I have no experience of the OmniPod or the Medtronic.
So what am I doing responding to this thread? Bear with me and I will explain.
After 12 years of injecting, I was approved for a pump. My choice was Animas Vibe, Animas Vibe or no pump. As I had nothing to compare it with, I decided to go for the tubey Animas. For 3 years Pumpy and I had a love hate relationship. I loved the control it gave me with my basal levels and the small bolus increments. I never caught the tubes enough to pull anything out. Few people commented on the pump. I hated that I could never hide it and have it close to hand to give myself a bolus. I rarely wore a dress because they had no belt to clip Pumpy to. Occasionally, I would wrap it around my upper thigh but sticking my hand up my dress in polite company just wasn’t considered ... polite.
Pumpy and I have been together for three and a half years. If anyone suggested taking a pump away from me, I would defend Pumpy resolutely.
Pumpy is due to be retired and I was told the choice for replacement is Medtronic 640g, Medtronic 640g or no pump.
However, as I had commented about Pumpy getting in the way during exercise (and I exercise a lot, including running to my diabetes appointment), when my CCG was approached for a cheap patch pump trial, it was offered to me.
I am now one week into a month trial of the Medtrum A6. Whilst the tubes rarely bothered me, being tube free is liberating. I still check Pumpy is attached to my belt when I stand up. I still grab for Pumpy when I go to the toilet. I still imagine which hand is going to hold Pumpy as I get dressed. But I don’t need to. Patch (the name I have given my trial pump) holds on without me. I can wear tightish (but not “tarty tight”) t-shirts without a bulge. I haven’t tried a dress yet but it will be nice to just be polite without thinking.
Patch does not come without his issues. When I stick him on, he is there for 3 days and there is no chance to move him. I have to think 3 days ahead to make sure he is not in the way of my climbing harness and work out, approximately what I am going to wear to decide whether he goes above my waist, below my waist or on my arm. With a tubey pump, I always had the control with me. If I wanted or needed a bolus, I could get Pumpy out from wherever he was trying to hide (polite company allowing). With Patch, I have to remember to take the PDM with me. I haven’t forgotten Patch’s pet yet but I fear I may.
So, whilst I have no experience of either of the pumps you have on offer, I have experience of more than one pump and a pump of each type. Given the choice, if that was all I had to consider I would go for the patch pump.
Other things I would consider are: bolus and basal step size (what is the minimum dose I can give), number of basal profiles and how easy it is to use in sunlight. The latter is after 3 years of struggling to give myself a bolus whenever I ate al fresco.
Good luck with you decision ... and sorry for wittering on.