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The Best Insulin Pump? compare pump features, function & cost
Insulin pumps can make a huge difference in quality of life and in managing blood glucose! But which one is best for your family? This side-by-side comparison of all of the insulin pumps currently available in Canada looks at the features that are important to real pump users and their families (like us!), in a clear, comprehensive and updated format. It's designed to help you find the technology that best meets your individual needs and preferences.
The chart that follows includes these insulin pumps, currently approved by Health Canada as of April, 2023 (in alphabetical order):
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Medtronic Minimed™
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780G Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Pump System (automatic bolus & basal adjustment)
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770G Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Pump System (automatic basal adjustment)
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Omnipod DASH® Insulin Management System (by Insulet)
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t:slim X2™ Insulin Pump (by Tandem®) - Hybrid Closed Loop System (automatic bolus & basal insulin adjustment) when Control-IQ™ is used
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YpsoPump by Ypsomed (Go to the YpsoPump product page to learn more.)
Details on each of the insulin pump systems:
More on the standard features common to most insulin pumps:
Want to compare CGM/Flash systems too?
Insulin Pump Comparison Chart (Canada)
©2023 Waltzing the Dragon, Inc.
| Insulin Pump Comparison Chart (Canada)©2023 Waltzing the Dragon, Inc | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimed780G / 770G | Omnipod DASH | Tandem t:slim X2 | YpsoPump | |
| Can my child wear it? Approved by Health Canada for... | 770: Age 2+, type 1780: Ages 7-80, type 1 | All ages | Age 6+ | Age 6+ |
| Is the pump tubing-free? | No. Tubing connects the pump (which contains insulin) to the infusion set. | Yes! Omnipod is a tubeless “patch pump”. All that is attached to your body is the infusion set ("pod"), which contains insulin. | No | No |
| Size & Weight | 9.6 x 5.3 x 2.4 cm 85 grams | 6.21 x 11.25 x 2.5 cm 125g (PDM with batteries) In terms of what's attached to your body, Omnipod is the smallest, as only the pod is attached. | 7.95 x 5.08 x 1.52cm 112 grams (with reservoir full of insulin). |
7.8 × 4.6 × 1.6 cm 83 grams (including battery + filled cartridge) smallest pump available in Canada |
| How much insulin does it hold? (reservoir size) | 300U (3.0 ml)If the insulin runs out, you can refill reservoir without replacing the infusion set. | 200U (2.0 ml) If the insulin runs out, you need to replace the pod (infusion set), as the pod contains the insulin. | 300U (3.0 ml)If the insulin runs out, you can refill reservoir without replacing the infusion set. | 160U (1.6 ml)Enough for smaller kids, but if your teen's Total Daily Dose is 100-150u, she'll be re-filling daily.)If the insulin runs out, you can refill reservoir without replacing the infusion set. |
| What type of infusion sets are available? | Medtronic Extended 7-day infusion sets now available! 90° insertion; 6 or 9mm cannula; 23" or 32" tubing.Inserts automatically, just push the button, no needle in sight.Also available as 3-day (Mio Advance) infusion sets.Other types of infusion sets also available: Flexible cannula with 90-degree insertion (6 or 9mm cannula) or angled insertion (13 or 17mm cannula); 4 tubing lengths Steel cannula with 90 degree insertion: (6 or 9mm cannula); 3 tubing lengths. Insert manually or with re-usable auto-inserter device. | Only 1 type (limited option compared to other insulin pumps): Flexible 6.5mm cannula with angled insertion. Inserts automatically, just push the button, no needle in sight Largest profile infusion set, as the pod needs to be big enough to hold your insulin. | Flexible 6 or 9mm cannula; angled or 90° insertion; 2 tubing lengths. Auto-inserter needs some set-up; insertion needle in sight. 29G, 8mm Steel cannula: 90° manual insertion; 80cm tubing |
YpsoPump Orbit Infusion Sets: Flexible 6 or 9mm cannula with 90 degree insertion, with or without auto-inserter; 4 tubing lengths. 31G, 5.5 or 8.5 mm, Steel cannula (thinnest on the market) with 90° insertion; with or without auto-inserter; 4 tubing lengths. YpsoPump Orbit connector has 360° tubing rotation at the infusion site (so you can change the tubing angle as needed without changing the set). |
| Screen | Colour LED screen (not touchscreen; press buttons to access features | Colour touchscreen PDM (remote) | Colour touchscreen | black & white OLED touchscreen. Rotate screen like a phone to view in vertical or horizontal format. |
| How does the insulin delivery mechanism work? | A piston in the pump pushes the insulin out. | A piston in the pump pushes the insulin out. | Insulin is “sucked” into the “pig tail” part of the tubing because of a vacuum created by the outward movement of insulin. | A piston in the pump pushes the insulin out. |
| Water-Resistance: Can I swim and bathe while wearing the pump? | Yes. Pump is waterproof. IPX8 Rating (submersion of up to 3.6m for 24 hours) | Yes. Pod is waterproof. IP28 Rating (submersion of up to 7.6m for 60 mins).PDM is not waterproof. | Pump is water-resistant. You can splash, but do not swim, surf, dive… IPX7 Rating (Watertight to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes) | Pump is waterproof IPX8 Rating (submersion of up to 1 m for up to 60 mins) but Ypsomed recommends disconnecting for water sports. |
| What type of batteries can I use? How long do they last? | AA Lithium (x1) recommended. Also accepts alkaline, or NiMH (rechargeable). Battery Life varies by battery type used, approx. 3-4 weeks | AAA Alkaline (x2) in PDM Battery Life approx. 3 weeks | Internal rechargeable, non-replaceable medical grade battery. Lasts up to 7 days (5 days if using CGM). 4-year minimum service life. | AAA Alkaline in pump (Service life typically 30 days of average use) PLUS internal rechargeable battery, which allows battery change without disrupting basal, temp basal or extended bolus functions. |
| Is the insulin pump fully operational on its own? Can we still deliver insulin if my child loses the remote or smartphone, or forgets it at school? | Yes | No. Basal delivery will continue but you cannot deliver a bolus, change basal settings, or insert a new pod, without the PDM | Yes | Yes (App does not control pump functions) |
| Can I access new features/models when they become available by upgrading the software? | Yes! Upgrades are available as a remote software update while keeping the same hardware (pump body). | No, to access new features, purchase a new pump. But free upgrade offers are often available for current users around release time. | Yes! Upgrades are available as a remote software update while keeping the same hardware (pump body). | No, to access new features, purchase a new pump. |
| Does the pump integrate with CGM? | Yes, works with Medtronic CGM to automatically adjust insulin.(or use the pump without CGM) | No.But next gen Omnipod 5 will include CGM integration. | Yes, works with Dexcom CGM (sold separately) to automatically adjust insulin.(or use the pump without CGM) | No. YpsoPump is open platform by design; you could use an independent CGM alongside YpsoPump. Next gen Ypsomed Loop will include CGM integration. |
| Safety Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ©2023 Waltzing the Dragon, Inc | Minimed780G / 770G | Omnipod DASH | Tandemt:slim X2 | YpsoPump |
| Will the pump stop insulin delivery when my glucose is low? (when used with integrated CGM) | Yes. Suspend on Low feature: If user does not respond to the alert, basal insulin delivery will be shut off. Threshold is adjustable. | n/a | Yes (indirectly). Control-IQ will have already suspended basal insulin when a low was predicted. | n/a |
| Will the pump reduce or stop insulin delivery when it predicts my glucose is headed for a low?(when used with integrated CGM) | Yes. Suspend Before Low feature stops basal insulin up to 30 minutes before reaching your pre-set low limits, then restarts again automatically when glucose rises. | n/a | Yes Control-IQ will suspend basal insulin if sensor glucose is predicted to fall below 4.4 in next 30 mins, then restarts again automatically when glucose rises. (This threshold of 4.4 is not adjustable.) | n/a |
| Will the pump automatically adjust insulin delivery based on my current BG? (when used with integrated CGM) |
780G: Yes. BASAL insulin is automatically adjusted up or down based on CGM readings AND automatic BOLUS CORRECTIONS (every 5 minutes, up to 12 per hour) will be given based on above-target CGM reading. 770G: Yes. BASAL insulin (only) is automatically adjusted up or down based on CGM readings. Insulin delivery is suspended to help prevent a low. |
n/a | Control-IQ: Yes. BASAL insulin is automatically adjusted up or down based on CGM readings. AND Automatic BOLUS CORRECTION (1 per hour) will be given based on above target CGM reading. | n/a |
| Low Insulin Warning: Will the pump alert me when insulin is running out? | Yes. Low Reservoir warning is user adjustable from 5 to 50 units in 5-unit increments. Pump will alert you again when half of the remaining units are used. | Yes. Low Reservoir warning is user adjustable from 10 to 50 units in 5-unit increments. | Low Insulin Alert is user adjustable from 10 to 40 units. Status indicator visible on pump Home Screen. | Yes. Cartridge Level Low warning will alert you if the basal rate (incl temp) for the next 12 hrs + bolus amount remaining is more than or equal to the amount of insulin in the cartridge. |
| BASAL: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ©2023 Waltzing the Dragon, Inc | Minimed780G / 770G | Omnipod DASH | Tandemt:slim X2 | YpsoPump |
| How big or small can the basal rates be? | Basal rate of 0.025 to 35 U/hr in increments as low as 0.025 U/hr for small basal rates (ex. step from 0.100 to 0.125 U/hr) | Basal rate of 0 (min) to 30.0 (max) U/hr in 0.05 increments (ex. step from 0.100 to 0.150 U/hr) | Basal rate of 0.1 (min) to 15.0 (max) U/hr in 0.001 increments (ex. step from 0.100 to 0.101 U/hr) | Basal rate of 0.05 (min) to 40.0 (max) U/hr in steps as low as 0.01 U/hr for smaller basal rates (ex. step from 0.100 to 0.110 U/hr) |
| How many different basal rates can I set throughout the day (24-hour period)? | Smartguard feature automatically adjusts basal insulin (based on CGM reading and largely independent of the programmed basal rates) every 5 mins, equivalent of up to 288 basal rates per day | 24 basal rate segments per program (up to 7 basal programs) |
16 basal rate segments (for each of the 6 possible Insulin Delivery Profiles). Control-IQ: pump automatically adjusts basal insulin (based on CGM reading and programmed basal rates) every 5 mins, equivalent of up to 288 basal rates per day |
24 basal rate segments in each basal profile |
| Can I create and switch between alternate basal profiles? (for weekends, exercise, illness, school days...) | n/a in Smartguard auto modeTo make basals more conservative, you would set a Temp Glucose Target instead (see below) | Up to 7 profiles (including primary) in which you can set varied basal rates |
n/a in Control-IQ Standalone pump: Yes, up to 6 Personal insulin delivery Profiles: Within each you can set varied basal rates, ISF/correction factor, Carb Ratio (I:C), and target BG |
Up to 2 basal rate profiles (A and B), programmed by the user. |
| Can I set a temporary basal rate? (for illness, exercise, couch potato days, to cover hi-fat foods…) | n/a in Smartguard auto modeTo make basals more conservative, you would set a Temp Glucose Target instead (see below) | Yes, in % or Units/hr Duration: 30-min to 12-hr in 30-min increments; 7 Temp Basal Pre-sets |
n/a in Control-IQ To make basals more conservative, you would set a Temp Glucose Target instead (see below) Standalone pump: Yes Range: 0 to 250% Duration: 15-min to 72-hr in 1-min increments |
Yes Range: 0 to 200% (in 10% basal steps) Duration: 15-min to 24-hr in 15-min increments |
| Is there a temporary glucose target feature? (for exercise, overnight after a high-activity day, or for sleepovers) | 780: Yes. You select your glucose target (5.5, 6.1 or 6.7 mmol/L)770: Yes Alternate Temp Glucose Target is 8.3 mmol/L (compared to default Glucose Target of 6.7 mmol/L) |
n/a (not a Hybrid Closed loop system) |
Yes, when used with Dexcom G6 and Control-IQ software: Dedicated Temp Glucose Targets for Sleep and Exercise |
n/a (not a Hybrid Closed loop system) |
| BOLUS: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ©2023 Waltzing the Dragon, Inc | Minimed780G / 770G | Omnipod DASH | Tandemt:slim X2 | YpsoPump |
| Bolus Size & Range: How small or large of a bolus can the pump deliver? | Bolus Delivery Range of min 0.025 to max 25U, in bolus increments of 0.025, 0.05, or 0.1U | Bolus Delivery Range of min 0.05 to max 30U, in bolus increments of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 U | Bolus Delivery Range of min 0.05U to max 25U, in bolus increments as small as 0.01U. | Bolus Delivery Range of min 0.1U to max 30U in bolus steps of 0.1, 0.5, 1, or 2 U. |
| Bolus Delivery Speed: Can the pump deliver bolus insulin at different rates of speed? (for time efficiency, absorbability, and comfort) | 2 user-selected speeds: Standard (1.5U/min) or Quick (15U/min) | 1 speed: 1.5U/min | Auto-adjusts (not user- selectable) | 1 speed: 0.555 U/sec |
| Does the pump have a bolus calculator, using my programmed rates and ratios to do the math for me/my child? | Yes | Yes | Yes | There is a Bolus Calculator in the YpsoPump App, but not in the pump itself. You enter bolus amounts (units of insulin) directly into the pump. |
| Can I program varied carb ratios across the day? Ratio = 1:C (1 unit of insulin covers C grams of carbs) | Yes in 8 time-segments the C in I:C ratio can be set from 1 to 200g carb/U in increments as small as 0.1g for ratios <10 (ex. You can change carb ratio from 1:8 to 1:8.1) | Yes in 4 time-segments the C in I:C ratio can be set from 1 to 150g carb/U in increments as small as 1g (ex. You can change carb ratio from 1:8 to 1:9) | Yes in 16 time-segments the C in I:C ratio can be set from 1 to 300g carb/U in increments as small as 0.1g for ratios <10 (ex. You can change carb ratio from 1:8 to 1:8.1) |
Yes (within the YpsoPump App) in 8 time-segments. The C in I:C ratio can be set from 1 to 150g carb/U |
| Can I program varied Insulin Sensitivity Factors (ISF) across the day? Ratio = 1:X (1 unit of insulin reduces glucose by X mmol/L) | 770/780: n/a |
Yes in up to 4 time-segments The X in ISF ratio can be set from 0.1 to 16.7mmol/L in increments of 0.1 mmol/L |
Control-IQ: N/A Standalone pump: Yes in up to 16 time-segments The X in ISF ratio can be set from 0.1 to 33.3 mmol/L in increments of 0.1 mmol/L |
Yes (within the YpsoPump App) in up to 8 time-segments. The X in Correction Factor can be set from 0.1 to 22.2 mmol/L in increments of 0.1 mmol/L |
| Does the pump calculate active insulin remaining, to avoid insulin stacking and reduce the risk of lows? | Yes "Active Insulin" is shown on home screen of pump | Yes "Insulin on Board" is shown on status screen of PDM | Yes "Insulin on Board" is shown on home screen of receiver (pump) | Yes "Insulin on Board" is calculated and shown on the YpsoPump App, not directly on the pump. |
| Duration of Insulin Action (DIA): Can I set my own individualized length of time for which insulin continues to act? | "Active Insulin Time” can be set for 2 to 8 hours in 15-min increments | “Duration of Insulin Action” can be set for 2 to 6 hours in 30-min increments |
Control-IQ: Insulin Duration is fixed at 5 hours for the algorithm to work well. Standalone pump: “Insulin Duration” can be set for 2 to 8 hours in 1- minute increments (and is displayed on the home screen of the pump) |
“Duration of Insulin” can be set for 2 to 8 hours in 30-min increments in the YpsoPump App. |
| Extended Bolus: Can I split or extend a bolus to cover slower-digesting or hi-fat foods? | 770/780: n/a | Extended Bolus (with “Deliver Now” and “Extend” portions) in Units or % of total bolus upfront for 30-min to 8-hr duration (in 30-minute increments) |
Control-IQ: Yes, up to 2 hours Standalone pump: Extended or Combination Bolus in % of total units of insulin) (inputted in Units or using bolus calculator to input grams of carbs) in 1% increments for 15-min to 8-hr duration (in 1-minute increments.) BG Correction amount is automatically separated out and delivered, you do not need to do 2 separate bolus actions. |
Extended or Combination bolus in Units of Insulin only (from 0.1 to 30.0 U) for 15-min to 12-hr duration (in 15-min increments). As you set the combo bolus in Units of Insulin, the % will also display. |
| CUSTOMER SUPPORT: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ©2023 Waltzing the Dragon, Inc | Medtronic Minimed | Omnipod DASH & Omnipod | Tandem t:slim X2 | YpsoPump |
| Warranty: For how long after purchase will the company provide support, and replace the pump if necessary? |
4 years (pump, which also acts as CGM Receiver) plus 1 additional year to match government funding, when applicable. 1 year (CGM transmitter) |
5 year Limited on PDM (pods are replaced every 3 days ) |
4 years for insulin pump only. 5 years under provincial pump funding program. (Dexcom CGM has separate warranty.) |
5 years |
We suggest that if you are considering a transition to a insulin pump, or if your child’s current insulin pump warranty is ending soon, use the chart above as a starting point to your research; then check out the websites for the different manufacturers and speak directly to company representatives, so that you and your child have all the information (concrete and intuitive) needed to choose the insulin pump that best fits your family.
Need to do more research?
The above information was reviewed for content accuracy by representatives of the pump companies.
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