I've been using the Medtronic 780G system for almost 4 years now and I'm right in the middle of the decision process about whether to continue using it as my next tech setup or to give something else a try. Perfect timing to try out their latest CGM offering, the Simplera Sync. This is a quick rundown of how it's going so far. 👇
My Medtronic CGM backstory
My journey with Medtronic CGMs has been ever evolving:
Started with a Guardian 3 sensor (not great)
Then moved to a Guardian 4 sensor (better, but still a lot of downsides)
Now finally getting to try the Simplera Sync
At least a couple of years ago, I heard about this next generation CGM coming onto the Medtronic scene and I was excited to try it. When I was at the ATTD conference in spring 2024 I got to try on a Simplera sensor (that wasn't compatible with the 780G so it was just for insertion and look and feel). I had to wait until the 780G compatible Simplera Sync landed in the UK and I made my way to the top of the waiting list for a software update until I could actually try it for real.
Getting started: first you need a software upgrade
If you're currently using the 780G with the Guardian 4 sensor, you need to get a software upgrade for the pump to be compatible with the Simplera Sync. I was contacted at the end of 2024 to say I was eligible for the software upgrade (hooray!). I had to do some online training first (quick and easy) and give the Medtronic team my pump's serial number.
Here's where we hit the first snag - you can only get the software upgrade via the CareLink app, and guess what? The app doesn't work on my Android phone. Luckily my husband has an iPhone and was happy for me to borrow it for a few hours so I could do the software update by temporarily downloading the CareLink app. Not ideal, but we got there and the software update was easy to do.
Ordering the sensors
Once that was sorted, I called up to order the Simplera Sync sensors (they weren't available in the Medtronic e-shop as I hadn't ordered them before). Happily they arrived quickly with no supply delays. They come in big boxes of 5 as they each come integrated with their own inserters (like the Freestyle Libre). They take up more space than the old ones, but they're very convenient all in one packages. Much better than the bag full of accessories you need for the Guardian 4.
Putting the sensor on
This is definitely easier than the Guardian 4 - you can actually use one hand! The process is:
Twist the cap off
Hold it against the back of your arm
Push down (pretty hard actually) until it activates the insertion device
I have to say, for me at least, I have to push it down VERY hard (uncomfortably hard) before the spring "fires". I can actually feel the needle pressing against my skin before it fires which is a bit off putting, and it leaves a temporary red ring from the plastic cup pressing into my skin. I didn't note finding the insertion uncomfortable at all when I tried on the Simplera at ATTD2024 last year, which is interesting. Maybe I'm just feeling more sensitive? Maybe it's still a bit unfamiliar and I'm not pressing hard enough so it feels like it takes ages? I'll probably get used to it, and it's still miles better than the convoluted process of getting a new Guardian 4 sensor ready and in.
Remember - don't throw away the insertion device until you have paired the CGM to your pump!
Pairing, warm up and entering your BG
Once it's on your body, the process of starting a new sensor is different to the Guardian 4 process. You have to:
Go into the Paired Devices screen
Unpair any CGM that's already paired
Select "pair new device"
When it finds the CGM it will come up with its serial number for you to confirm
Check that the serial number matches the one on top of the inserter
Then it will ask you to confirm another code on the inserter
Once you've confirmed it, the warm up will start.
A note on the pairing and warm up process timeline
I think it's worth noting that each of the pairing steps took a little while, it's not a case of a few quick clicks on the pump and then you're done.
I filmed the pairing process so I could get an accurate indication of the time involved in the steps:
Unpair the old CGM - instant once the button is pressed
Pair new device - took 25 seconds to find the newly inserted CGM
Once the serial number is confirmed, it took another 44 seconds to get to the next prompt screen
Once the Code is confirmed, it took another 30 seconds until the "pairing successful" screen
The warm up is supposed to take 2 hours. In theory. Real life has been a bit different (more on that in a minute). When it's working as it should, you get a handy countdown timer to tell you how long is left of the warmup period. After 2 hours it asks for a blood glucose reading to go into Smart Guard. It's still annoying that you have to do this as it means you can't change the sensor in the evening without being disturbed 2 hours later. All being well, the sensor is meant to last 7 days.
How the sensors have gone so far
It's only been a couple of weeks but they have been quite interesting. This is how each sensor has fared.
Sensor 1: Initial faffing, lasted 6 days
Started: Tuesday 21st Jan
First hiccup: Wouldn't accept calibrations after warm up (I was recovering from a hypo)
Finally accepted calibration 5 hours after insertion (3 hours after the end of warm up)
Got the dreaded "sensor updating" message on Monday 27th Jan
"Change sensor" message followed 2 hours later
Total life: 6 DAYS
Sensor 2: More initial faffing, lasted 7 days!
Started: Afternoon of 27th Jan
Another hiccup: "Sensor updating" message after warm up for almost 2 hours
Finally got to enter the BG calibration
Made it the full 7 days before the "sensor updating" and "change sensor" messages started
Total life: 7 DAYS
Sensor 3: The non-starter
Started: 3rd Feb just before 6pm
Paired as normal, then got a message saying warm up hadn't started after pairing
Then the countdown screen appeared showing the remaining warm up time
After 2 hours the countdown disappeared, just said "sensor warm up"
Waited another hour - no change
Removed it and tried again with a new sensor
Total life: 0 DAYS
Sensor 4: So far so good
Started: 3rd Feb around 9pm
Paired as normal, countdown is on the screen
Warm up took 2 hours, entered BG and has been fine since
Total life: TBC
What's working and what isn't
No piece of tech is ever perfect, but this is my perspective on the good and the bad of the Simplera Sync so far:
The good
It looks MUCH neater and nicer than the Guardian 4
Really comfortable to wear
No irritation from the adhesive so far
Stays put during exercise with no connection drop outs so far
No sharp bits to catch on clothing
SO much easier to put on - no more charging transmitters or fiddling with bits and pieces
No overtape needed
Things I'm not loving
Hard push needed for insertion
Unpredictable warm up experiences so far (but it's only been 2 weeks)
The amount of waste - it would be great if the inserter could be recycled
I'll wait and see
I've had a 6 day and a 7 day sensor so far and one non starter. It's too early to tell whether they reliably last 7 days but I am happy to give them the benefit of the doubt and see how I get on.
Conclusions from my first two weeks
I'm still on my first box of Simplera Syncs and I know it's only a very small sample size, but it's been a bit of a mixed bag of experiences so far. I haven't yet had that seamless experience where I change over and 2 hours later I'm in SmartGuard again. Every sensor change has been its own little adventure and the changeover times have been longer than I was expecting them to be. Less time in SmartGuard means less time in range so this really matters to me.
I will report back again on the Simplera Sync experience in a few weeks so stay tuned to see if things settle down.
If there's anything specific you would like to know, please let me know and I will do my best to cover it.
Thanks so much for reading!
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