Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on January 4, 2012 at 3:33pm

Make sure you know the proper procedure for filling pods and "pinching up" at the insertion site (although many of us prefer to push the pod down or just leave it alone... I actually both pinch up around the site and push the pod down slightly) but if you feel that you've got it set right and know how to put it on I don't see any reason not to use it. Definitely make sure the insulin is at room temperature because it will cause pod alarms if it's not. Once you've opened a bottle of insulin unless you live in a really warm climate there's no real reason to refrigerate it anyway. If you really want to keep your insulin refrigerated you could fill the fill syringe a few hours before your pod change and just let that amount of the insulin adjust to room temperature before filling the pod. Also make sure you review the manual on setting alarms. Those are really the only big things you might want to know before using it.

Permalink Reply by Fred Thompson on January 4, 2012 at 3:49pm

Kim-
I have used the Omnipod for 2+years and have had pretty good luck with it.
I just have a couple of comments for you:

Once you have decided where you are going to position the pod (make sure you can pinch up skin/tissue to where you estimate the canula is going to insert) then press to insert.
This has been important in my usage of the pod.

Remember to make sure the canula is horizontal (slightly diagonal pointing down seems to work okay).
It seems pods don't really like to work up-hill so to speak.
As far as setting your basal rate/s and your correction factors, you probably have enough experience to handle it, but the disclaimer here would be testing BG's way more frequently than you probably are currently.

Absorbtion is probably going to be different than your Animas /Medtronic days.
That being said, I would still get the training when you can schedule it because sometime "Old dogs need to learn new tricks".I'm referring to me with that comment.
42 years type 1, with 2+ years with the Omnipod.

Good Luck.

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on January 4, 2012 at 3:53pm

I find that I need the pod horizontal on my stomach or back but I use it vertically on my arms and thighs. As with any technology what works for some won't for others and you'll have to do some trial and error to find what's best for you.

Permalink Reply by clubkobe on January 4, 2012 at 5:21pm

Sounds like you can handle it. Pinch up the skin and best to have insulin at room temp. You will have to try various sites to see where it seems to work best. I started with abdomen, now I mostly use arms. Your settings may need to be tweaked as you break in the new system. Good luck. I hope you like it as much as I did when I switched from the mini-med. Keep looking for a endo who can give you a second set of eyes looking over your data and refining the settings.

Permalink Reply by Kate on January 4, 2012 at 6:47pm

Please remember that IOB is VERY different between the pod and other pumps! Be sure to check out the details! If I were in your shoes I would probably schedule the appointment, but start it first. But that might be my own need to sit through "official" training on things :) Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Putertech on January 5, 2012 at 8:12am

Well, I did it. I'm wearing my first pod. The procedure was simple enough, but my eyes aren't good enough to see if the canula is inserted properly. Since I couldn't see it, I discarded my first pod. I couldn't see the second one either, but felt it go in (as I did the first one). Sooo....I'm just going to test a lot and make sure my sugars don't soar. If they want you to see the canula through that little window, why don't they color it??
Will keep in touch. Thanks for all your help!

Permalink Reply by Kate on January 5, 2012 at 2:52pm

I can never contort my body into the right position to see the canula either. I figure if I can feel it, it's good. When in doubt I check my bgs more often. FWIW, I think the new pods are going to have a blue canula :)

Permalink Reply by roadsterchic on February 21, 2012 at 9:39am

LOL... that little window to "SEE" if the canula is in place is ridiculous! If I could bend into a pretzel, I still wouldn't be able to see if it is properly placed. That is one step that just doesn't need to be there. You will find out fairly quickly if it didn't get placed properly when your next BG reading is way out of range or if you keep feeling something sticking you in the site like a dulled needle stick.
Keep with it!

Permalink Reply by ENDSwME on January 5, 2012 at 9:03am

Honestly I don't see why the training is necessary. I didn't want to wait a couple of weeks after I received my pods so I read the manual and watched all the videos and put it on within the first few hours of getting it. I didn't have any problems with using mine. My doctor's office called a week later asking when I wanted to do the training. They were surprised when I told them I was already using the pod.

I can never see if the cannula is inserted either. If it feels like it went in, I just go with it. As far as pinching the skin up I'm not sure if it makes a difference for me, but I do it anyway.

The room temperature insulin was new to me as well. But I started keeping an open vial in my case with my PDM.

I hope things continue to work out for you, I think you will do fine.

Permalink Reply by jojo on January 5, 2012 at 10:28am

Why not use the rep to train you? IF they are willing to make the trip to you. They know all the ins and outs of the product which is not exactly the same as a tubed pump,especially the PDM. If you have issues in the begining at least you will have a contact person to bounce things off of instead of the general Insulet customer service number.
Seeing an endo isnt a bad idea if they are in your area. Good Luck.

Permalink Reply by Putertech on January 5, 2012 at 12:51pm

Nope, no endo in my area. Hence the GP. When the rep left his message on my voice mail, he only said to call if I have any questions. No mention of training. I figure, since I've basically done everything myself up to this point, why change now...ha! I guess I just needed a little reassurance that other people have jumped in on their own also...

Permalink Reply by Putertech on January 8, 2012 at 10:30am

Changed out my pod today - how long will the pod work after it beeps "expired"? I threw away a lot of insulin today. Mainly because I purposely filled the pod with more than I usually use for three days (just in case), AND - since I started using the pod, my insulin requirements decreased! What's up with that? I put it in my leg, which I've done before with my Animas infusion sets, so I don't think it was due to site location. Could it be the angled cannula? I've not used the angled sets before.

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