Retired - Thorough Paradigm Insulin Pump Review

by Nyberg
(Sebastian, FL)

I've been diabetic since I was 14, I'm 64 now. My AC1 average is typically below 7, but still my daily glucose readings can surge into the high 200s, averaging usually in the 120s. I've been using a paradigm 722 pump w/glucose monitoring for 3 years. The pump's been reliable and I've encountered no mechanical problems. My doctor guesses I'll typically get 5 years before the pump might need replacement, but says he's seen a wide range for this amongst his patients. He has a large practice specializing in diabetic care.
The training was a 1 day thing with a Medtronics assigned nurse, done at my doctor's office several days after the pump package was delivered by mail to my home. I have CIGNA health insurance which paid all but $500 of the stated approx.$6000. price tag. My complaints have been with Medtronics Corp. itself after discovering I'd been enrolled into their continuing auto deliver of pump supplies w/out my signature or written authorization requesting any such refills of infusion or other materials. When I finally woke up & asked why they were sending me excessive resupply amounts, they played me back an introductory phone call they insisted was my agreement to their unmentioned program. It took months before Medtronics took me out of the plan, even more months before they stopped billing me for my insurance co-pays on the unwanted supplies I'd already sent back as requested. The other aggravation is with their software for pulling together the pump's gathered bolus & glucose data - it won't work with Windows 7 & they're apparently making little if any effort to correct this. My doctor had found it useful to review these downloaded computer printouts during my quarterly visits. Once I loaded Windows 7 into my computer , that ended. I've contacted Medtronics over the last year with no success - I'm guessing they're not organized well enough or care to resolve such petty complaints, given their size & other heart device problems of the last few years.
Whenever this pump begins to falter (but just how does that "falter" happen, I wonder...) I will look at competing companies' pumps for a replacement. A pump really does works better by providing an easier, consistent insulin supply even for diabetics who've done a good job w/out one. They're especially good at minimizing if not eliminating those dangerous middle-of-the-night low blood sugar situations common to those who've worked at keeping their sugar levels down. If you're using a pump w/glucose monitoring, my advice is to stay well hydrated or the readings will be in error regardless of everything else. I hope this helps anyone considering a pump.
Please note that in my lengthy diabetic history I've had many doctors, nurses & experiences that have led me to this simple conclusion: No one tells you the absolute truth about what happens to the everyday diabetic. Instead, it's universally implied that blood sugars don't crash or soar if "you're doing a good job at self-management" (they do crash & soar for everyone), that devices like pumps & glucose monitoring work as advertised ( they don't) & many other similar implications. Take care of yourself, go to the doctor frequently & have them run appropriate blood tests, but know know you're still on your own.