Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by HPNpilot on October 18, 2011 at 3:03pm

These are actually 3 different strips:
-"Old Freestyle"
-"New Freestyle (with zipwik)"
-"Freestyle Lite"

The "New Freestyle" has received FDA approval for the Abbott meters that used the old strips but not the PDM yet.

The "Freestyle Lite" strips strips are incompatible with the Freestyle (classic) meters, according to Abbott.
http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/freestyle-freedom-lite-system-fre...

This web site says some people are using the new Freestyle (not Lite ) strips:
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2010/10/new-freestyle-test-strips-ok-fo...

And there is a thread on tudiabetes about this:
http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/omnipodusers/forum/topics/insulet-e...

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Permalink Reply by Mom2E on October 18, 2011 at 6:02pm

Thanks for your info. The frustrating thing is that we just started our daughter on the Omnipod in July 2011 and were never informed of the strip issue. The thread was helpful- thanks!

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Permalink Reply by RissaMae83 on October 18, 2011 at 4:59pm

Really?! OH NO!! That isn't good! I just decided on a pump a few days ago and am waiting for my Omnipod to come in.. and if I will have to use a separate glucometer instead of the PDM, then that defeats the purpose... Insulet must have a better way to resolve the shortage of strips, if that is going to be the case...

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Permalink Reply by HPNpilot on October 18, 2011 at 5:03pm

Me too...waiting for it to come.. . Insulet is waiting for FDA approval to use the new strips in the PDM.

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Permalink Reply by MarysMom on October 20, 2011 at 6:19am

Hey, I have been through the test strips thing. My daugter was on Omnipod up until yesterday.
The old regular freestyle test strips work just fine.
the New freestyle test strips work even better.
Her med. supply company sent made a mistake and sent met the feestyle lite test strips, but they also worked just fine with the PDM. Don't Panik and you can always call Abbot. They are very helpful.

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Permalink Reply by RissaMae83 on October 18, 2011 at 5:23pm

Mom2E -- here's a thread that I found regarding your question.. maybe it will be of some assistance?

http://tinyurl.com/3loe2wf

I had just emailed the Omnipod Territory Manager where I am from and am hoping she can shed some light into this issue, as like I have stated before, I am just waiting for my pump to come in (I'll be a new Omnipod user), and I was really hoping to

lighten

my bag from carrying all of my diabetes supplies.. and of course, make my life with d a little easier. So I'm crossing my fingers...

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Permalink Reply by Mom2E on October 18, 2011 at 6:14pm

Thanks for the link! We'll all keep our fingers crossed for the FDA to get it together!

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Permalink Reply by Tony R. on October 18, 2011 at 7:38pm

There was quite a bit of discussion about this a few months back. It seems to be more of a paperwork issue with the FDA than anything. FWIW I've been using the new strips with my OmniPod since January with absolutely no issues. I did some comparisons between the old and new strips and found that the new ones tended to read 5-10 points lower than the old style. But that could have just been that particular batch. Remember, a variation of 15-20% is considered "acceptable" by our wonderful FDA. My A1C's haven't budged since making the switch. Just make sure you get the new regular Freestyle strips and not the "Lites" as HPNpilot stated. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Katsz on October 18, 2011 at 7:52pm

We are using the butterfly ones that do not say lite. They are still the quick wick kind but just don't say lite. They are great!!

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Permalink Reply by HPNpilot on October 20, 2011 at 8:57am

My Omnipod just arrived last night....when I opened the box, they had a note in it about the new Freestyle strips not being approved yet and included a separate Freestyle meter as a substitute. What a pain....

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Permalink Reply by MarysMom on October 20, 2011 at 9:08am

I used the new strips no problem. But I never even KNEW there was an issue with this!
why not test both the PDM and meter and see if you consistanly come up with accurate results??
Remember the FDA takes a while.
My Doctor explained that the previous person in charge was a bit too quick to approve things and now they have a new person in charge who is a bit more strict. They probably want to be extra careful before approving??? OR is it all poilitical?
Hard to tell.
We never had a problem AT ALL!!

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Permalink Reply by HPNpilot on October 20, 2011 at 9:15am

From all that I have read on here and on the web, it seems to be a paperwork issue with the FDA...since Insulet got the meter technology from Abbott, the meter electronics built into the PDM are likely the same as the Abbott meters. Since Abbott didn't have to replace all their meters in the field for the new strips, there can't be that much of a difference.

The FDA probably just wants some kind of proof that they are equivalent and work the same in the real world. I suspect the FDA is being extra cautious because of issues with other medical devices they approved, like all the issues with the metal-on-metal joint replacements.

I'll probably do as you and others have on here...

Looking forward to getting started on the pump now that it has arrived...just have to set up the pump start with my CDE.

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