The MiniMed™ 780G system makes travel easier
Traveling and diabetes
I’m Cheryl, a Medtronic employee living with type 1 diabetes for 35 years. Over that time, my pump and I have gone tons of places together. Traveling in general takes planning, but traveling with diabetes adds additional complexities.
Every time I went on vacation, I packed my supplies and went back to add one more infusion set, just in case. Or triple-checked that my new bottle of insulin was in there. For people living with diabetes, nothing creates more anxiety than arriving somewhere only to realize you forgot a key piece of your treatment regimen.
Traveling with the MiniMed™ 780G system
This summer happened to be my first vacation with the MiniMed™ 780G system and Medtronic Extended™ infusion set. It really didn’t dawn on me that these upgrades would make such a difference in my vacation planning. We were headed to Hawaii, and island getaways mean lots of water, sun, beach, and all the delicious poolside foods I planned to enjoy.
Packing for vacation
While packing, I started to load up on supplies, but then I remembered that with the Extended™ infusion set, I was only going to have to change my site once during my week-long trip. Here’s what I packed:
- A couple of Medtronic Extended™ infusion sets with all-in-one serters
- A couple of Medtronic Extended™ reservoirs
- My sensor supplies: a few sensors, my one-press serter, and some overtape
- Transmitter and charger
- A few test strips
It was such a surprise to look at what I was packing and get the visual representation of how things have changed.
Enjoying my trip
Upon arriving on vacation, I was able to do a same-day sensor and infusion set change and even got a little emotional when I put all my supplies back in my suitcase, knowing I was unlikely to need them again until I got home. Sure enough, I never pulled them back out the entire trip! We talk often about the mental burden of diabetes, and sometimes you don’t even realize you are experiencing a burden until it’s not there, and that is exactly how I felt.
For the remainder of the trip, the MiniMed™ 780G system continued to make vacation truly that. Meal Detection™ technology* kept up with extra vacation foods (and a Mai Tai or two!). We hiked Diamond Head as a family and, despite the early morning workout, the MiniMed™ 780G algorithm kept me at a comfortable blood sugar level. I didn’t have to carry as many extra snacks.
I was able to disconnect and suspend my insulin pump for the water activities. The MiniMed™ 780G system handled those moments with ease, reconnecting to my sensor as soon as I was close to my pump again. Right away, the auto correction feature helped correct for the few minutes I was disconnected from my pump.
Pro tip: an extra piece of StayPut™ overtape helped keep my CGM in place during heat, pool, and activity.
Vacation with MiniMed™ 780G system felt different
It wasn’t until we were flying home that it really hit me how different this vacation felt! These technology updates made fun times easier and reduced some of the challenges diabetes brings.
I was shocked to look back at my Time in Range numbers to find everything looked so much better than previous vacation weeks. It’s true what they say: diabetes takes no breaks, but with these new innovations, it’s wonderful to feel a little closer to one. I got vacations back with the MiniMed™ 780G system!
Guest writer: Medtronic employee and customer Cheryl Cormany
References
* Taking a bolus 15 – 20 min before a meal helps to keep blood sugar levels under control after eating.
MiniMed™ 780G system with SmartGuard™ technology with Guardian™ 4 Sensor
The MiniMed™ 780G system is intended for continuous delivery of basal insulin at selectable rates, and the administration of insulin boluses at selectable amounts for the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in persons seven 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™ 780G System includes SmartGuard™ technology, which can be programmed to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor glucose values and can suspend delivery of insulin when the SG value falls below or is predicted to fall below predefined threshold values.
The Medtronic MiniMed™ 780G System consists of the following devices: MiniMed™ 780G Insulin Pump, the Guardian™ 4 Transmitter, the Guardian™ 4 Sensor, One-press serter, the Accu-Chek™ Guide Link blood glucose meter, and the Accu-Chek™ Guide Test Strips. The system requires a prescription from a healthcare professional.
The Guardian™ 4 Sensor is intended for use with the MiniMed™ 780G system and the Guardian 4 transmitter to monitor glucose levels for the management of diabetes. The sensor is intended for single use and requires a prescription. The Guardian™ (4) sensor is indicated for up to seven days of continuous use.
The Guardian™ 4 sensor is not intended to be used directly to make therapy adjustments while the MiniMed™ 780G is operating in manual mode. All therapy adjustments in manual mode should be based on measurements obtained using a blood glucose meter and not on values provided by the Guardian™ 4 sensor. The Guardian™ 4 sensor has been studied and is approved for use in patients ages 7 years and older and in the arm insertion site only. Do not use the Guardian™ 4 sensor in the abdomen or other body sites including the buttocks, due to unknown or different performance that could result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
WARNING: Do not use the SmartGuard™ feature for people who require less than 8 units or more than 250 units of total daily insulin per day. A total daily dose of at least 8 units, but no more than 250 units, is required to operate in the SmartGuard™ feature. |
WARNING: Do not use the MiniMed™ 780G system until appropriate training has been received from a healthcare professional. Training is essential to ensure the safe use of the MiniMed™ 780G system.
WARNING: Do not use SG values to make treatment decisions, including delivering a bolus, while the pump is in Manual Mode. When the SmartGuard™ feature is active and you are no longer in Manual Mode, the pump uses an SG value, when available, to calculate a bolus amount. However, if your symptoms do not match the SG value, use a BG meter to confirm the SG value. Failure to confirm glucose levels when your symptoms do not match the SG value can result in the infusion of too much or too little insulin, which may cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing does not allow for the recognition of pump signals, alerts, or alarms. The safety of the MiniMed™ 780G system has not been studied in pregnant women, persons with type 2 diabetes, or in persons using other anti-hyperglycemic therapies that do not include insulin. For complete details of the system, including product and important safety information such as indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions associated with system and its components, please consult https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/important-safety-information#minimed-780g and the appropriate user guide at https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/download-library.
Medtronic Extended infusion set
The Extended Infusion Set is indicated for up to 7 days of wear for the subcutaneous infusion of insulin from an infusion pump. It is NOT indicated for intravenous (IV) infusion or the infusion of blood or blood products. Inaccurate medication delivery, infection and/or site irritation may result from improper insertion and maintenance of the infusion site. Before insertion, clean the insertion site with isopropyl alcohol. Remove the needle guard before inserting the infusion set. If using this infusion set for the first time, do the first set-up in the presence of your healthcare professional. Do not leave air in the infusion set. Prime completely. Check frequently to make sure the soft cannula remains firmly in place as you may not feel pain if it pulls out. The soft cannula must always be completely inserted to receive the full amount of medication. If the infusion site becomes inflamed, replace the set, and use a new site until the first site has healed. Replace the infusion set if the tape becomes loose, or if the soft cannula becomes fully or partially dislodged from the skin. Regularly replace the infusion set as indicated in the instructions for use, or per the insulin labeling, whichever duration is shorter. For more details, see https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/important-safety-information.
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About Author
Sabrina Huda Sanchez
Principal Website Marketing SpecialistSabrina has been with Medtronic since 2022 on the website marketing team to improve our information accessibility and knowledge database. She was inspired to help people find easier ways to manage their diabetes.
Blog comments
Was the sensor tested on any other parts of the body other than the arm? My arms are very small and I am concerned about putting it on. Is the transmitter smaller than the previous
transmitter?
Hi, Elinda. The best performance was observed when the sensor was used in the arm. For safety reasons, therefore, the system is indicated for use in the arm. However, if another site is needed, please work with your healthcare provider to assess.
Hi,
What about airline security and TSA scanning? Say more about what can and cannot be scanned.
Thanks,
Gary
Hi Gary! You can get more info on <a href="https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/loop-blog/get-tsa-5-diabetes-devices/…; rel="nofollow ugc">how to get through TSA</a> on our other blog.
I used this Insulin Pump when I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2019.
Wow! That's amazing, Rob!
Will the extended infusion set and the extended reservoirs ever be the standard for all pump users? Do they work/fit in all pumps.
Hi Roger. The Medtronic Extended infusion set and reservoir are compatible with the MiniMed 780G system, MiniMed 770G system, and MiniMed 630G system.
As long as you someone with you who is experienced in taping the new sensor on will it remotely work! I finally gave up and went back to Freestyle Libre 2 sensors as they are very user friendly - just the opposite of G4.
Extremely disappointed in Medtronic. They have a lot of work prior to do!
Thanks for this feedback, Jim. We will share this with our team.
thank you SO much Cheryl. I have lived with this for 30 years and I too am overwhelmed with Gratitude for the technology that has allowed me to live like I'm not a diabetic! I haven't traveled yet with the 780 but I do travel annually and usually two separate locations. it warms my heart that I have room for an extra pair of shorts / bathing suit etc. again I thank you ❤️
What do you do whit time change when traveling?
Hi, Janice. We checked with Cheryl and she said, "I would say for me the rule of thumb is that when I change time zones I will go in and update the time on my pump in the event that I should need to go back into manual mode and my programed basal rates would be needed."
Did not work for me. Even the help line could not get it set up. I will stay with the 770G until my insurance will pay for a new pump. Then I am changing pump.
Hi, Gary. We're sorry to hear about this. If this is still an issue for you, please call our Digital Resolutions Team at 1-800-868-2205 during normal hours M-F (8 am – 6 pm CST). Thank you.
Has the mini med 780g guardian 4 transmitter been tested with open water diving?
Hi, Ada. At the time of manufacture and when the reservoir and tubing are properly inserted, your pump is waterproof. It is protected against the effects of being underwater to a depth of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) for up to 24 hours. This is classified as IPX8 rating. See user guide for more details. The sensor and transmitter are water-resistant at 8 feet (2.4 meters) for up to 30 minutes. CGM readings may not be transmitted from the CGM to the pump while in water. Please let us know if you have any other questions! Thank you.
I'm anxious to get started with my new pump.
I am going to Cabo San Lucas this winter,there are a lot of water activitys going on, I thought the 780G was totally waterproof. so can I where it in the pool for a couple of hours?
Hi, Mark/ At the time of manufacture and when the reservoir and tubing are properly inserted, your pump is waterproof. It is protected against the effects of being underwater to a depth of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) for up to 24 hours. This is classified as IPX8 rating. See user guide for more details.
Warm hello,
I have two questions:
1. May I order StayPut tape from Medtronic, and if so, just by calling?
2. I’ve been using a 670G pump and Guardian 3 for several years. I’m planning to upgrade to the 780G and Guardian 4 when my insurance warranty allows that July 2024. Reading about the Guardian 4 in this mailing, I understood it was ONLY to be inserted into upper arm, not torso or thigh. But a photo in this mailing shows it on a person’s abdomen. Is that person using a Guardian 3?
Thank you,
AE
Hello!
1. You can order StayPut tape on our online store, Diabetes.shop. Click here to purchase: https://www.diabetes.shop/search?key=stayput
2. You are correct that the Guardian 4 sensor is only approved for arm insertion. If you saw a photo of a person with it on the abdomen, then it is likely they are using the Guardian sensor 3
I'm now in the second level and finally, I have my relief when I travel or at work because of the new system from Minimed 780G system with Guardian G4 sensor, with the auto-correction that keeps me stable in the green zone always.
Thank you Medtronic
That is fantastic! Happy to hear you have relief when traveling.
Please talk more in dearth about going thru TSA security in airport. This is a much needed topic
Hi Ruth. We have another article on <a href="https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/loop-blog/get-tsa-5-diabetes-devices/…; rel="nofollow ugc">how to get through TSA</a> that you can reference.
Great article, Cheryl! I have had T1D for 41 years and been using a Medtronic pump for 18 years. I love the MiniMed 780G system and have been using the new CGM sensor for about a month. My rule of thumb for traveling is to always take “N+1” or “N+2” quantities, where N is the number of days I’ll need the supplies to cover plus one extra set if I’m traveling near a pharmacy where I can get emergency supplies or two extra sets if I’m really remote. I’ve had some interesting experiences traveling with T1D that I’ll share another time.
My A1C helped me a lot, I had it at 7.9 before 780G and now I have it at 6.5
I want to know about this product and can I get this instead of the one that I have
Hi Denolis! You can learn more about the MiniMed 780G system on our website: https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/minimed-780g-insulin-pump-sy…
Which style StayPut™ overtape do you use for the Guardian sensor? Do you use the adhesive remover?
Hi James, you can find StayPut tape on Diabetes.shop. Here's the link to shop: https://www.diabetes.shop/search?key=stayput
Cheryl thanks for sharing your experience. I received my 780g with guardian 4 over this past weekend. I waited Monday-Wednesday for Medtronics to reach out to me for getting training on this system , which a flier in the delivery box indicate would happen. Today is (Thursday) I called but was on hold awhile to talk with someone but then a voice message came on to leave my number and name and I would go a call back. I have gotten this before but never a call back. I am scheduled to be out of town early next week for a week. So as of now looks as if I will not get started with this system until mid November. I will call again tomorrow and hopefully a live person will answer. Also wanted talk to a representative if Medtronic would provide a sample to try on the 7 day infusion system.
Hi, Dale. Our apologies for the late reply. Did you get the training you need for the 780G system? If not, please give our Technical Support team a call at 1-800-646-4633, option #1. Thank you.
What about your experiences with going through the security sensors (pat down vs X-ray for supplies in carry on, stand up full body scanner, etc)? Did you have to disconnect and bring extra supplies in case cgi pulled out in the process? What works well for you for lows while stuck on plane? How did you handle time zone changes?
Hi, Linda! We have a travel guide that might help you. Check it out here: www.medtronicdiabetes.com/customer-support/traveling-with-an-insulin-pu…
I found this very interesting. Thank You.
I just returned from a 14 day trip to Europe. I too was amazed at the success of my 780G system in keeping me in range!! I have lived 47 years with type 1, and never felt this free from the mental and emotional diabetes burden!! This is the closest thing to a cure!
Seven time zones, wild guessing at food, walking 8-15 miles a day and 90% time in range! #gotmyfreedomback
This is so amazing to hear, Joan. We're glad you were able to #GetItBack!
Did you have to change the time and date settings when you changed time zones? I always forgot this.
Hi, Steven. You will need to update the time and date when changing time zones. Here's how to do it: www.medtronicdiabetes.com/customer-support/minimed-780g-system-support/…
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