Insulin Pumps with CGM Integration| ADS

Both insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems help people live with diabetes, but these are two very different categories of diabetes equipment. Devices in the former class focus on insulin delivery, while the latter group of products is all about monitoring glucose levels. 

However, some insulin pumps can work alongside CGM systems to automatically adjust insulin output in response to glucose readings—effectively mimicking the pancreas’ insulin production process. Are you in the market for an insulin pump with CGM-related capabilities? If so, keep reading for valuable advice on how to use an insulin pump along with a CGM and a rundown of the best insulin pumps with CGM features.

How To Use an Insulin Pump with CGM Device

Before you can choose an insulin pump with CGM compatibility, you’ll need to understand the difference between open-loop and closed-loop insulin delivery. Open-loop insulin delivery is the “standard” form of insulin injection—that is to say, it’s entirely user-controlled. Both traditional pumps and insulin pens are considered open-loop devices.

Meanwhile, hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps offer a more advanced alternative to manual insulin injections. To take advantage of this process, users will need access to the right CGM system and insulin pump. Here’s a quick guide to using an insulin pump along with a compatible CGM:

1. Every so often, your CGM system will analyze your glucose levels and send that data to your insulin pump.
2. The insulin pump will adjust or pause its insulin delivery to reduce your risk of high and low glucose levels.
3. Later, your CGM will spot any changes to your glucose level and provide an update to your insulin pump, restarting the cycle.

Some of the biggest reasons why many people with diabetes opt to use hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps include:

Glucose Low Prevention

When people with diabetes utilize hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery, they’re less likely to encounter low blood glucose levels. These systems can spot declining blood sugar levels almost immediately and take action to prevent lows right away.

Reduced Decision Fatigue

People living with diabetes must make countless high-stakes decisions on a daily basis, and there’s no denying that this can be a source of stress. Hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps can help people managing this disease cut down on the exhaustion tied to insulin delivery.

Improved Access to Glucose Trends

As part of their standard functionality, hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps keep an eye on their users’ blood glucose trends. Some of these systems allow people to access this information with a mobile app—giving people living with diabetes an easy way to check this vital data.

Best Insulin Pumps with CGM

Now that you know the basics of using an insulin pump along with a CGM system, it’s time to find the CGM-compatible insulin pump that’s right for you. These are the best insulin pumps with CGM compatibility:

MiniMed™ 630G Insulin Pump System

Medtronic’s MiniMed 630G Insulin Pump System is an easy-to-use insulin pump—and one of the only devices offering SmartGuard™ technology. While SmartGuard is active, the MiniMed 630G System works alongside Medtronic’s Guardian™ Sensor 3 to offer CGM capabilities like tracking users’ glucose levels and suspending insulin delivery on low glucose levels.

MiniMed™ 770G Insulin Pump System

Like the MiniMed 630G System, the MiniMed 770G Insulin Pump System features SmartGuard technology—but this system delivers even more robust CGM capabilities. The MiniMed 770G System’s SmartGuard features include:

• Predictive low glucose suspend
• Adaptive insulin delivery* with Auto Mode
• The MiniMed™ 780G insulin pump pairs with the new Guardian™ 4 sensor which means no fingersticks with SmartGuard™ technology.**

Omnipod^® 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System

The Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System is distinguishable by the wearable, tubeless Pod it uses for insulin delivery. While its form factor is similar to that of its predecessor’s, the newer device offers some serious advantages—notably, integration with Dexcom^® CGMs, the G6. When people with this insulin pump use it along with a compatible Dexcom device, their Pod can increase, decrease, or pause insulin delivery once every five minutes based on CGM updates.

As of late 2023, the Omnipod 5 was incompatible with the Dexcom G7 CGM System. Insulet, the company behind Omnipod, has acknowledged that work towards introducing compatibility between these two products is ongoing.

Tandem^® t:slim Insulin Pump

The t:slim X2 is an insulin pump designed to make insulin delivery as simple and intuitive as possible. Similarly to the Omnipod 5, this product offers compatibility with Dexcom CGMs, the G7. Thanks to that integration, diabetes patients who own a t:slim X2 can use one of two predictive technologies:

• Basal-IQ™, which uses CGM data to predict and avoid lows by pausing the flow of insulin when a user’s glucose level is likely to go under 80 mg/dL
• Control-IQ™, which works to increase a user’s time in range by analyzing CGM readings and adjusting insulin delivery in response to highs or lows expected 30 minutes into the future

Get Insulin Pumps with CGM Capabilities

If you’re looking for an insulin pump with CGM integration, any of the products listed above could be the right choice for you. Of course, you’ll need to find a trustworthy diabetes supply company in order to purchase one of these devices.

At ADS, we’re proud to sell all the insulin pumps featured in this article. Of course, we don’t only sell the best insulin pumps offering CGM features—we also provide the CGMs these devices rely on. And when you buy an insulin pump, a CGM, or anything else from us, you’ll appreciate benefits like our fast shipping and quality customer service. Discover our full product lineup today!

*Refers to Auto Mode. Some user interaction required. Individual results may vary.

** Fingersticks required in manual mode & to enter SmartGuard™. If symptoms don’t match alerts & readings, use a fingerstick. Refer to user guide. Pivotal trial participants spend average of > 93% in SmartGuard™.