Giving Up Diabetes Management to A Device

It’s been so exciting to see some of our MiniMed Ambassadors transition to the MiniMed 670G system as part of the Customer Training Phase. It’s also been interesting to hear how many of them have had to shift their thinking when it comes to starting on the system. Today, hear from Ambassador, Phyllis, on what the first few weeks on the system have been like.

I’ve never considered myself to have tight control over diabetes, but with my 43rd diaversary coinciding with starting on the MiniMed 670G system, I may have to reconsider this.

Every year upon my diaversary I stop and reflect on how far we’ve come in diabetes management and treatment options. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two when “diabetes management” consisted of urine testing and a single injection of beef/pork insulin mixture. Today, it’s hard to imagine not having the option to use an insulin pump and a blood glucose meter, but back then it was hard to imagine a device existing that could help people with diabetes spend more time in range and less time worrying.

When asked recently how I feel about giving up some of my diabetes management to a device, I smiled and said “I look forward to it”. Do I have hesitations? Of course I have a few. I’ve worked so hard over the years to learn how to manage my diabetes well, and I’ve even mastered how to bolus correctly for pizza and Chinese food. Will the system be able to match what I’ve learned and mastered? Will the system really help me better manage around exercise? Will this device really make balancing all that goes into diabetes management easier? I hope so.

During the first week on the MiniMed 670G system, I used the pump in Manual Mode with Suspend before low – a part of SmartGuard technology – activated. This means the system will stop delivering insulin if sensor glucose values are predicted to fall below a preset low limit. The system resumes insulin delivery once sensor glucose levels are above the low limit and rising. You know that control thing I mentioned above? It was harder than I thought. The first time my pump went into Suspend before low, I let it do its thing and then canceled it. I was concerned my blood sugar would skyrocket. I asked my pump trainer what the recommendations were for this, and she said to let the system do what it’s designed to do and not stop it. So the next time it happened, I reluctantly gave up control and put my trust in the system.

Everything worked out well. My blood sugar went up as expected, but I stayed within range.

When training for Auto Mode, my motto was “trust the system”. The system is designed not only to help blood sugar stay in range, but also to perform checks and balances that help me make sure everything is working correctly. But still, my hesitations about what the system can do lingered. I needed to learn that it could do things as well or better than I could.

I’m now a few weeks into using the MiniMed 670G hybrid closed loop system in Auto Mode, and I have to say, I trust the system now. I admit that for the first 48 hours I constantly checked to see what the insulin pump was doing, comparing my blood glucose levels with sensor glucose. But that passed quickly.

It feels like we’ve been waiting so long for this system that we want it to be perfect from moment one. But you do need to have some patience as you and your new system get used to working together. It takes a few days to iron out personal settings, but to me it’s totally worth the wait!

*Phyllis is a Medtronic Diabetes Ambassador

*Phyllis was provided product in exchange for her own thoughts and opinions. Individual results may vary.

*The patient testimonial above relates an account of an individual’s response to treatment. The account is genuine, typical and documented. However, this patient’s response does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other people may have to the treatment. The response other individuals have to the treatment could be different. Responses to the treatment can and do vary. Not every response is the same. Please talk to your doctor about your condition and the risks and benefits of these technologies.

*WARNING: Suspend before low and Suspend on low are not intended to be a treatment for low blood glucose. Having insulin suspended when glucose is low may not bring your blood glucose back to your target range for several hours. In that case, you run the risk of hypoglycemia. Always confirm your blood glucose readings with your BG meter and treat according to the recommendations of your healthcare professional.

Important Safety Information

The Medtronic MiniMed 670G system requires a prescription and is intended for continuous delivery of basal insulin (at user selectable rates) and administration of insulin boluses (in user selectable amounts) for the management of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in persons, fourteen years of age and older, requiring insulin as well as for the continuous monitoring and trending of glucose levels in the fluid under the skin. The MiniMed 670G System includes SmartGuard technology, which can be programmed to automatically adjust delivery of basal insulin based on Continuous Glucose Monitor sensor glucose values, and can suspend delivery of insulin when the sensor glucose value falls below or is predicted to fall below predefined threshold values.

The Guardian Sensor (3) is not intended to be used directly for making therapy adjustments, but rather to provide an indication of when a finger stick may be required. All therapy adjustments should be based on measurements obtained using a home glucose monitor and not on values provided by the Guardian Sensor (3).
Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing does not allow recognition of pump signals and alarms. Do not use the serter on products other than the Enlite sensor or Guardian Sensor (3). Medtronic cannot guarantee the safety or efficacy of this product if used with other products. The reservoir is contraindicated for the infusion of blood or blood products. Infusion sets are indicated for subcutaneous use only and not for intravenous (IV) infusion or the infusion of blood or blood products. Insulin pump therapy is not recommended for those who are unwilling to perform at least four blood glucose tests per day. As insulin pumps use rapid acting insulin only, BG testing is required to help identify rapid glycemic deterioration due to insulin infusion occlusion, infusion site problems, insulin stability issues, user error, or a combination of these. Pump therapy is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to maintain contact with their healthcare professional.

The safety of the 670G system has not been studied in people with impaired kidney function. Please let your healthcare professional know if you have kidney disease so you and your healthcare professional can determine if the potential benefits of using the system outweigh the risks. The safety of the 670G system has not been studied in pregnant women, people with type 2 diabetes, or in people using other anti-hyperglycemic therapies apart from insulin. Please let your healthcare professional know if any of these conditions apply to you so you and your healthcare professional can determine if the potential benefits of using the system outweigh the risks.

For complete safety information, please consult the appropriate User Guide.

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