Short demo of the Animas 2020 pump
Recently I was given a loaner Animas 2020 insulin pump to evaluate. My current Minimed 512 is out of warranty and is due for replacement. I evaluated the Animas and a Cozmo 1800 pump before deciding on a replacement that worked for me.While I had the Animas I took some video that demonstrates how to use the Animas to take a bolus. I hope it gives you some idea of how this pump is to use.
Please note that in the video the screen flickers. In real life I found the screen bright and easy to read even in direct sunlight.
I really liked the built in food database that helps you when bolusing for meals. The Animas lets you bolus in 0.05 unit increments and set basal rates in 0.025 unit increments. So it's great for anyone who's really sensitive to insulin. It's fully waterproof, the O-rings on the battery cover and the insulin reservoir really emphasize this. It also delivers the insulin boluses very quickly compared to my old Minimed. And despite the bright screen it doesn't seem to drain the single AA battery too quickly.
On the down side. I didn't like the speed at which the up and down arrows worked. The numbers scroll extremely quickly and it's hard to stop at exactly the right spot. I also missed seeing the carb information on the summary screen that's shown just before you get a chance to take a bolus. The history on the pump is very insulin centric, with no information about carbohydrate consumption or blood glucose values. I also wish the daily summary showed the ratio of meal boluses to correction boluses. Finally the accompanying software has a very dated feel, the reports are pretty basic and there is no data export capability.
Even though I was just trying out the pump, Animas was very supportive any time I had a question. This was very refreshing when compared to some recent experiences I had with Minimed.
In the end, I chose the Cozmo 1800 pump and look forward to starting on it early next week.
Labels: Animas, Cozmo, evaluation, insulin pump
posted by Bernard @ 8:34 PM
13 Comments:
Bernard,
The reason why the Animas pump will not auto-populate the computed bolus dose is because Minimed has the patent for that feature. If you do a search on the patent database, you'd be surprised at the number of patents Minimed has in the insulin delivery space.They even have patents on the common sense algorithms used to compute bolus doses (see http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6691043.PN.&OS=PN/6691043&RS=PN/6691043)
Bernard,
Thanks so much for making the video about the pump! Very helpful.
The built in food database looks like it could really get people in trouble, because there is no definition of portion size.
I bought an electronic food scale a while back that measures in grams and started measuring portions to match the portion weight given on the package, which is the one--rather than volume--that is supposed to be accurate.
What I found was a huge difference between volume and weight portion sizes for things like the Cheerios you used as an example. If I measured, say, 1/2 cup of Cheerios into a measuring cup, and then weighted it, I'd find that the 1/2 cup would be HEAVIER than number of grams given for the alf cup on the label.
Worse, I found that the amount that ended up in my bowl when I measured out a "portion" by weight was always MUCH less than I would put in a bowl and call a portion. So my usual "portion" was more like 1.5 to 2 portions.
Obviously we can't go around measuring everything we eat all the time. But by measuring everything I could at home for a while, to learn what the portions on the label really looked like, I learned that portion sizes given in nutritional guides are much smaller than the portions most of us really eat. And I'm not talking about "supersizing" either. I'm talking about the sizes of portion of cereal or pasta my mom would have fed me in the good old days in 1955!
Unless people understand this, and take the time to measure portions very carefully and learn more about what they look like, they may have the highest tech pump possible, but they'll be dosing the wrong amount of insulin because the carbs they are eating will NOT be what they think they are eating when they eat a "portion."
Portions of cereal, ice cream, and pasta were the very worst. With Pasta, the typical portion you get in a restaurant can be as much as 4 or 5 times an actual 50 gram portion!
Sriram,
I am surprised to hear that Minimed has the patent on auto-populating that computed bolus. I have a Cozmo, and it will auto-populate that number all the time.
Bernard,
Thanks for the great video! I'm nowhere near needing a new pump yet, but I was curious about how the Animas worked. From what litte I saw in your video, I like my Cozmo better.
I'm glad you're able to test-drive all those pumps. I wish I would have thought of that! Good luck making a decision.
Hi Bernard.
I'm impressed by both your demo and also by the fast correction bolus capability of the Animas 2020. I am still using a MM Paradigm 512, and have always wished it could push out six or seven units in a big hurry for those awful 350+ episodes.
Thanks for a very helpful post.
If it's a vote between Animas and MM, MM wins. The things that were supposed to make the Animas easier seem to make it more complicated.
I am very interested in seeing any videos you post of your Cozmo.
Bernard,
First, it was neat to hear your voice. You don't have the accent I was imagining.
Secondly, Riley has been using the Animas IR 1250 for the last 19 months. I was curious to see how different the 2020 was.
The only difference I saw was the color screen (no big deal to me) and when you give a carb bolus on the 2020 it is called ezCarb and on the 1250 it is called CarbSmart.
Also, Animas' customer service has always been wonderful.
I would like to see a demo of the Cozmo too. I would have gone with that if Riley didn't need such small basals. I love that the Animas can adjust basals with as little as 0.025 increments. It works well for Riley.
Also, I NEVER use the food data base. It takes too much time and I question it's accuracy.
Bernard,
I can't tell you how amazingly helpful it is for me to see the pump demo; I can't wait to show my son. He is so opposed to a pump right now, but seeing it in action, plus all the bells & whistles, might change his mind.
I think the speed of the arrows were made for the kids of today who play video games. You have to practice on a Nintendo DS...
Bernard: That was great. Specifically the fact that i have never seen a pump in action as such. I am "pumped" about technology and how it will enhance our lives (emma's) in the very near future. As carey commented on my last post about how CBG monitors will do so.
As for us here i am excited for the day emma can verbalize interest in a pump, and probably by then they will be much better, its hard to imagine that especially after that video.
Thanks for that. Very helpful.
Bernard,
I thought your video was very well done. I have 2 comments. First off I should say I wear a 2020 pump. I really like the size, screen and that it is REALLY waterproof.
A comment to jenny's post about portion sizes. The food datebase does give portin sizes and they can be changed to the amount that has been eaten.
To your concern about having to enter the amount of the bolus. I like that feature very much. I can choose to give myself more or less or go with the amount calculated. I feel it is an extra safety step too. I am pretty confident I will never give myself an accidental bolus.
I liked the Cozmo pump too but Animas has such great customer service, which is a joy since I too had a MMM pump.The MMM service was terrible!
Hi,
I don't know if anyone can help me, but any info would be appreciated. I have had diabetes for 20 years and have done well. I am choosing to go onto a pump because we want to get pregnant. I am trying to choose between the Animas 2020 and the Minimed.
Any experiences or recommendations would be great.
Thanks
cathy
I just read the comments-some already dated but noticed no mention of the Omnipod. Has anyone tried or considered it? I am doing a demo of the product now and really like it compared to the other pumps on the market? Would be interested if anyone else already wears it? Thanks!
cde
I know people are using the Omnipod. The only blogger that I can remember who's using it is Amy T at DiabetesMine.
Insulet is a local company for me. I'll try at some stage to get a loaner to video tape from them.
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