Our New Pump: The Omnipod

We've been podding for 10 whole days!

It's really not enough time to give a review but I'll share my first impressions and why we chose to go with Omnipod.

Why Omnipod?

It's conversations like this...

"Mom, the kids at gymnastics keep asking me what it (the pump) is and if it's a phone. I keep saying no but they keep asking. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want them to see it."

I told her we could take it off. She doesn't want to take it off. She feels safer with it on.

Or this exchange...

"Hold on just a sec... I need to bolus you."

"Ugh! Hurry up! I wish I didn't have diabetes. It's so stupid."

Her friend had already run off to play and all she wanted was to join him. In this situation, even the remote wasn't helping because he'd gone downstairs. But usually I can bolus without her even knowing.

Although I was frustrated and upset by the way we were treated by Animas, I would not have changed pumps if I did not feel it was in her best interests. And the above conversations really got me thinking...

It all started at a Diabetes Center picnic. The vendors were there. I like seeing what everyone has and what they have to say.

The rep from Omnipod gave us a sample pod and told us about their "cut the cord" program where you can switch from your current pump to Omnipod for only $125.

And the wheels started turning.

When we got home, I showed Sweets the pod. She was intrigued. And she wanted to try it on. At first she said she wanted us to put in on at night like a regular site change. But then she changed her mind and wanted in on NOW. This really surprised me because of her history of totally freaking out over site changes. Granted, there was no needle in the trial one!

She loved it. I had been worried about the size - she is so tiny. But it was fine. It was practically invisible under her clothes. She didn't want to take it off!!

And then she kept asking for it. "I want that i-pod pump!" she said. "Can't I just use the pod? When can I use it again?"

Hmmmmm.... She was really into it. She was excited about it.

So I did my research. I got online and read up on the pod. I looked at the Omnipod website and went through their tutorials. I talked to friends who were using the pod about their experiences. And J and I talked about it a lot.

I wanted to make sure we were switching for the right reasons. As I said before, I like the Ping and think it's a great pump and has many great features. It was not an easy choice.

We did think about Medtronic. But what it came down to there was the remote. After having a remote and seeing how it helped her just be a kid and not have to interrupt what she's doing to get the pump out to bolus.... And how aggravated she was with just waiting to bolus with the remote... Deal Breaker.  Neither J nor I was willing to give up the remote!

So, after much consideration and research, we decided to give Omnipod a try!

Yes, I was concerned about a few things.

The Omnipod calculates IOB differently than an Animas or Medtronic pump.  The Omnipod only considers any insulin you give as a correction as IOB.  It does not take into account anything you have given for food.  The reasoning, I suppose, is that you need that insulin to cover the food you ate.  But we all know that it doesn't always work like that...

However, there is a way around it if you find it to be an issue.  If you enter all boluses as a correction bolus then it will keep track.

I think that as long as you know what you're doing, you understand how the pumps work and calculate, and you are on top of things, this does not have to be deal breaker.  Most people who start with Omnipod have no issue with this calculation because it's all they have ever known.  However, if you feel strongly about knowing the complete total amount of IOB and do not want to enter everything as a correction, then Omnipod is probably not the pump for you.

For us, this has not been an issue yet.  I may try entering everything as a correction and see how I like that...  But so far so good!

The main feature of the Omnipod that was holding me back was the basal increments.  Instead of allowing basal rates of 0.025, the smallest increment is 0.05.  This is something I was concerned about.

Again, so far so good!  Things are going very well and her numbers have been better the last 10 days than I've seen in MONTHS.

How's it going?

We are REALLY happy with Omnipod!

Sweets LOVES it!  She loves that you can't see it.  She loves that she does not have to wear a pouch all the time (she still does wear one for Dexie at times - like in the above pic -but it's not the constant it once was).  For some reason, she has much less anxiety about the pod.  She got really nervous at our pump start about taking off the numbing cream.  But once the pod was on, we pushed the button to insert it when she wasn't paying attention.  It makes a clicking noise before it goes it.  When it inserted, she said, "HEY!  Who hit me in the butt?!?"  But there were no tears.  She said it didn't hurt a bit.  And since then we have not used the cream.  We are still doing changes at night because that is her preference but she is not totally opposed to doing them in the day anymore.  She has been happy to wear some outfits that she could not wear with a pump pouch (one piece things and a certain dress that just didn't fit well over it).  This is total vanity.  But it's important to her.  She despises limitations of any kind.  She is happy.  She pats it and smiles. 

That makes me happy!

I like that there is no issue leaving it on for swimming. (Yes, I know Animas is waterproof but our Endo advised us to take it off anyway... so we did.  Plus she did NOT want to wear a pouch in the water.)  Even when we gave her missed basal before swimming, she was ALWAYS HIGH.  I'm talking HIGH.  It made me not want to go swimming.  But she has swam practically every day.  And her numbers have been perfect!

There has been NO issue with it sticking or staying on.  She's gone swimming.  She takes baths.  She goes down the slide.  She's done gymnastics and tennis.  It stays put.  We have not put anything else over it to hold it.  I will say, that she has never had a problem with ANYTHING sticking to her.  Not pump sites or Dex.  She must have very adhesive skin!!

I love the PDM and all it's features.  I love it's colored screen and all it's graphs and trends and information.  I LOVE that the test strip port has a light.  SUPER AWESOME!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Freestyle strips!  We actually had to dial BACK her lancet because the amount of blood needed is so incredibly small.  And we have not had ONE error.  No more "error 5"!  Woot!

I love how easy site changes are.  I didn't think they were hard before... but now it's SO EASY!  Sweets will be able to do (most of) it herself before long (if she chooses - I won't put that on her unless she wants to).  I like that aspect as well.  I also like that the amount of supplies in my closet are less... Less moving parts.  I like that!

I'll post more once we've really had the opportunity to use it and live with it for an extended period.  But these are my "first thoughts"!

After leaving her pump upgrade at the hospital, we were in the elevator and it hit me that she had nothing around her waist.  Sure, she had the pod and Dex on her tush.  But you couldn't see them.  She was free, in a sense.  And it brought tears to my eyes.  How long had it been?  Almost 2 years... every day.... wearing a pouch.  It was a wonderful moment.

Don't get me wrong - we LOVE our pump pouches and will continue wearing them, especially at school, to carry Dex.  But, she doesn't HAVE to wear it.  If we are together, I can carry it and it will pick her up.  So nice to have that option!

I asked Sweets the other day what SHE thought.  She said, "I really like it!  I'm not scared to do site changes anymore. I wish I could I just eat though and not have to test my blood first and wait and stuff."

Yes, my sweet, sweet child.  THAT would really be the best choice of all, wouldn't it?  A CURE.