Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by daricel on October 6, 2011 at 12:06pm

I have a Ping and am using Accu-Check steel cannulas, Main reason for steel 90 degree - problems with kinking. Since dropping the soft cannulas 8 years ago (9?), I've never even considered going back - in fact I've actively fought it. The Accu-Check steel cannulas lay very flat and aren't noticeable.

I think your Dr is out of line. If the cannulas are kinking (and I had that a lot), then the omnipod option doesn't work for you. This is not a one size fits all world. I get the long tubes so I can wear sleeveless dresses and tuck the pump in my bra. Most of the time I'm in pants, so it's on my belt but there are so many options... Yes tubes can be a problem (dishwasher racks are my big catch spot), but so can something bulky on the body. To each their own.

Yes I love my Ping (95% of the time - we all have "those" days). It is not a nightmare for me at all. I've never had one break down. Tubes can be an issue at times, but for me, those times are few and far between.

To steal a line from Dennis Miller - "But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong"

Permalink Reply by Laura S. on October 6, 2011 at 12:29pm

I was in ballet for 25 plus years teaching and dancing and cant imagine what it would have been like with either kind of pump.
I know there are some famous dancers with diabetes....wonder what they do?
I think that a tubed pump could be just as troublesome as the pod, however, I also think it might hold up better.
You're going to have to decide if you want all that hanging on your tights or leotard and is it possible you could bolus and take it off completely during class or rehearsal?
Like I say, I'm kind of glad I didnt have to worry about that concern but I'll bet you'll figure it out just fine! And of course, you know better than any doctor because you have to wear it!

Permalink Reply by BagLady on October 6, 2011 at 12:32pm

I was one of 'those people' who, prior to going on an insulin pump, swore I did not want to be tubed up to some machine and visualized all sorts of nasty catches with the tubing. I thought about going tubless with the omnipod, but after seeing and trying the Ping I was hooked. I LOVE my ping, and it is NOT bulky in any way. There are a lot of creative ways to wear it, and the ability to bolus remotely only opens up those avenues (underclothing, inner thigh, bra...you can clip and snap it pretty much anywhere). I am very active, and have never had a problem with it breaking down (it has NEVER broken down) whether in the water or out of it.

I agree that your doctor is way out of line. His violent opposition to Animas (given my great experience with them...and many other people as well) makes me concerned that he may be getting some kind of a referral bonus from the Ominipod people. His place, really, is to provide you with information, and to allow you to make the final decision. And then facilitate training on whatever pumping choice you make so that you can be as successful as possible with it.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do! Pumping... has given me such a greater quality of life. I hope you find this to be the case as well!

Permalink Reply by Laura S. on October 6, 2011 at 1:57pm

Anything is bulky when you are wearing ballet gear though.......

Permalink Reply by kim on October 6, 2011 at 3:35pm

i agree with BagLady 100%!! i have only been pumping since May, but i LOVE MY PING!!!

i use the contactD 90' steel cannulas and never have a problem with them. however, in saying that, i have also tried the OrbitMicro 90' steel cannula with its 360degree capability and i like it also. the only thing i don't like about it is that i find it doesn't stick as well. but i solved that by using Skin Tac adhesive wipes.

my pump has gone swimming with me every day this summer, and never gave me a problem. and yes, i was one who said they didn't want to be "hooked up" to anything, but i sometimes forget that i am attached! the tubing comes in different lengths which makes it easy to hide the pump just about anywhere.

the remote feature is something i use every single day. i don't think i have ever bolused from the pump since starting with it.

what i did was a trial run. i tried 3 different pumps and decided on the Ping. the Omnipod wasn't available in Canada until recently so that wasn't an option. perhaps you could also do a trial run with the Ping and decide how it works for you while dancing. try different hiding places and find what works best for you.

the decision is yours in the end, and you Dr should support that. if not, perhaps it's time to find a new Doctor.

good luck, and let us know how things work out for you. :0)

Permalink Reply by Laura S. on October 6, 2011 at 3:49pm

http://zipporakarz.com/site/

This is the lady I was thinking of. According to 2010 articles with ADA. she does MDI.

Permalink Reply by Catherine Jane Vancak on October 6, 2011 at 3:55pm

Thanks Laura! Zippora and I are actually friends! She has been a great help for me over the past few months.

Permalink Reply by Laura S. on October 6, 2011 at 5:14pm

Are you serious!?
Tell her I marked her book on amazon today and plan to buy it this weekend!
I had never heard of it before.
Awesome!
What does she think about wearing a pump in pas de deux class? That would be the main thing I would think could be a problem.

Permalink Reply by Catherine Jane Vancak on October 6, 2011 at 5:16pm

Haha, yes I am!
She is truly amazing. Just hearing about her story and talking to her made me realize I can still have my profession and diabetes and don't give anything up.
Read her book!!!

Permalink Reply by Laura S. on October 6, 2011 at 6:34pm

Yes, go for it. I was a ballet major in college, and unfortunately got a really bad stress fracture. At that point the teaching staff was very down on my diabetes. I pretty much had to switch to a theater major /dance minor to graduate. I got my BFA and I got a husband, so I cant complain! ;-). Our romance disrupted the theater dept. LOL.
But I am absolutely convinced we need to show them out there what we can do!
Your photos look great, go get em! For us older folk who cant do that anymore.
And yes, I'm really excited to read the book.

Permalink Reply by Catherine Jane Vancak on October 6, 2011 at 4:06pm

You guys are awesome. It's great to hear people from the DOC who deal with the big D every single day! I think I've gotten the best advice from you guys as opposed to my healthcare professionals. Isn't that funny!

Anyways, I have a sneaking suspicion that my Doc may be getting something for promoting Omnipod which makes me feel sad, like finding out that Santa isn't real. Now I know why he made it so easy for me to get an Omnipod. I didn't even suggest it when I first met him. His only reason for not liking Animas was a story that one of his patients told him about her seeing a room full of boxes of pumps from Animas customers waiting to repaired. Umm, so that's it? Omnipod isn't all sunshine and rainbows either!

Having said that you guys have restored my faith and I feel much stronger in tackling this beast. All of the suggestions on where to tuck in the pump sound great and I think I can easily make it work. Any suggestions would be awesome. A tubed pump will be new to me but I know my pals at the DOC will get my back!

I really appreciate all of the help. Now we just need him to write a fabulous letter so my insurance will pay and I'll be away to the races. I'll keep you guys posted and will be asking lots of questions I'm sure!!

Thank you so much!!!

Permalink Reply by MossDog on October 6, 2011 at 4:28pm

Wow sounds like a vague story about a room full of pumps waiting to be repaired. Not even sure where an everyday "patient" would have the oppurtunity to run in to a room full of pumps waiting for repair. Sounds funny. Seems like they would need to be an Animas employee to ever see something like that in which case they wouldn't have been talking trash about it.

Like you said the reality is all pumps have the potential for problems and I have seen others have them but I haven't personally ever had to send a pump back due to malfunction after 6 years of pumping (Have mainly used Medtronic and Animas).

Being part of the healthcare world the only "kickbacks" Omni could offer is having your Doc do presentations for them and/or if he does the trainings but I have never heard of a doc doing the trainings. I suspect the reason is that he simply gets along with the local reps for Omni and Spirit more so than he does with the others and they have done a better job of selling their product. Weird reason I know but I see it a lot.

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