Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jacob's mom on January 20, 2013 at 1:38pm

hi there was a recent post on here that i am not sure if you saw but is has a similar topic check out ? recommendations for a pump by jareds mom. my son jacob has been using the omnipod for about 2 years and we are overall happy. there were some adjustments in the beginning but i would imagine pump failure rates are pretty even with the different pumps. the biggest issues we had were highs after pod changes which if you run into that problem i can suggest what we did ( a small bolus post change to 'prime the pump') there are rare occlusions that beep but better that than not letting you know there is a problem. sometimes jacobs bs will just not be coming down or rising steady without coming down like we would expect when all other variables are considered too much fat not enough insulin we will change out his pod but again this is rare there can be a partial occlusion that doesnt alarm. not to bring up all the bad stuff but it is good to know what CAN happen so you are prepared if i had to guess i would say now that we are settled in jacob probably as a 95% success rate, the problems are well spaced out but stressful for those that only "like" their diabetes when it is going there way :) i guess that would be all of us, but pointing more at my teen that could use more coping skills! it works well with swimming and can occasionally need some extra reinforcement with a tegaderm strip for heavier activity. i would absolutely recommend it but wouldnt expect perfection right off the bat,a there will be adjustments and frustrations. but overall with the programming options and with bolusing with just a few buttons pressed it is much better. i am glad kyle is considering a pump and if you have any other specific questions, ask away! best of luck, amy

Permalink Reply by Mom 2 Kyle on January 20, 2013 at 5:11pm

I actually saw that topic AND printed it just before dinner. :) I'm going to keep it with the folder/packet that we have from Omnipod. Has he only worn his pod 3 days when there is a "partial occlusion" (guessing that means blockage of insulin delivery)? Do you always change it at 3 days? Also, how do you know if there is a spot where you are having an absorption issue? Does it beep then too??

Permalink Reply by Jacob's mom on January 20, 2013 at 6:13pm

unfortunately if there is a problem with a pod it has to be changed it could be 6 hours in. again very rare!!! yup partial occlusion could mean a kink in the canula where some insulin is getting in but not totally or some other reason why the insulin just isnt going in well. if there is an absorption issues with using a site to much the site can just run high but not crazy high, you wont need to worry about this problem for a bit! jacob uses mostly his belly and arms, we find belly to the the best site in terms of occlusions, bumping it off ect. but if he over uses, which he has been good about switching to arms lately, we can see a bit of an absorption issue. again all this is to inform not frighten we have only had one total occlusion with no alarm when when clearly no insulin was going in. their bodies tend to let us know when something is wrong, the old thirst, excess urination, got forbid vomiting ( that was the total occlusion issue) but they let us know. plus frequent testing lets you see the trends. ( just the usual snacks and meals) there are a bit more worries with pumping in my opinion to be honest but the chance for better control and the chance for them to be more confident and independent are well worth it. keeping asking and let kyle lead the way, if this is what he really wants make it happen and celebrate every success, obviously staying cool when things arent perfect,i am getting better at that :).

Permalink Reply by DEA on January 20, 2013 at 4:56pm

I've been on the Pod for around 4 years. I have yet to have a Pod just shut off and stop delivering insulin. Maybe one, near the beginning of my use, but it gave me plenty of warning. I have had a few (maybe 10 at this point)give up the ghost while priming, but Insulet replaced those without argument. Figure 122 pods a year, so maybe 500 over the course of my usage... that works out to 1 in 50 being bad, which is a lot better than one per box.They do alarm if there's a problem, but I think that's what you want, right? No quiet failures. The cannula for the OmniPod is a lot shorter than those of other pumps I've used, so there may be spots on my body where the cannula cannot penetrate to the subcutaneous tissue as well as other pumps might, but so far it has not been a problem. In addition, the fact that there is less length of cannula, there is less potential scarring and irritation in the subcutaneous layer.

Good luck with your decision on this.

Permalink Reply by Mom 2 Kyle on January 20, 2013 at 5:07pm

Yes, 1 in 50 isn't bad. My son's endo. actually said that one of her patients had a lot of problems with the Omnipod (1 per box) but that her other patients just loved it. Fingers crossed that it goes well for us if we do decide on Omnipod (which is the way we are leaning). Thanks for your help. :)

Permalink Reply by Michael on January 20, 2013 at 5:22pm

My two cents worth. Was on shots 47 years and would not consider a pump because of the tube. My daughter who works at a hospital in the area pushed and pushed until I went to their CDE who set me up with this tubeless pump. Three years ago and I could't be happier. Pod failures are very rare and with the tape I have been using to keep the pod attached most of the other problems that people have had with them I have not had ie door jab removal B piller removal and any of the other many things that can be hit to remove a pod. Best of luck on your decisions. And yes Peace.

Permalink Reply by Scott Wilkins on January 20, 2013 at 5:38pm

Mom 2 Kyle,

I too read a lot of negative things about the Omnipod, and other pumps too before starting on one. For the most part, they have not turned out to be true for me. In the almost 1 year that I've been using an Omnipod, I've only had one occlusion (stopping of insulin delivery due to blockage). And, I've not had any really bad experiences from control. For me the Omnipod has changed my control dramatically for the better.

I can say one thing though. I too was experiencing "dawn phenominon", and even had it some after starting the Omnipod. My diabetes educator sat me down and looked me straight in the eye (figuratively) and said "get your diet in control" which I did. That solved my dawn issues 100%, along with the Omnipod.

With every medication and every control stucture, it's completely different for every person. Like for me I can't take statins for cholesterol. I get the muscular issues with them that makes it almost impossible to walk. But for 90% of folks they work perfectly. The same will go for the Omnipod. And just like my and statins, you have to try them before you know. Steve D. was one of those 10% that the Omnipod didn't work well. Who knows why, but it just didn't. For the majority of the rest of us, it was just the thing to make our lives better. If there is any interest, it's worth your time to try it out. Be open to a lot of new, because a lot of things will change. And there is some things to get used to. I believe your son will find them just as we did, as a great tool for better control and easier control.

Permalink Reply by Dee on January 20, 2013 at 8:07pm

I've been wearing the omni pod for 3 1/2 years. I LOVE it! Nothing is perfect, but I have not had many problems over these 3 years. I've had ONE pod that I had to change 'cause it was not working right...That's over 3 years.
I have a 4 year old great nephew recently diagnosed with type diabetes.. I wish I could convince my neice to put him on the omni pod instead of giving him all his injections.

Permalink Reply by jbowler on January 20, 2013 at 10:13pm

Based on my experience (a little over a year now):

1) They do this every three days. The pods only last three days and 8 hours. You get plenty of warning - a pod change alert happens around 4 hours before the 3 days are up. If you run more than about 66 IU/day of insulin then the limited capacity of the pod (200IU) will cause it to stop earlier. Apart from this in 1 year I've hand one pod that aborted early - it was a "bleeder", when I pulled it out blood started spurting everywhere, but of course that happens in proportion to the number of injections, so Omnipods are pretty much better than anything else.

2) They alarm if there is a problem, but actually it's quite easy to shut them up (and ignore the problem), so they're pretty user friendly. The alarm cases are terminal - the pod has stopped delivering insulin, basically after three days and after you have told them to shut up several times they say "ok, I give up" and scream, then you tell them to shut up and they say "ok, you're the boss" (which I really like) and then it's up to you.

3) Incorrect.

4) I guess. The pod requires a moderately flat area to stick to. I've never used a pump but I suspect finding good places to put that damned tube is probably as restrictive as finding flat places to put that damned pod. I guess a pump injector can be placed at points that are slightly more curved. My main problem isn't the curves, it's the clumsiness and the general flailing around so I never dared use a mass of tubing, but I'm happy with the pod. I've ripped it off with articles of clothing, door frames, wifely groping and spending a week in the pool but all but about 3 times (in 1 year+) duct tape has surficed to keep it in place for the 3 days.

Lantus if for old folks. I used it for a long time and I was old, now I'm young again.

John Bowler

Permalink Reply by Mom 2 Kyle on January 21, 2013 at 2:36pm

Thanks for your input.

Permalink Reply by Mishi on January 20, 2013 at 11:16pm

Am using the new smaller pods and i think for a child there perfect and in 23 years of pumping the its the best pump i have had and the new patch pump works so well.

Permalink Reply by Beth R. on January 21, 2013 at 7:31am

Just curious...do the new pods have the wonderful"bump protection" that makes them stop delivery if it gets bumped too hard? My 4 year old bumps hers hard too often...w have had quite allot of trouble...replacing so many!!!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next ›
• Page