Updated 20 October 2026
The Medtronic MiniMedā¢ 780G pump can run in two ways: in SmartGuardā¢ Auto Mode, where it adjusts insulin automatically, and in Manual Mode, where it follows the settings you saved. This guide explains the difference in plain language, with a focus on basal insulin. It is general background. The exact behaviour of your pump is described in its user guide.
Auto Mode
In Auto Mode the pump reads your sensor glucose and adjusts basal insulin by itself, in many small steps. Instead of following a fixed hourly basal rate, it delivers small automatic basal amounts (micro-boluses) throughout the day and night. When glucose is above your target it can also give auto-corrections. The pump records these deliveries, and they are what Basal Generator reads from CareLink.
Manual Mode
In Manual Mode the pump does not react to sensor glucose. It delivers the basal rate from the basal pattern saved in its settings, hour by hour, plus the boluses and temporary basal rates you choose yourself. How well this works depends on how closely the saved pattern matches your needs at that time.
How they differ for basal insulin
- Who decides the basal: in Auto Mode the pump, continuously, based on your glucose. In Manual Mode the saved pattern, which you and your diabetologist set.
- What has to be up to date: in Auto Mode the saved basal pattern is not what gets delivered, so it can stay untouched for a long time. In Manual Mode it is exactly what gets delivered.
- What the pump needs: Auto Mode needs a working sensor. Manual Mode works without one.
When Auto Mode ends
Auto Mode can stop for several reasons, for example when the sensor expires, fails or loses its signal, or when the conditions for automatic delivery are not met. The pump alerts you and, depending on the situation, may first deliver a safe fallback amount before it returns to Manual Mode. The exact conditions, timings and alerts are in the MiniMed 780G user guide. Read that section and ask your diabetologist how to handle each case.
Why the saved basal pattern still matters
Because Auto Mode does not use the saved pattern, it is easy to leave it untouched for months. If your needs changed in the meantime, the pattern may no longer resemble what the pump has actually been delivering. When Auto Mode ends, that outdated pattern is what the pump falls back to.
Basal Generator shows what automatic delivery looked like hour by hour, so that you and your diabetologist have a recent reference when you review the pattern.
See your own SmartGuard history
Basal Generator is free. Create an account, connect CareLink and get your hourly basal chart.
Get startedThe guides explain how the tool works and give general background. They are not medical advice. Talk to your diabetologist before changing any pump setting.