Mattie’s review of MiniMed 780G with the Instinct sensor, made by Abbott

My MiniMed 780G system is basically a superhero gadget

Hi — I’m Mattie, a MiniMed Champion living with type 1 diabetes for 24 years. I’m also a working mom and somehow still manage to run on caffeine, adrenaline, and a good sense of humor!

When I first switched to the MiniMed 780G system, it felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders — and my brain. After more than two decades of doing everything manually, I suddenly had a system that stepped in to correct highs, protect me from lows,^† and give me something I hadn’t felt in years: mental freedom.

What I got back

I didn’t realize how much of my life diabetes was taking until the system gave me parts of it back.

I could travel with ease and confidence. I could be spontaneous. I did not have to plan my entire day around my blood sugar. My purse wasn’t overflowing with supplies and endless gummy packets. I could work long trade show days without worrying about burning out. And for the first time ever, I felt less connected to my diabetes — even though I was technically connected to a device.

So, when I heard about the Instinct sensor, made by Abbott, I was curious: Could something really feel even easier? Could the day-to-day become smoother than it already was? And would a CGM really last the full 15 days?

Turns out…yes, yes, and YES!
 

What I love about the Instinct sensor

Diabetes management that's even more hands-off 

The Instinct sensor feels like an upgrade in the mental load category. It fits seamlessly into the way I already live — busy, nonstop, and juggling three kids, while adding an extra layer of ease even with the MiniMed 780G system already doing so much of the thinking for me. 

Smoother numbers with less effort

My Time in Range has always been strong on the MiniMed 780G. But with Instinct, I’ve now had 15 days of steady, accurate glucose levels — and I’ve noticed something big: the less I try to take control, the fewer spikes and drops I experience.

After so many years on multiple daily injections (MDI), I was trained to make every dosing decision myself. And if you’re on MDI now, or remember it, you know how exhausting that constant mental pressure can be. Instinct with the MiniMed 780G quietly breaks that cycle. It gently brings me back to my target range without acting like a helicopter parent. Suddenly, checking my glucose every 20 minutes is a thing of the past. I honestly can’t believe I did that for so long!

It feels intuitive

Being “less in control” used to sound impossible to me, but it isn’t. The system just gets me. It responds quickly and quietly, and I’m not constantly second-guessing or recalculating.
 

Where there’s room to grow?

If there’s one thing I appreciate, it’s acknowledging where improvements could make something already great into something even better.

Smarter, AI-powered insights or suggestions

This is something I would truly love: smart, gentle recommendations based on patterns the system sees before I even notice them. Even simple nudges like, “Hey, here’s a trend from the last few days,” or “Here’s something to be aware of” would be so helpful. With how much the MiniMed 780G system already automates, built-in insights would be pretty cool. 
 

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely! And that’s coming from someone who avoided pump technology for 23 out of 24 years.

No diabetes system is perfect. But this one is powerful, reliable, and honestly makes me feel less like someone “managing a disease” and more like the person I am: strong, capable, and living fully.

If you’re on the fence about the system, here’s my sincere recommendation: try it.
Give yourself the chance to live a life where managing T1D is easier. You just might be surprised.

Guest writer: Mattie, MiniMed Partner

Paid Medtronic partner. Thoughts and opinions are her own. Individual results may vary.

References
† Refers to SmartGuard™ feature. Individual results may vary.
 

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 sensor glucose (SG) value falls below or is predicted to fall below predefined threshold values.

The Instinct sensor can be used one time and has a life up to 15 days. The Instinct sensor is not intended to be used directly to make therapy adjustments while the MiniMed™ 780G system 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 Instinct sensor. The Instinct sensor has been studied and is approved for use in patients ages 7 years and older and in the arm insertion site only. Only apply the sensor to the back of your upper arm. The sensor may not work properly in other areas. 

The Medtronic MiniMed™ 780G System consists of the following devices: MiniMed™ 780G Insulin Pump and the Instinct sensor. The system requires a prescription from a healthcare professional. 

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 blood glucose (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 using the Instinct sensor, or in persons using other anti-hyperglycemic therapies that do not include insulin. For complete details of the system, including accessories and additional important safety information concerning indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions associated with the 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.
 

©2025 Medtronic. MiniMed and MiniMed logo are trademarks of Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. The sensor shape and appearance, Abbott, and “a” logo are marks and/or designs of the Abbott group of companies in various territories and used under license. Sensor image © 2025 Abbott. ™*Third–party brands are trademarks of their respective owners.