Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Serena on March 2, 2010 at 7:18pm

The pods are waterproof. You can swim and shower with them on. The worst thing that might happen if you get a bunch of shampoo on it is that you might loosen up the adhesive. If that happens, you can just put some medical tape on to keep it more secure. No big deal. The PDM -- that's the electronic part you don't wear that looks a little bit like a cell phone -- can't get wet though.

When my daughter started, she changed her pod every two days. Now, we usually do three, but you can't really go past three days (I think it's actually 3 days and 8 hours -- I bet someone else here will know for sure?) because the pods expire. But, you'll find it makes a big difference in your life. You'll still have diabetes =( but, instead of having to do at least 4 or 5 shots a day, you only have to insert the pod every couple of days. It's much better. Plus, it's more discrete, which I know must be important to you as a teenager. I've actually had to tell my daughter's teacher's that she's not texting in class, that she's checking her blood sugar!

If you want to actually see someone putting on a a pod, go to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kFrqTlgmEI) and look at the video that Lorraine posted of her son Caleb doing a pod change. It's very informative.

Good luck, Diana!
Serena

Permalink Reply by DiabeticGirl on March 2, 2010 at 7:36pm

Oh thats great to know... because i get the Free Demo Kit (love it by the way) and i was like taking a shower and i was thinking like omg!! really worried at that point but then when i finished i touched it and it was like perfect in its place. And yeah the PDM i think has the size of a Blackberry so it would be so funny everybody telling you" oh diana, new phone... give me your number" lol. And i have seen them all, Caleb´s videos are really incredible such a strong boy.
Thanks Serena again for your help....
Diana =)

Permalink Reply by daisycolors on March 2, 2010 at 7:22pm

Diana, Yes you can only wear a pod for 3 days. The pod will automatically shut off at 80 hours and you will not get any basal insulin. I have my daughter's PDM to start alarming at 4 hours prior to expiration which is 3 days/72 hours.

If you drop something on your pod it may hurt, it may bleed, it may knock the pod off. Just depends on how hard the pod gets hit. I doubt you will have a problem with the pod getting hit hard enough to cause a problem. I think what you mean is can you get shampoo on the pod while you are taking a shower. The answer is yes. The pod will be fine. There are many extra adhesives to keep the pod stuck to your skin if you have a problem with the adhesive loosening. We have changed the pod every three days for almost 2 months now and have not had a pod to come loose. I wonder in the summer with swimming and sweating if we will need to add extra adhesive.

Permalink Reply by Serena on March 2, 2010 at 7:30pm

Summer can be a problem. We usually use extra tape (we use 3m micropore) regualrly during the summer. My daughter lives in the pool, and we only had one or two "floater" last year. She actually didn't even feel them come off until she noticed them in the pool! For the most part, they stay on though.

Permalink Reply by DiabeticGirl on March 2, 2010 at 7:42pm

I have to say that i take care of my omnipod (right now the free demo kit) like a baby... i love it so much!! is like the best thing in the hole wide world... And of course if its neccesary i would put extra adhesives but for me the one that im trying right now is really good stuck in my skin.
And i would be really carefully because i dont want to hit my precious omnipod!!
Thanks very much...
Diana =)

Permalink Reply by Lahle Wolfe on April 5, 2010 at 3:24pm

My daughter used an insulin pump since age for. She is now ten and just switched to the OmniPod. Site changes are easier and she likes going tubeless. The only "drawback" is that at first we forgot to take the PDM with us and had to race back home to get it. Now it is routine and we never forget it.

A couple of months ago we got the system so these prices should be fairly accurate: The PDM sells for $800 but they had a sale going so we only paid $300. However, OminPod is charging a full retail value of $450 for one box of 10 pods (which will last one month as long as none go bad - we have not have any pod problems at all and only one site that needed to be changed early.)

Over the span of four years, if you do not have insurance and insulin pump is cheaper. BUT soon everyone will be able to have health care insurance that will have to cover diabetes supplies. I think young people really like the Pod because it is pretty invisible without the tubing. As a mom I like it because it is so simple to use compared to some pumps that my young daughter can now handle her diabetes with very little help. That is a great thing for kids that go to schools where the schools will not help with diabetes care.

Good luck to you - having used both, if you can afford it, I think the Pod is a good choice. It is a little less convenient than a pump but in many ways I still think a better choice for young children and teens who would rather not "announce" their diabetes to the world. (A backup or spare PDM is about $250-$300. If one goes bad, Insulet will usually replace it for free.)

Permalink Reply by DiabeticGirl on April 6, 2010 at 7:48am

Hello Lahle!! Thanks for your info it has been really useful...
I know several of the insulin pumps, Animas, Medtronic, Minimed, etc ... but none of them meets my needs as OmniPod, without tubes,discreet, wireless, water proof, with the convenience that this offers, OmniPod definitely exceeded my expectations. Since i saw it i was completly in love with it, is awesome you know because i dont like to go to restaurants becasuse i have to check my BG and then go to the bathroom to shoot myself, it so annoying. Thats why i love omnipod you just press and you are done!!
But well i dont have insurance, and i dont know if my parents would afford one, but until i can get an insurance i would not be able to be a user from this device that revolutionized life for diabetics, i just hope one day i can use one of those.
But i would talk to my parents about what you have said....
Thank you very very much!!!
Diana =)

Permalink Reply by Schmutz on April 5, 2010 at 6:16pm

Hi Diana--Didn't read all of the post but from what I scanned it really comes down to how much your insurance will cover. I just went thru this process as I was diagnosed on 1/23/2008 and only took Lantus for the last 2 yrs and had pretty good control but struggled with certain events as I couldn't control some things at public functions, company meetings and some other things. In Fact I haven't started on the Pod yet, am scheduled to put my first one into action at 4/14/10...So I'm a total rookie here! So Like you when I researched all the pumps and talked to a person that has been on a pump for a while I decided on the OmniPod or I'd stay doing what I was. I checked online and signed up for some newsletters and then I was invited to a informative meeting where there where there were some that were on other pumps, multiple injections and we learned about the Pod, how it worked, had a user there that gave us his likes and problems that he had. They were not pushy and I learned a ton. Like you I was wondering about the cost and wondered if they would even cover it as I was afraid my insurance would deny me as not be necessary. But my Endo said I should qualify as I was T1 and so I took the next step and filled out a form and sent it into Insulet and they contacted my insurance company and the next thing (about 2 weeks) I got a letter of approval from my insurance company. I just got my bills from my company to get the PDM and they sent 40 pods wass $3550, then there was an insurance discount of $1065 and the billed applied to my deductible was $2,259. Since I have a $2500 ded. it was a cost to me but after that it's pretty much covered by my insurance.

I struggled making this decision as I thought I was doing ok and couldn't stand spending more money but then it hit me that it was the best investment I could make...It was an investment it ME!! Like you stated in your last line of your post "because this would be an investment for life" Your right, it's an investment for life.....Your Life! So if you feel this will help you with your life than I would support you and your parents in at least checking it out...The good news that if this doesn't work it's the cheapest pump I believe you can get started on besides being one the the least conspicuous ones also.

Good Luck Diana! I'm new to this and just went thru this so if you need anything chances are that I went thru it or at least looked into to it so feel free to give me a shout! Take Care :) ~Schmutz

Permalink Reply by DiabeticGirl on April 6, 2010 at 8:09am

Heyy Schmutz!! Thanks for your info... Yepp this is an invesment for life and a huge one!! Im hoping that my parets can afford an insurance so i can feel the emotion that you have alredy felt. You know right now the medical expenses have increased, insulin, shoots, appoinments, medicine, along with clothes, rent, car, school and many other things, so we have right now too many things to pay. You know maybe you have heard of this but i wont let my diabetes slow me down because Omnipod is the one i want, i would fight and work really hard until getting it, im sure about that, before i die i would be with an insurance and an Omnipod user!!
Thank you... I really appreciate.
Diana =)

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