• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Omnipod site issues...?

songbird92

songbird92

Newbie
Messages
1
Location
Chester
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Spiders! Pesky blood sugars that won't do what they're supposed to!
Hi everyone! I've been a type 1 diabetic for almost 10 years now and a half and a half ago was put onto the Omnipod! I've been fighting for a pump for a long time so I'm super happy, and mostly loving it...

However, I do seem to have issues with it when using my arms as a site. I've only tried it twice; the first time it hurt like hell and the insulin leaked everytime I bolused. This time, it all seems to be fine - yet my levels haven't come down from 16 since changing it from my stomach to my arm! I've given one more bolus with breakfast, and if it hasn't come down in a few hours, will have to change it.

I was just wondering if this is a common thing? I don't have a lot of fat on my arms, so I don't know if this effects it....either way, it's a bit frustrating! Especially as it works so well on my stomach, which I obviously can't use all the time...
 
Hi @songbird92

My consultant says you don't need a lot of fat for the infusion site to be successful, saying if you can pinch the skin up it should be sufficient for the infusion site to work.

I do use my arms but depending on the area I use it can be hit & miss, had to change a pod on my arm a day early this week as the absorption wasn't great and my bg levels were hanging around 9, once I changed it my bg levels came back down to 5-6mmol/l. However, I over used my arms a bit when on MDI and if you did the same then it's maybe best to use alternative sites until the arms recover.

Maybe try using your legs & bum, I've not tried my bum yet but didn't fair well when using my legs but it could be a different outcome for you, but a good place I'm found to place the pods is my sides, get really good absorption there and also get good absorption when placing the pod just below my ribs.
 
Sorry, just seen this, I've been on the Omnipod for nearly five years and positioning of pod can make a difference to sugars as can the settling in period. I put the pod all around my body but notice thighs and bum can need a little more basal for a while. Additionally when I put a new pod on I leave the old one on for a few hours which seems to help and also run an increased temp basal of say 50% for a couple of hours. It's another just test and see what works.
 
Some people find absorbtion rates vary depending upon where your cannula is located, I personally find my arms are much faster than my waist.

I have trialled an Omnipod for 3 months and found my arms were fine in this short time. I also find my Insight cannulas are also good.

Around my waist there are a few area's that I've struggled with and find that if I rest an area that's caused problems then after a few cannula rounds they seem to recover. Perhaps you have an arm area that has been used too often and needs a rest ?.
 
I believe there's still a little insulin being absorbed, if you remove it there often seems to be a drop or two around the cannula, I think leaving it in while the new one beds is seems to help, have also heard this from various Omnipod websites. Not everyone has problems with rising sugars when the pod is changed and I believe most people don't but I do 50% of the time so anything that helps is useful. Of course a high temp basal probably helps more or a bolus of a unit or so.
 
Hi @songbird92
welcome to the forum !! :)
I like using my arms -- the absorption is really good -- but i have had a couple of times where the site seems to "go haywire" after 2 days --( so i need to change early due to rising BG's ) .
I do use all areas on my arms though -- outside near the elbow and inside nearly up to my arm pit ( sorry for being graphic )

I felt very guilty at first changing pods early -- ( as though it were my fault ) -- but the longer I am on the omnipod -- the more I realise that placement is a huge part of overall control = so I don't worry so much about changing early if BG's rise unnaturally
 
Back
Top