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MiniMed Flex combines smartphone control, SmartGuard automated insulin delivery, real-time continuous glucose monitoring, and a smaller, more discreet form factor — making it one of the most connected, capable, and summer-ready insulin pump systems available today.
Managing diabetes this summer:
Why people are choosing MiniMed FlexTM
In this article:
Summer's calling. Answer it.
Lazy beach days. Weekend hikes. Road trips. Family vacations. Backyard barbecues. Early morning runs. Long walks after dinner. Outdoor concerts. Pool parties.
For people living with diabetes, these moments come with extra planning, extra supplies and extra decisions. The right technology can make a difference.
That's why more people are exploring MiniMed Flex.
MiniMed Flex is designed for the full reality of summer — heat, water activities, travel, exercise, and social events — with continuous glucose monitoring, smartphone control, and SmartGuard™ automated insulin delivery working in the background all season long.
Whether you're looking for your first insulin pump or considering switching from another system, summer is the perfect time to look at MiniMed Flex, which is designed to fit into your life — not require you to plan your life around it.
MiniMed Flex offers advanced automation that is designed to reduce the daily burden of diabetes management including once-a-week changes and charges§ and full smartphone control so you can deliver boluses and see your numbers while your pump stays tucked away.
When people search for the best insulin pump, they often want the same thing:
Less time managing diabetes.
More time living life.
MiniMed Flex combines several features designed to support everyday freedom:
- SmartGuardTM technology that automatically adjusts insulin delivery based on sensor glucose values◊
- Smartphone control that lets you to view your glucose levels and deliver boluses without having to take out your pump
- A small, sleek design that is lighter than your phone
- Flexibility to wear the pump your way¶ including the ability to disconnect and reconnect your pump when needed
- Continuous glucose monitoring with the Simplera SyncTM sensor and an up to 7-day infusion set for once-a-week set and infusion site changes
- A pump that can be recharged and only needs to be charged once a week, so you can create a weekly routine
Together, these features create a system designed to provide advanced automation and less work to support your day-to-day diabetes management.
Yes. Summer heat, sun exposure, and sweating can all shift glucose levels in unexpected ways — sometimes significantly. Some people notice higher glucose levels during periods of dehydration, while others experience more lows due to increased activity.
MiniMed Flex provides real-time, continuous glucose monitoring so you always know where your levels stand, even during long, active days in the heat and the pump and SmartGuard technology can adjust your insulin delivery, including giving you corrections, as often as every 5 minutes.
Summer often brings changes in routine that can affect glucose levels:
- Higher temperatures
- More time outdoors
- Travel across time zones
- Irregular meal schedules
- Social events and celebrations
- Increased physical activity
- Time in the water
The good news? Diabetes doesn't take a summer vacation — but your technology can help make it feel like less work. MiniMed Flex is designed to simplify diabetes management no matter what you have planned or what season it is.
With real-time glucose information and automated insulin adjustments working in the background, it means fewer interruptions, less time checking your pump, and more freedom to stay focused on the moment — whether you're at the beach, by the pool, or exploring somewhere new. Instead of constantly thinking about diabetes, you can spend more time enjoying your summer while your system helps manage the work behind the scenes.
💡Tips for managing glucose in summer heat:
- Stay hydrated — dehydration can affect your glucose levels and sensor performance
- Check your app more frequently during long stretches of outdoor activity
- Keep fast-acting carbs on hand for unexpected lows
- Talk to your care team about adjusting your settings during high-activity or high-heat periods
- Store insulin properly — away from direct sunlight and extreme heat, which can make insulin less effective
MiniMed Flex is designed with active lifestyles in mind, including water activities. The MiniMed Flex system is waterproof for 8 feet for 1 hour and 45 minutes. And for the times that you don’t want to take your pump in the water, you can always disconnect and reconnect when you’re ready without having to change your infusion set location, lose your insulin or poke yourself again.
"Can you swim with an insulin pump?" is one of the most common questions that people ask. When it comes to summer, whether you’re thinking about the beach, the pool or just going to a waterpark, water plays a starring role and should stand between you and your first pool day of the season. The answer is yes. You can swim with an insulin pump. With MiniMed Flex, it has a IPX8 rating so you have the option to take your pump in the water with you or disconnect and reconnect it when you're ready. The choice is yours.
💡Tips for pool, beach and water days with MiniMed Flex:
- Rinse devices with clean water to remove salt water or chlorine
- Dry devices thoroughly before charging
- Keep your phone in a waterproof case or on a nearby towel while you're in the water
- Check your glucose before and after — swimming is great exercise, and it can impact your levels significantly
- Avoid getting sunscreen and insect repellant on your pump
SmartGuard automated insulin delivery on MiniMed Flex continuously monitors glucose and automatically adjusts insulin delivery as your activity level changes◊ — working in the background to help keep you in range during exercise and outdoor activities all summer long. You also can set a Temp Target for exercise or other times when less insulin is needed. With a duration of 30 minutes to 24 hours, you can use this feature based on what works for you.
Summer often means more movement — whether that's a morning walk, a bike ride with the family, a day at the beach, or simply spending more time outdoors. Activity can affect glucose levels in different ways, which is why having support in the background can make a difference.
MiniMed Flex uses SmartGuardTM technology to continuously monitor your glucose and automatically adjust insulin delivery throughout the day and night.◊
As your activity level changes, SmartGuard works behind the scenes to help keep you in range, so you can spend less time managing diabetes and more time enjoying what you're doing.
For planned activity, you can also set a Temp Target when you want less insulin delivered. Available for 30 minutes up to 24 hours, Temp Target gives you flexibility to match your insulin delivery to your plans and personal needs.
And because MiniMed Flex is fully controlled from a compatible smartphone, you can check your glucose, receive alerts, and stay connected without needing to take your pump out.
💡Tips for before, during, and after activity:
| Before | During | After |
Check your glucose in the app | Keep your phone within Bluetooth range | Check your glucose and watch for delayed lows |
Have fast-acting carbs on hand | Monitor alerts and notifications | Rehydrate and refuel as needed |
Talk to your care team about activity settings | Notice how your glucose responds | Log your activity to track patterns |
Make sure your sensor is securely placed | Enjoy yourself | Share data with your care team at your next visit |
Whether you're training for a race, chasing kids around the backyard, or exploring somewhere new, MiniMed Flex is designed to help simplify diabetes management so you can focus more on summer and less on your glucose.◊
Yes. MiniMed Flex is travel-ready. Pack extra supplies, store insulin away from heat, carry a letter from your healthcare professional for TSA, and keep all diabetes supplies in your carry-on.
New places, open roads, memories in the making — summer travel is one of life's great pleasures. Whether you're heading out on a weekend road trip, boarding a flight, or spending long days exploring somewhere new, one of the biggest challenges of traveling with diabetes is making sure you have everything you need. With MiniMed Flex, you can view your glucose, receive alerts, and manage your pump directly from a compatible smartphone, helping you stay connected to your diabetes management without disrupting your plans.
When used with the Simplera Sync sensor and 7-day Extended infusion set, MiniMed Flex is designed around a once-a-week routine. Many people choose to align their sensor change, infusion set change, and pump charging to the same day each week, helping reduce the number of diabetes-related tasks — and supplies to think about — while they're on the go. Travel can make your schedule less predictable, and it often means carrying more diabetes supplies with you. But with MiniMed Flex, it is designed to make it easier.
🧳What to pack when traveling with diabetes and MiniMed Flex
- ✅ Extra sensors and supplies — always more than you think you'll need
- ✅ Charging cables for your phone and pump — a portable power bank provides added security
- ✅ A letter from your healthcare provider describing your medical devices
- ✅ Fast-acting carbs for unexpected lows on the road
- ✅ Insulin stored properly — away from direct sunlight and extreme heat
- ✅ MiniMed 24-hour Technical Support line saved in your phone:
- Within the United States: 1-800-MINIMED
- Outside the United States: +1-818-576-5555
💡Flying with an insulin pump: TSA tips
- Let TSA agents know you're wearing a medical device before going through security
- Always keep supplies in your carry-on — never check your diabetes supplies in luggage
- Review TSA guidelines and MiniMed's travel recommendations before your trip. Note that both your MiniMed Flex pumps and sensors can go through metal detectors.
Whether you're crossing the country or heading across town for a weekend adventure, MiniMed Flex is designed to fit into your plans—so you can spend less time thinking about diabetes and more time enjoying the journey.
Because MiniMed Flex is controlled from your smartphone, managing your diabetes in social situations feels like checking a notification — discreet, natural, and out of the way — so you can be more present with the people around you all summer long.
One of the best things about MiniMed Flex? How naturally it fits into social life. At a crowded pool party? A quick glance at your phone. Out to dinner with friends? No need to excuse yourself. At an outdoor concert? Your glucose data is right there — quietly keeping you informed.
That seamless experience means you can be more present in the moments that matter most. With the people who matter most.
Whether you're just getting started or already on the system, that experience is available to you — this summer.
Every great summer adventure starts somewhere. For people living with diabetes, one of the most powerful moves you can make right now is getting set up with technology that supports the life you want to live.
MiniMed Flex is ready for your summer. The beach, the trail, the road trip, the barbecue, the late nights, the early mornings. All of it.
But here's the thing about summer: it doesn't wait.
The people who get started now will spend summer living — not setting up. Don't let another season pass wondering what it would feel like to manage your diabetes with more freedom, more confidence, and more support.
Talk to your healthcare professional about MiniMed Flex today. Get the process started. Give yourself a summer where your technology works as hard as you do — quietly, confidently, always in the background.
Your best summer yet is waiting.
Frequently asked questions about MiniMed Flex and summer
When should I start with MiniMed Flex to be ready for summer?
When should I start with MiniMed Flex to be ready for summer?
Once you and your healthcare professional agree it's the right therapy for you, as soon as possible. Getting fully comfortable with MiniMed Flex takes a few weeks — including setup, learning the app, and working with your care team to optimize your settings.
Can I use MiniMed Flex at the beach?
Can I use MiniMed Flex at the beach?
Yes. MiniMed Flex is designed for active, outdoor lifestyles. Review water resistance specifications before water activities, avoid applying sunscreen directly over your sensor, and keep your phone nearby in a waterproof case for easy glucose monitoring throughout the day.
Can I swim with MiniMed Flex?
Can I swim with MiniMed Flex?
MiniMed Flex is designed with active use in mind. Check the water resistance rating for each system component in your user guide or on our support page before swimming or engaging in water activities.
How do I keep my sensor from falling off in summer heat?
How do I keep my sensor from falling off in summer heat?
Apply your sensor to clean, dry skin free of sunscreen or lotion. Consider a skin prep wipe before application and an adhesive overlay patch for high-sweat activities like swimming or outdoor exercise. Pat — don't rub — around your sensor after water activities.
Can I travel with MiniMed Flex?
Can I travel with MiniMed Flex?
Yes. Pack extra supplies, keep all diabetes supplies in your carry-on, inform TSA agents about your medical device before screening, and carry a letter from your healthcare provider. Your entire diabetes management toolkit is accessible from your smartphone — wherever your summer takes you.
How do I know if MiniMed Flex is covered by my insurance?
How do I know if MiniMed Flex is covered by my insurance?
Coverage varies by plan. Our team can help you navigate the insurance process and understand what may be covered under your plan. Reach out to MiniMed to get started.
† At the time of manufacture and when the reservoir and tubing are properly inserted, your pump is waterproof. It is protected against the effects of being underwater to a depth of up to 8 feet (3.6 meters) for up to 1 hour and 45 minutes (105 minutes). This is classified as IPX8 rating. See user guide for more details. The sensor and transmitter are water-resistant at 8 feet (2.4 meters) for up to 30 minutes. CGM readings may not be transmitted from the CGM to the pump while in water.
‡ The pump is designed to operate safely only within a temperature range of 41°F to 98.6°F (5°C to 37°C). Do not subject the device to freezing environments or extreme heat.
§ Assumes 4 injections per day and one infusion set and sensor change every seven days. More insertions may be required if Simplera Sync sensor or Extended infusion set requires replacement before specified wear time.
◊ Refers to SmartGuardTM feature. Individual results may vary.
¶ Do not wear or place your pump more than 14 inches (35.5 cm) above or below your infusion site. Additionally, if your insulin pump and infusion site distance changes by more than 14 inches, be sure to pay attention to alerts and reminders from your system.
# Always monitor your glucose during air travel. Changes in air pressure that occur during flight takeoff and landing can cause over-delivery or under-delivery of insulin, which may result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Be ready to respond to alerts and symptoms. Talk with your healthcare professional to see if you need a different treatment plan in place.
Important Safety Information: MiniMed FlexTM system with SmartGuardTM technology with Simplera SyncTM sensor
The MiniMed FlexTM system is intended for the continuous delivery of basal insulin at selectable rates, and the administration of insulin boluses at selectable rates for the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in persons 7 years of age and older, and of type 2 diabetes mellitus in persons 18 years of age and older requiring insulin. The system is also intended to continuously monitor glucose values in the fluid under the skin. The MiniMed FlexTM system includes SmartGuardTM technology, which can be programmed to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor glucose values and can suspend delivery of insulin when the SG value falls below or is predicted to fall below predefined threshold values.
The Simplera SyncTM sensor can be used one time and has a life up to 6 days, followed by a grace period of 24 hours. During the grace period, the sensor will continue to work as it did during the first 6 days, to allow the patient to change their sensor more flexibly. However, some sensors may not survive the full wear period for a variety of reasons. Please be prepared to replace the sensor during the grace period to ensure sensor glucose values continue to be monitored.
The Simplera SyncTM sensor is not intended to be used directly to make therapy adjustments while the MiniMed FlexTM system is operating in manual mode. All therapy adjustments in Manual mode should be based on measurements obtained using a blood glucose meter and not on values provided by the Simplera SyncTM sensor. The Simplera SyncTM sensor has been studied and is approved for use in patients ages 7 years and older and in the arm insertion site only. Do not use the Simplera SyncTM sensor in the abdomen or other body sites, including the buttocks, due to unknown or different performance that could result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
The Medtronic MiniMed FlexTM System consists of the following devices: MiniMed FlexTM Insulin Pump and the Simplera SyncTM sensor. The system requires a prescription from a healthcare professional.
WARNING: Do not use the SmartGuardTM feature for people who require less than 8 units or more than 250 units of total daily insulin per day. A total daily dose of at least 8 units, but no more than 250 units, is required to operate in the SmartGuardTM feature.
WARNING: Do not use the MiniMed FlexTM system until appropriate training has been received from a healthcare professional. Training is essential to ensure the safe use of the MiniMed FlexTM system.
WARNING: Do not use SG values to make treatment decisions, including delivering a bolus, while the pump is in Manual Mode. When the SmartGuardTM feature is active and you are no longer in Manual Mode, the pump uses an SG value, when available, to calculate a bolus amount. However, if your symptoms do not match the SG value, use a blood glucose (BG) meter to confirm the SG value. Failure to confirm glucose levels when your symptoms do not match the SG value can result in the infusion of too much or too little insulin, which may cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing does not allow for the recognition of pump signals, alerts, or alarms. The safety of the MiniMed FlexTM system has not been studied in pregnant women or in persons using other anti-hyperglycemic therapies that do not include insulin. For complete details of the system, including user guides and important safety information such as indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions associated with system and its components, see https://bit.ly/MiniMedRisks.