I am currently on the omnipod, but not very happy. Before that, I was on the minimed but onmipod got me with the “wireless”. I have only been in the pod for about a year, so I dont even know if my insurance will let me change again. I was wondering if anybody switched from omnipod and if you wanted to share your story with me so I can make a more informed decision.
Thanks!!!
With so many people interested in the tubeless aspect of the Omnipod, I’m curious what about it was so much less than you’d hoped that you’d like to switch. Would you mind sharing your likes and frustrations?
–Katherine
(Our five year old daughter has been pumping the Animas Ping for two years and CGMS Dexcom for 1.5 years. We’ve never used the Omnipod but I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about our Ping experience.)
I tried the OmniPod for 4 weeks and had to go back to Animas. I liked the concept of the pump being placed anywhere and the controller being wireless, but the design was too big for me to be comfortable with (too high and bulky). When it came time to write a check, I could not do it. I have SEEN the SOLO pump - http://www.solo4you.com/, but they were bought by Roche and have faded from sight. This tubeless pump is smaller and much more comfortable. I even tried a non-functional SAMPLE and was able to sleep and did not have any discomfort. I am waiting for either that pump or the CellNovo pump - www.cellnovo.com , which I have not tried and have seen and felt. It is too cool! It is a iPhone Pump! See the controller to know what I mean.
The Animas is still the most reliable, most comfortable, and the most dependable company of all the pumps available in the US market today. Those items are still the most important to me and, I think, all pumpers.
well… I just have too many incidents of the pod being disconnected for no apparent reason. I just get a message that says it stopped working and I have to change it. Not only do I have to discard the pump, but all the insulin I have in it. There is really no way to take out the insulin. The problem is that the pod is too big and bulky. It is uncomfortable to sleep with one. Most of the time I can feel it! It is not discreet at all, most of the time people can see it. Especially when it is in my leg (which is my favorite place to wear it). A lot of times the pod appears to be connected, but I do not absorb the insulin for some reason. I have too many inexplicable highs! It is really getting too frustrating, especially because I am trying to get ready to try to get pregnant. I really cannot afford to have high bgs because the pod is not working properly. I never had those kind of problems with the minimed. Does your daughter have problems like the ones that I have? Does she have problems with insulin absorption? I am actually looking into the Animas and the Dexcom. I am worried about having two machines attached to me, but I know I need a CGM if I am to get pregnant. How does that work for your daughter? I have used the CGM from minimed and they are both controlled from the same machine. Also, that did not work very well because the sensor would always get disconnected. Does that happen to your daughter?
Thank you very much for your reply. I really appreciate any feedback you can give me! 
Cyndy
OMG Gary!!! I love that Cellnovo pump!!! Are you going to get it when is available??? should I wait? Do you know when it will be available?
I fell the same way about the omnipod… too big!! They have been promising smaller pods forever! I dont think its going to happen soon. I also have crazy BGs all the time while on the pod. I really want to change! I am definitely looking for a reliable, dependable, and comfortable pump. I think I should go with Animas but… what are you going to do? I am really in loved with that cellnovo!
Solo updates their web site every once in awhile and is stll waiting for US approval. It looks pretty amazing.
However, some insurance companies (like mine) wont pay for tube free pumps.
Hi, Cyndy,
We’ve been very very happy with the Animas Ping and Dexcom. I was a little nervous about Ellery having two devices on her but that has not really been a problem for us. The Dexcom has been especially great for us. We’ve found that for our daughter the back of her upper arms are the best for her Dex sites. We’ve had no trouble with the sensors (after we learned to NOT use IV Prep on the site). We can easily get 10-15 days (or more) out of each one before loosing accuracy and I’ve heard that extending the Dexcom sensor life is easier than with a Medtronic sensor. The insertions hurt a bit but aren’t too bad (we do not use any numbing products). Also, we’ve found that if we limit calibrations to just a couple per day the Dex is much more accurate than if we calibrate more often (we used to calibrate with every BG stick).
Yeah, I have heard all the things described above about the Omnipod a lot, so I didn’t even consider it. I know lots of people with pumps and nobody had the omnipod despite it being the only tube free one which certainly sounds appealing; I figured there was a reason for it!
I love my Ping, have had good customer service and like the meter remote that you can use for all the actions and keep the pump under your clothes.
I did the trial and i HATED it i would turn the corner in my house and i would pull it out or i would try to do something and i would hit it and it would hurt so i just choosed animas ping and im alot happier now though if it helps i know a lady who works for them and she says they are supposed to come out with a much thinner one because of the complaints:D
CyNdM:
As diabetic medical device consumers, the FDA is the biggest inhibitor to our getting new technology QUICKLY. Cellnovo has a true WAR CHEST of funding (over $150 Million in Venture Funding so far) and is conducting test in Europe first (they are based in the UK). But, I predict we will have access to this product in 18 - 24 months. As far as the Solo device, it is READY TO GO, but Roche, the pharmaceutical that bought Medingo, the Israeli company that designed and is manufacturing the device, has decided to put it on the SLOW TRAIN to market. We should have had access to this fine device LAST YEAR, but there is no indication when they will start to market it. If we all track the “Help Wanted” lists for “Diabetic Medical Device Sales and Support Personnel”, we should be able to tell when either of these devices will be close to coming to market.
Final point to Laura S. regarding insurance reimbursement - the only hesitation the insurance carriers have for use of TUBELESS pumps has to do ONLY with OmniPod. Each time the user needs to change the OmniPod, they THROW the whole unit away - on both the Solo and the Cellnovo systems, most of the system is reusable, just a ‘cartridge’ like part is considered a consumable, so they should have less on-going costs than even our Animas pumps! But, also do remember, many insurance companies LOVE the OmniPod because they have no substantial upfront cost (except for the controller, which sells for around $600, compared to several thousand dollars. If a ‘Insured’ drops a health plan, the health plan has not lost out on the initial large investment they made - trust me, this is a driving reason many companies greatly prefer an inferior OmniPod to a great pump like an Animas…
Gary, my HMO considers Omnipod boxes as DME.
A gal at a supply house told me they would charge me fifty percent for every single box of pods.
I wasnt really planning on getting the system, but checked just to see what they would say.
Knowing them, they wouldnt be paying for Solo or anything else very quickly.
They dont pay readily for CGMS and they obviously, at least under the plan I have selected pay well for pumps.