I have used MiniMed insulin pumps for many years. I recently upgraded from a MiniMed 780G to a MiniMed Flex. Overall the Flex is an improvement, but there are some things I wish were different.
Both systems pair with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and use its readings to adjust basal insulin and deliver correction boluses automatically. The algorithm is currently the same on both pumps, although I believe some future algorithm updates may be available only for the Flex.
Pros and cons of the Flex compared with the 780G
- [+] Rechargeable. The Flex charges on its own small MagSafe-style stand and needs about 30 minutes a week, instead of the AA batteries the 780G uses.
- [+] Phone control. It is controlled from a smartphone, so it is less obtrusive. You can wear it under clothing because you never need to touch it.
- [−] Phone only. The Flex can only be controlled from a smartphone. Flex continues delivery according to its current settings and mode when it doesn’t have communication with the phone. SmartGuard can continue while the sensor remains connected. Without the phone, however, the user cannot give a manual bolus or manage alerts through the app. The pump itself shows nothing except LED color changes indicating the severity of alarms which must be reviewed and cleared on the phone. The necessity of the phone can be a real problem in some environments.
- [+] Smaller. The Flex is somewhat smaller than the 780G, although I find the 780G small enough, and in use the Flex does not feel much smaller.
- [−] Accessories. The Flex is new. Although it is better suited to being worn under clothing, there are few good holsters or belt solutions yet. It ships with a belt clip, which by definition holds it over clothing rather than under it.
The solutions are known
To stomp on the theme of this blog: put the Flex’s technology (smartphone control, recharging, updated hardware) into the 780G’s form factor, and keep the screen and buttons on the pump. That would have preserved compatibility with existing belts and holsters, kept the freedom to operate the pump without a phone, and retained essentially every other advantage of the Flex.
That was not the direction chosen. The Flex is a good pump, but so far it has been only a marginal improvement over the 780G.