our endo was not allowed to recommend any pump.. we looked at the features of each pump and decided which was most important for us.. each pump does the same thing, delievers insulin, but some do it in smaller basal settings, some are 'waterproof', one has the intergrated cgms, one is tubeless.. it all depends on what is right for YOUR family.. since your child is a little older, let her have some say.. since she'll be the one to use it eventually..

good luck:)

[coni1523]

My son was on the minimed pump and the pump is ok, but we had problems with the wires always getting hung on stuff. He pulled the site out several times on stuff. So now we use the OmniPod because of the features. No wires, food data base, The PDM also takes the blood sugar so no having extra supplies (like an extra meter to carry around), also the insertion is automatic ( you do not have to see or touch any needles.)
website to check it out:
www.myomnipod.com

My son is 8 yrs old and loves the omnipod. hope this helps.

Connie

[miss_behave]

I chose MiniMed for the CGMS capability. IMO they are the leaders in technology. There are quite a few parents with children using the CGMS, they love it, and would never go back to "being blind"
I love the MiniMed's size and the inbuilt clip. It is very compact. Oh and I love the pump skins, I have pink jaguar on it right now!

I wouldn't consider the OmniPod for its large size, as I am a self-conscious teenager and it shows through clothes. I also spend all summer at the beach. I like to disconnect for that ( I don't want a huge white plastic blob showing on my stomach! Plus I go low swimming), you cannot disconnect the OmniPod. However I know several people on this list love it for the tubelessness, but for me this is not an issue at all. I'd lose the $300 PDM in 5 seconds (yes I lose meters all the time, but I don't pay for them!) The OmniPod also doesn't have a different choice for infusion sets/adhesives it only has the one kind (an angled set) I prefer straight-in sets personally. And while OmniPod users swear this isn't an issue for them, I feel it would be for me.

I did really like the Cozmo but it is quite bulky, and no inbuilt clip, just this clunky holster. A child who wears it in a pump pouch should be just fine though. I love how customisable it is, and the attachable meter would be great (we don't have it in Aus though) I love the new colours too!

As for Animas, well there just didn't seem to be anything particularly "special" about it IMO. It is the only pump without a meter that goes with it. However, for young children, the 0.025 basal setting could be important, but you can apparently mimic this on other pumps by alternating basals between 0.05 and 0. Oh and the colour screen, well if its anything like my iPod, well you can't read it in the sun! I know people have mentioned this being true for their Animas pump.

So thats my take on the 4 pumps. Just realise that whatever pump you choose, you'll love it, and you'll never want to go back!

[vettechmomof2]

I wouldn't consider the OmniPod for its large size, as I am a self-conscious teenager and it shows through clothes. I also spend all summer at the beach. I like to disconnect for that ( I don't want a huge white plastic blob showing on my stomach! Plus I go low swimming), you cannot disconnect the OmniPod. However I know several people on this list love it for the tubelessness, but for me this is not an issue at all. I'd lose the $300 PDM in 5 seconds (yes I lose meters all the time, but I don't pay for them!) The OmniPod also doesn't have a different choice for infusion sets/adhesives it only has the one kind (an angled set) I prefer straight-in sets personally. And while OmniPod users swear this isn't an issue for them, I feel it would be for me.







The size is really not an issue and has yet to be noticed by most people when my daughter is in her bathing suits. It does not show while she is wearing her skirts,dresses or anything but having a tube would be rather noticable. I am not starting an argument here but you can find different choices from everyone here on why they like something and why they do not.
Losing the pdm or glucometer is just not a choice. that is the main life line. it is not large so can easily be carried in a purse or pocket. not having something attached to you was the choice my daughter made and she loves it. never has to worry about her cats chewing the wires at night when she is sleeping, never a problem when she is thrasing around in her dreams, can shower, swim and most important of all do her karate with no interference from tubing.
THe best I can recommend is try them all out and see what feels right for your family.
GOod luck,
Allene

[miss_behave]

never has to worry about her cats chewing the wires at night when she is sleeping, never a problem when she is thrasing around in her dreams, can shower, swim and most important of all do her karate with no interference from tubing.


So can I :) Tubing is no issue for me and most people using conventional pumps.

[sammysmom]

[QUOTE=miss_behave;127505
I did really like the Cozmo but it is quite bulky, and no inbuilt clip, just this clunky holster. A child who wears it in a pump pouch should be just fine though. I love how customisable it is, and the attachable meter would be great (we don't have it in Aus though) [QUOTE]



Actually, my child was 4 when he went on a cozmo and it is not bulky at all. I think that is a common misconception. You can get the clear holster from cozmo which fits the pump great and my son wears that all the time. It is not any less noticable than a holster from animas or minimed. If you wear the attached meter than you can use the black clip that came with the pump and also that is not too bulky. Very common misconceptions. Just like any pump my son also just throws his pump in his pocket and again, it is not bulky, a child does not HAVE to wear a pump pouch if they have a cozmo pump.....just wanted everyone to be clear on that subject!

[Lee]

Here are some key features to consider - IMHO :D

1. Lowest basal setting
2. Tubeless or not
3. waterproof or not
4. Profile(s)
5. compatible infusion sets

Then there are some additional things:

1. Dual wave/ssquare wave/extended or whatever else they are called
2. software
3. they each have a calculator - all set up a bit differently


I just wanted to add - THE BATTERY!!!! I did not want to have to support an expensive battery habit, so that also helped me pick Minimed. I used the same chart that Ellen posted. We went in thinking Cozmo - because of the attached meter, but we were told that the meter was not the most accurate and that we shouldn't use it - by a Cozmo user!

Also, all pumps are waterproof to the extent that if you drop them in the water, they will survive. The reason we were thinking cozmo is because I have a water bug...but not very many people really swim with there pump on, they disconnect and go swim, so what was a major thing for me turned out not being that big of a deal.

I love MM's IOB display! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! Couldn't live without it!

But, if I had a youngster or a child with extreme sensitivity, I would have chosen Animas for the lower Basal setting.

[sammysmom]

Does MM have an IOB home screen?? I did not know that! I have heard many people complain about not being able to just look down and see the IOB....is that a new thing. I LOVE the IOB home screen on Sam's pump. For him, the setting is dead on! We do swim with the pump on so that was one of the reasons we could not go with MM. At least if there is water damage to the cozmo pump, I know the company would replace it with out a problem. Amazingly, we have NEVER had a problem with him swimming with his pump.

shannon

[twodoor2]

Does MM have an IOB home screen?? I did not know that! I have heard many people complain about not being able to just look down and see the IOB....is that a new thing. I LOVE the IOB home screen on Sam's pump. For him, the setting is dead on! We do swim with the pump on so that was one of the reasons we could not go with MM. At least if there is water damage to the cozmo pump, I know the company would replace it with out a problem. Amazingly, we have NEVER had a problem with him swimming with his pump.

shannon

On the MM, it's called "Active Insulin" and you can scroll down to see it in the Bolus History menu :-). You can also review it before you dose.

[sammysmom]

Oh I see now. Cozmo has a few home screens and I have ours set at IOB. It has the countdown clock and the IOB right under it. I love just being able to look down and see where he is at with out fiddling with the pump to try to find it.

shannon