[notme]

I didn't get that kind either Funny. I just got a pod and a picture of the PDM. Either way for me, the pod was too large. It would be informative for those that find the pod fine and wanted to know about the PDM.

[palefacegirl03]

All I got was the velcro pod and post card too.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by palefacegirl03

All I got was the velcro pod and post card too.

...

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by Dee

I have added one more video that show bolus delivery and a little fun section called spot the Pod. See if you can find out where the pod is...

YouTube - OmniPod Bolus Delivery



Thanks everyone for the kind words!

Funnily enough, i did guess on the exactly right spot when i watched the video, and the spot i guessed on was the real

[Cyborg]

If I had to put money down, I'd bet the integration of the Dexcom CGMS and the Omnipod, will simply be the Dexcom sending the readings to the Omnipod receiver. The CGMS would still require a separate insertion site for the transmitter.

[Spbeyond]

Wahoo! Over the last 3 months I have tried the following pumps. Minimed 522, Cozmo, Animus the omnipod. I have got to tell you you have never felt the "Freedom" promised by basically every company until you use the Omnipod! I just placed my order for it. It is so great! Having nothing on your waist or in your pocket. Not getting your tubing caught on the kitchen drawer handles. Not thinking about suspending it before a shower and pulling it off and forgetting it when you leave. Not thinking about how to keep yourself untangled at night. Not to have to hold it when you take off your pants The list is HUGE and I go on and on to friends that couldn't care less. I would recommend everyone try it. Put down your preconceived notions, and your biases and actually try something with an open mind, who knows maybe it will make your life a little easier. My doctor is now singing the systems praises!

[notme]

Sp it is great to hear you are getting a pump and you are happy with your choice. Pumping will make your life so much easier (in my eyes).

We have all put down our preconcieved ideas the day we decided that pumping was our choice of insulin delivery. You made your informed choice as did everyone else on the boards.

Congratulations on your pump! I am sure you are going to love it.

[Cyborg]

SP, I also am glad you found the right pump that works for you. I'm also glad that as an Animas user, I don't experience any of the problems you mentioned. Best of luck getting your bg under control and enjoying your new found freedom. The pump is a great tool indeed!

[JasonJayhawk]

I received the Omnipod system at the end of February, and insurance paid 100% for everything.

Unfortunately, it did not work out for me. After accomplishing decent control (A1c at or under 5.8% with MDI) for several years, the concept of having to carry around a vial of insulin and a spare pod was too much for me to handle.

It was more work with a spare pod and vial of insulin than just carrying a simple insulin pen with me and knowing that I won't go into DKA because of a constant level of basal insulin working in me.

With a "traditional" insulin pump, you at least don't have to carry around extra insulin if your infusion set goes bad, because the spare insulin is already loaded into your reservoir. Whereas if a pod goes bad, you'd better have some spare insulin ready, as a spare pod isn't going to be enough to save you.

Also, like others have said, it's like having an "egg" attached to you at all times. Whereas I enjoyed not having to worry about an infusion set being ripped from my body, I had the constant worry of the device being ripped from my body.

I ended up sending back the entire system about 3 weeks ago and my insurance company is awaiting the refund.

YMMV for every experience, but it just did not work for me. If there was more technology and features in the device, perhaps it would have been a win for me -- but right now, I still don't think the technology is where it should be with features that are still begging to be integrated into the software.

[JediSkipdogg]

Jason, thank you for the honest review and opinion. Sorry it didn't work out for you. Have you considered trying again with a traditional insulin pump or are you going to stay on MDI now?

[Dee]

Jason, sorry the omnipod was not for you. I cannot relate to some of your points.

I have been though at least a hundred pods and have never worried about having it pulled off of me.

I do not feel like the pod is an egg, most of the time I forget I have it on.

Of all the pods I have never had one go bad while using it and have never worried about carrying an extra pod.

I carry my wallet, my car keys, an ink pen, there is just no concept of thinking of carrying the pod, instead of an insulin pen and some major difference that would be unbearable.

I find it interesting you say you got it the end of February, so basicly March, then you say you sent it back 3 weeks ago, so you had it 3 weeks to one month? It took me a month to get used to a new pair of glasses much less an insulin pump. Did you not get any incouragement from your doctor to give the system a real try?

The most important thing here is for you to be well, I wish the best for you. Hope you can find a pump or a insulin pen that suits your needs.

[JasonJayhawk]

Jedi--
I would be willing to try a different pump in the future--but next time, rather than filling out all the paperwork, I'm going to ask for a demo with saline (with no money exchanging hands). It's going to be "up to 60 days" for my insurance company to get a refund from Insulet, but I'm sure it will be at least another 12 months before I find time to try something else.

Dee--
I like your analogy of a new pair of glasses...another one would be a new pair of shoes! I didn't think everyone would want to hear my personal life, but as a male with two very active 15-month old twin boys, I'm rolling around a lot on the ground, and don't need the reminder of an egg-shaped device on my body; but, as you can tell, thousands of other people don't have this issue. This is just my issue. You would be amazed at what little ones can "find", even hidden underneath clothing!

(They certainly surprised me!)

Other pumps are far larger, and have an infusion set attached, but I've not had a chance to compare the two different systems. I'm sure the same issue would have come up with the other pumps, but perhaps with a thinner-profile infusion set, maybe the worry of little fingers grabbing and yanking would not be as high. Can't say without a trial, so YMMV.

Carrying a PDM in my pocket is also an issue. The boys could find that thing faster than lightning and was another thing waiting to drop to the ground and break. Maybe I need a man-purse!

Considering how lucky I was to get the Omnipod for 100% free (and it would have saved me $400/year in basal insulin prescription costs alone--not counting syringes/pen needles!), I still felt like the technology wasn't there. Therefore, the Omnipod cost had no bearing on my opinions (I'm a cheapskate, and cost is a big factor into my matrix of decision-making).

One of my hobbies and educational interests is to watch the technology field of insulin pump technology. As a evangelical technical geek, I still feel like the technology is "just not here" yet. It's not the pump companies' fault -- it's the way the FDA regulates the software that prevents new things from happening more quickly. I wish we had more control over how our pumps act, but the layperson would probably do something to harm their own life if we had the ability of reprogramming the pump firmware for customization.

As I said before, I don't want to be caught without a spare pod and extra insulin to fill it. Having a spare pod in the car is not enough--you'll need the insulin to go with it. I'm glad you haven't had issues with it, but I haven't heard the great track record with pods as you have in your own experience with 100 pods. All it takes is one failure 2 hours away from home to make one realize that a mechanical insulin pen and syringe are failure-proof. (And yes, I have ways of keeping the insulin cool, but it's just one more thing to deal with.)

My doctor did not provide me "any incouragement(sic)" because she is my medical consultant, not my life-supporter, and with my already-outstanding A1c levels, does not feel the need to encourage me to change my ways. MDI just currently works for me (despite costing over $500 a year extra for me compared to a pump), and my A1c levels have never been in "diabetic" range on it, so the need for something radically new is not there -- just the need for fulfilling a desire in exploring different things. (I still like to try on different glasses frames at the mall...).

Like the other geeks here, I'll never settle for the same thing. I'm always trying something new. I'm like a genetic algorithm in constant mutation state, trying to see what might make me live better.

MDI has worked well for me since the beginning, and still does. At least I've now had a chance to explore a "tetherless system." I was thinking that the Omnipod would make my life more simple, but it hasn't for my life. It only takes me about 25 seconds from start-to-finish for my twice-daily basal syringe shot (including returning the vial to the fridge!) (what's your record for filling your pod with insulin every 2-3 days?).

Almost off-topic, but something I was disappointed with was the pump training... Omnipod said they'd send a pump trainer to my home, but after receiving the pump, I was called and told that I'd have to drive out one hour (one way) for it. I didn't post that in my first review because it had no ruling on the pump itself... but since you seemed interested in my experience, I thought you'd like to know it.

As for my "3 week" return is skewed on the calendar, you seem too interested in my exact calendar time, which I'm not providing for privacy reasons, as I imagine that employees of the company monitor this thread and have cheerleaders that monitor the online community, and you never know when you're talking with one.

I feel VERY positive about the Omnipod and Insulet Corp because it's the best pump company I've experienced, but it's the only one, too...which means my experience provides very little value to anyone. (hee, hee)

Thanks for the analogy on getting used to a new pair of glasses -- it's so true... and when the glasses keep falling off, the next thing to try are contact lenses!

[Cyborg]

Sorry it didn't work out. Glad to hear that you are not totally put off on pump technology because of it. I really like my Animas pump. The size is awesome, but with it's drawbacks I'm going to try the latest MM. I just got approved and I have an endo appt. in a week. Best wishes back on the MDI...

[Dee]

If I could inject some novalog from a disposable pen twice a day, then no I wouldnt care much about any form of pump. I spent years on pills, then on to injections, and now the pump. Its major freedom, I can change a pod in 30 seconds. Yeah, I have to change it every other day, I change clothes every day, its part of routine.

Jason, thanks for the detailed response, I am a computer guy and I like the pod because it makes me a cyborg. I wouldn't think twice about inplanting some device to make me more human than human, I trust technology. I drive to work in it every day, I heat my food with it, etc...

From your words, You seem to take a fragile approach to life, I mean so what if your pod runs out for a couple of hours, your not gonna die.
The vial of insulin is about the size of my thumb, its no big deal to carry some in my back pack, along with my laptop, cell phone charger, ipod, lens wipes, ink pens, car keys, wallet,glasses, camera, snack bars and that omnipod pda thing.
I have a 5 year old and a 7 year old and they all crawl all over you, every once in a while they will crush the "egg" into your skin, but I have never had one knocked off. If they did pull one off, it wouldnt hurt no more than ripping some tape off your skin. Pain is part of life, but I like skateboards and scooters and we go camping alot. We carry bactine every where, we have a bottle in both our cars, in the house and in the camper. Cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites, sunburn, bactine covers it all.
I dont buy into the novalog must be in the fridge all the time. I put it in the fridge when I get it home from the pharm, but once I open a vial, then I keep it in my bag. Its keeps and it works, another item not to worry about.
The point I am gettiing at is, the pod works and its no deal deal to live with. The pod delivers some insulin with the least amount of hassle in a world full of hassles. Enjoy those twins, time goes by real fast!

[JasonJayhawk]

Hi Dee,

It's "Novolog", not "Novalog." I don't like feeling like a cyborg, while it may have sounded fun to me 5 years ago, it's not something my family would like to see happen.

I'm not sure how long you've been diabetic, but DKA can happen in a matter of hours. From your words, it doesn't sound like you've considered this fact, which is well-established in both this forum and in medical journals.

You mentioned taking pills for your diabetes -- so I'm assuming you are a Type 2? If you are, you do not have to worry about DKA, unlike Type 1 diabetics. It is a completely different disease which shares the same name. I'd suggest you review DKA if you are a Type 1!

Bactine (or "triple-ointment antibiotics") should be kept at room temperature to prevent the antimicrobial properties of the cream or ointment from breaking down; from where I'm at in the Midwest, this is not possible in the summertime. Intead, I'd suggest using good 'ole fashioned bottle of Windex. Windex gets it all done.... got a rash? Try Windex. Got a greasy-covered glucose meter? Windex gets it done in a flash!

While Novolog does not need to remain in the fridge at all times, it must be kept under body tempearture to prevent breakdown of the insulin proteins. If you're a Type 2, you probably go through a bottle of Novolog more quickly than I would, so that concern exists in my lifestyle.

I thought it was funny that you said you're a computer guy, and yet you "trust technology." How long have you been a computer guy? If anything, we should have learned to not trust technology! (After all, why did Columbus carry three compasses in his ship? )