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Insulin pump

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brogantyler

Member
Messages
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Anyone out there got an omnipod or medtronic 640g insulin pump? What are your thoughts? I am on pens at the moment.
 
I have both an omnipod and a Medtronic 640.

I would probably prefer to stick with the omnipod, but I do need the 640 predictive low suspend.

What is it you are asking about, thoughts on what? Have you been approved for a pump and been given the option of omnipod or Medtronic by your clinic?
 
Hi @brogantyler

I use a Omnipod, it's a great little pump and can't fault it really, haven't had too many issues to date.
 
@catapillar and @noblehead Thanks for your responses... I have the option to go for a pump yes and these are in my options. Just wanted some thoughts on pros and cons mainly. Does the omnipod stick well went put on? Also do you have to keep the monitor close to the pod for it to work? Does it provide better control? What issues have you had?

Thanks
 
Ive had a couple of issues with pods falling off, but in the main the adhesive on the pods is pretty heavy duty - even having to use tape off spray to detach pods.

You don't need to keep the PDM close to the pod for it to work. If the pods delivering basal and you don't have the PDM with you it will continue delivering basal. The PDM has to be fairly close to the pod to tell it to do something. So if you want to tell the pod to deliver a bolus the PDM has to be near the pod, but usually, unless you've got really long arms, jus holding it in your hand will mean it's near enough. Once the PDM has spoken to the pod to tell it to deliver this much bolus you can leave the PDM and wander off to a different room.

Pumps don't magically provide better control. They provide more options for the user to achieve control, but achieving that control is down to the pump user. I would suggest getting a copy off the book "pumping insulin" if you are moving to a pump. It's a textbook on what you need to know to use a pump effectively.
 
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Hi there
I also have the omnipod and it is a fantastic bit of kit -- I have not had many issues in 20 months of using this pump.
I have only pulled one pod off by accident when I ran my arm into a door frame full on and the pod came straight off ( oops )

I too have to use adhesive remover to remove them after they expire -- I use zoff adhesive pads for removal
 
brogantyler said:
Does the omnipod stick well went put on?
Click to expand...

Sticks too good in fact, you'll find this out if you start on the pump and do a Pod change.

I've knocked the Pods against door frames and only once has one dislodged, it didn't come off completely but came away slightly pulling the cannula out.

brogantyler said:
Also do you have to keep the monitor close to the pod for it to work?
Click to expand...

Only when bolusing, changing a Pod or making changes to the set-up (such as adjusting basal rates or I:C ratio's), all other times you don't have to be close to the PDM, I go for short car journeys and walks without carrying the PDM, if there's a problem with a Pod the Pod will alarm as well as the PDM, the alarm is quite loud so you can't fail to hear it.

Anyway, the PDM also has a built-in bg monitor so you'll find you won't go too far without it.

brogantyler said:
Does it provide better control? What issues have you had?
Click to expand...

Yes a pump does, the ability to bolus in small increments and extend the dose for difficult meals (like those that are high in fat) is beneficial, plus having the ability to have multiple basal rates to match your body's needs is a bonus.

Issues, most were in the early days when I first started using the pump, by my own admission it was user error more than anything else.
 
Thank you for your reply it's really useful for me
 
Thanks for your response. Sounds like it has many positives
 
Hi @noblehead I have been using a demo kit today just to see what the omnipod feels like when on. I found it only lasted about 4 hours and came unstuck. Is this because it is a demo so is not as sticky as the real thing? Also what about if you get hot and sweat for example at the gym, will the pod not fall off? Will the pod alarm if it becomes unstuck possibly during the night? Brilliant it sounds like once you are used to all the functions of the pump it works fine. Thanks for your help
 
Hi again @brogantyler

I never trialled the pump (Pod) beforehand so never used the demo, but I can't see why the adhesive would be any different to the standard Pods, is the Pod they send out not just a Pod that hasn't been activated?

If you ring Ypsomed they'll answer your question, but with regards to sweating and such I've not had any issues.

Regards to the Pod coming unstuck, the alarm won't alarm unless there a fault on the Pod or PDM (occlusions is one example), I know when my Pod came away it didn't alarm, but that is why all pump manufacturers advise that you should carry out regular bg tests to make sure that the pump is delivering the insulin.

If you go to Youtube there's some video's of people using the Omnipod Pump with some excellent feedback, but just be mindful that some of the video's are quite old now and both the Pod & PDM have since changed.
 
@noblehead OK i see. Yeah it was just to get a feel for it and see how comfortable it was. It lasted about 4 hours but started unsticking. May i ask whereabouts you stick your pod? Yes a demo is the same just a dummy version.

I think I will ring or email them to check some of my queries.

Ok i see yes... i mean if you were asleep and caught it would you not know until morning with high bg?

I will do some more research i think and look on youtube too.

Thanks again, you have been a big help!
 
brogantyler said:
May i ask whereabouts you stick your pod?
Click to expand...

Pump infusion sites are just where you'd normally inject insulin, so stomach, arms, legs and buttocks.

At the moment I've got a Pod on my arm, it's due to be changed later this morning and will site the new Pod on my side, I've tried using legs with poor results and have yet to try my bum (just don't think it will be very comfortable there).

It's a shame that you only got 4 hours then the Pod came unstuck, you do have to make sure the site is clean and dry beforehand, rightly or wrongly I use a alcohol wipe (pre-injection swab) to clean the area before applying a Pod.

Maybe consider the 640g if you don't think the Omnipod Pump is for you, good luck.
 
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