Hi... Used a Medtronic MiniMed for 4+ years and have recently moved over to the very clever (almost too clever) OmniPod from YpsoMed. Been using for less than two months and am now seriously questioning why I was not informed of a singular infuriating and potentially embarrassing aspect at selection time.
My occupation put a lot of problems in the way for the older-type pumps with the infusion piping = crushing, trapping, snagging, etc.
As pointed out by Spicey245 above, the OmniPod is somewhat bulkier (obviously) than a std. infusion cannula, yet is fantastic IF you don't want to be 'tethered' via a pipe - seriously worth thinking about - i.e. if you want the 'freedom' from the 'tether' (particularly useful when showering, swimming (non-waterproof pumps) being intimate, etc.) without the niggling background thought of having to re-attach the pump unit within ~30 minutes or suffer the resulting loss of Basal insulin. (I quote 30 minutes, since research evidence has shown that BG controls slip noticeably beyond this timescale when pumping). Similarly I have experienced the adhesive being painful on removal from infusion site with far greater 'damage' being caused to the tissue from the insertion of the cannula, bruising in particular.
There is a major downside to the OmniPod and is an unacceptable design failure (for
experienced adult pumpers, and I emphasise the experienced) which does not allow an experienced user to switch off a Pod expiry alarm that goes off 9 times (yes, that's nine times) in an hour before 72-hour expiry. (Incidentally, it's the USA's FDA (Federal Drugs Administration) that require this alarm to be present for
all categories of users, particularly child use).
The alarm unit is within the Pod itself attached to your body and can be highly embarrassing if you are in an unexpected situation, over-run meeting, study library, cinema, theatre, etc., the list goes on. There is nothing you can do to prevent this taking place, except follow the advice received from a rep. of the OmniPod distributors to change the unit
before the last hour commences - when the alarms start beeping. Fine advice for only one change in life -
useless you want to continue using the Pod system beyond three days! Why..? Say you elect to have an early evening change time of Pod (quite sensible really) the first change will be at say 7pm. It follows that the next will be just before 6pm. Within 12 days you need to change in the middle of the afternoon = highly undesirable for most users, unless you want a succession of loud, intrusive tone beeps going off throughout the final hour of the Pod's 3-day design life. (incidentally, for those who are not aware, the Pods completely shut down 8 hours after the 72-hour design life, regardless of how much insulin may still be on board).
I appreciate this may well come across as somewhat negative, yet as an insulin-dependent for over 47 years, I have seen vast improvements over my lifetime, yet the manufacturer/suppliers of improved products giving us a supposed better quality of life have in this instance missed the blinking obvious for experienced users.
It is unfortunate that it is a post-code lottery as to which pump systems are available in the UK, since some will not be offered new, cutting-edge devices purely on the grounds of hospital department staff not having the time or funds to 'learn' new systems. Another appalling state of affairs unfortunately.
On a positive note for readers, we (you) are so lucky to have these choices available -
think carefully, choose wisely - you'll have it for the next four years, no total cure on the horizon within this timescale. Carpe diem