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Pumps?

G

Georgina_sinfield

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi all

I am hopefully going to be going on a pump this year and my nurse has told me to look up 3 they do which are;

640g Medtronic
Animas
Omnipod

Can anybody who has experience recommend any of these or give me any advice?

Thanks in advance
 
Hi @Georgina_sinfield :)

I have the Animas Vibe and love it! It's robust, waterproof, easy to use, has Luer sets (so universal), and supports Dexcom CGM.

I chose it over the Medtronic for that reason and because I prefer the screen.

If you look around the Pump section here, you'll find a number of threads discussing those pumps :)
 
No problem :) You can just browse through the threads here, or, if you prefer, use the Search feature and search for each of those pumps.

Welcome to the forum :)
 
I have just started using an Omnipod, I am hooked so far! No need to take it off for a shower, Place it anywhere (with chub) and it has no tubing so nothing to knock. No tubing means you don't have to find a nice location for the normally separate tubed pump for sleeping, but it is little bulky than just having a standard pump cannula.
 
I would not recommend using the Omnipod, only because something could go wrong since it doesn't have any tubing. You wouldn't want something to go wrong. I would recommend either of the other two insulin pumps that you have chosen.
 
jasmine1616 said:
I would not recommend using the Omnipod, only because something could go wrong since it doesn't have any tubing. You wouldn't want something to go wrong. I would recommend either of the other two insulin pumps that you have chosen.
Click to expand...
Have you used the Omnipod @jasmine1616?
 
jasmine1616 said:
I would not recommend using the Omnipod, only because something could go wrong since it doesn't have any tubing. You wouldn't want something to go wrong. I would recommend either of the other two insulin pumps that you have chosen.
Click to expand...

What is the "something" that might go wrong with an omnipod that isn't an equal risk with a tubed pump?

@Georgina_sinfield all the pumps do the same basics with certain plus points for each ( omnipod is tubeless and has automatic cannula insertion, animas can link with dexcom, Medtronic can link with enlite I think) do a little you tubing and reading to see what is important to you. I would recommend getting a copy of the book "pumping insulin" if you are about to get started on a pump, it will help you get up and running with managing your pump.
 
jasmine1616 said:
I would not recommend using the Omnipod, only because something could go wrong since it doesn't have any tubing. You wouldn't want something to go wrong. I would recommend either of the other two insulin pumps that you have chosen.
Click to expand...

Yer I am with the others here... what could possibly go wrong that couldn't with the others. Its a hard plastic pod with its enclosed reservoir and 'tube'. Nothing to get snagged or loose and if it fails for whatever reason, you keep a spare pod handy for minimal downtime.
 
Thank you everyone for the advise, i have been waiting for the omnipod to become available at my hospital for quite a while as I didn't like the idea of being attached to something with a tube but i will look through the other discussions on here and YouTube. I realise the other pumps seem to have a bit more about them than the pod but i am going to make sure i do my reasearch so i get what is best for me :)
 
My endo told me that the Omnipod is an insulin pump that is not recommended. I was not trying to offend anyone in my last post, but from one of my last experiences with the Omnipod, it left a large scar on me and it still hasn't healed.

In my opinion, I just would not trust the Omnipod. @ElkBond @catapillar @GrantGam
 
Last edited by a moderator:
1. It's huge! It's so big, honestly it might just fall off!
2. It doesn't have any tubing, so there are more things that could go wrong.
 
3. It is more likely that the insulin could go bad since it is connected to you. If you are sitting in the sun, the insulin would have a chance to go bad.

@ElkBond @GrantGam
 
jasmine1616 said:
1. It's huge! It's so big, honestly it might just fall off!
2. It doesn't have any tubing, so there are more things that could go wrong.
Click to expand...
Your first point is fair enough; the Omnipod's are said to be "bulky" so may put some people off...

Your second point is nonsense though; can you demonstrate any evidence to back up this claim?

Your third point, again it doesn't have any weight to it... If your sitting in the sun (tubed pump or tubeless) the insulin is going to be exposed to the temperature and effects from the sun regardless...

Please don't think I'm having a dig at your personal views @jasmine1616, however, if you're going to make bold claims then it's best to have some supporting evidence to back them up.
 
Perhaps @jasmine1616 means you can't move an Omnipod if it's right in the sun in the same way you can just move a tubed pump?
 
jasmine1616 said:
1. It's huge! It's so big, honestly it might just fall off!
2. It doesn't have any tubing, so there are more things that could go wrong.
Click to expand...

Feel like I am teaming up with @GrantGam here but I am honestly not!

Yer it is a little big but technically (aside from the PDM) the pod is smaller than having a pump clipped to your belt. I haven't knocked one off yet!

Secondly, this claim is untrue. There is less tubing (remember there is a small amount in the pod from the reservoir to needle, and it is small). The lack of tubing is an advantage. Nothing to be snagged on a door or arm. Less area for bubble or kinks to happen. So less to go wrong than a normal pump.

I can see your point three, but tbh I shower with it in a reasonably hot shower everyday and the insulin is still as potent day three as it is day one. Maybe the plastic used is good at insulating from heat. I haven't tried a hot bath yet but if I ever do I will report back! Anyone been in a hot bath/ hot tub or sauna with it?

Another advantage is if the pod fails, you replace it and you are up and running in 10 mins. If a normal pump fails you have to wait for them to send a replacement.

Anyway just want to clear up these as I don't want the original poster to be put off the omnipod due to inaccuracies.
 
I have been on the Medtronic for 5 years now ( they upgraded me to the 640g two years ago). I agree as above, the omnipod is a very chunky piece to have stuck to the body. It really does depend on your lifestyle which pump suits. I am a chef, so nothing energetic or physical (apart from a sat night). I am also not on cgm and not considering it either, one thing stuck to my body is enough. The reason I chose Medtronic 640g is the Bluetooth technology from blood monitor to pump. The result is sent is seconds direct to pump and corrections are done with bolus within seconds. I have no opinion on the two other pumps mentioned here apart from this. My 4 year old daughter is on the animas but that is what most diabetes teams recommend for children of this age. This is because the previous Medtronic was not waterproof but the new 640g is. Good luck with ur decision but at the end of the day..... they all do the same thing with their own pros and cons as with life in general
 
Codythechef said:
I agree as above, the omnipod is a very chunky piece to have stuck to the body.
Click to expand...

When I opted for the Omnipod Pump I did a search on YouTube for video's of people who were using the pump, at first glance the Pods did seem big but most of the video's were a good few years old and the Pods have since decreased in size by around a third, tbh it's that chunky I sometimes forget where the Pod is positioned :)
 
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