Hi all - Just joined and have been using the Omnipod for about a month so I'm really looking forward to chatting with you all.
I've not had pod errors so far, BUT, I've had days where I'm pumping in for meals, etc., but my BS keep going higher and higher so I end up pumping in more and eventually (after +/- 6-7 hours), after I've pumped in about twice what I should need, my BS finally starts going down. No errors w/the pod. Not eating high carbs. Could this be an absorption problem? I've had it happen on my arm and higher stomach area, so I'm going to avoid these areas to see if it's the area. Oh, and no problem with fat in these areas :) I've adjusted my carb ratio (I'm currently at 1:10).
Hello Jean: It is nice to have a group to chat about this with! I have similar problems from time to time. One of the downsides of the pod is that you can have hours /days like this, adding more insulin with no result. It is very difficult to determine if this is absorption or delay in response to insulin after changing the pod, or? This issue is what drove one friend of mine off the pod and back to pens, as it is much quicker to adjust to high BG readings on the pen system. He uses pens and the dex com continuous monitor. I had this slow response after I changed the pod happen a couple of days ago. After running high all night I added a shot of two extra units after my morning BG reading and insulin . I had to bring down the numbers before I knew what to do about breakfast. Sure enough, the numbers came down much more quickly with the additional injection. ONce that happened, the pump seemed to kick in and work better. So, I remain confused about how to handle this problem . I resist swapping out pods because I waste so much insulin that way, and I run out of pods before they will be refilled. I would appreciate any wisdom from other pod users out there!
I too experience this, that I like to refer to as a phenomenon. It's crazy for me, how I can cruise along with all my numbers well in range (no spikes) for a week or more, and then BAM!!! Roller coaster or just steady high over 200. Just last week I peaked at over 350 and that's very uncommon for me. I generally will bolus, as if I'm eating a meal, and then wait for the Dexcom readings to start dropping then slowly adding carbs. My old Cozmo had a feature where it would automatically calculate a higher correction dose for higg BG readings. Never used it, but now I can see where that would be a handy feature for the Omni Pod.
My 11 yo has been pumping about 6 mos and we’ve had this, too. In fact, we had a string of these over spring break. I called them in and the rep offered to replace the whole box but was unable to give me any advice. Interestingly, they didn’t want the pods that alarmed back (because the techs have plenty to work with) but did want the ones we replaced due to high bg to look at. My dd is in puberty so it’s hard to know if it’s hormones or pod that’s driving it but we do see the effect you’ve both described where it starts to cone down slowly with the pod and rapidly with an injection. We might start using more injections for high bg boluses.
I am going to discuss this more carefully with my endocrinologist next month. But there must be some medical advice we can access? Any doctors associated with Omni pod? One explanation is a sort of "insulin resistance" after the numbers are too high. But I think we all really need a doctor's advice on this. After all , giving injections in multiple ways can lead to a bad crash...
It happens. Sometimes the bolus seems to be 'gone' forever...but sometimes the insulin seems to be delayed. Sometimes, if it gets real stubborn, I will change the pod and find blood, or maybe find nothing. It is tough to know when to stop the corrections, because all of a sudden my body can 'find' all of the insulin from the boluses. Because my correction ratios require less insulin than my meal ratios - also sometimes it is easy to over-correct. I tend to 'undershoot' a correction bolus needed because of a stubborn bg because the 'missing' insulin may all show up all of a sudden. If I have a few minutes...sometimes when it is stubborn, I will go for a walk. Maybe it helps it absorb or just helps my ratios. I don't know why, but it seems to help my body find the stored insulin.
Great to see this question, I’m having similar issues. I was on a Medtronic pump for over 13 years and switched to the Omnipod 4 months ago. Sure, I had ups and downs with the Medtronic pump, but these unexplained changes like you’re describing seem just often enough to keep me confused about what’s going on. (And starting a new exercise regime certainly isn’t helping.)
I have never gotten an alarm from a pod. A couple times I had bumped the pod and the insulin was infusion set was no longer inserted under my skin, but figured those out. Other times I just don’t know what’s going on.
What particularly confused me is that I’m clearly getting some insulin because my bg doesn’t continue to rise, but it sometimes just doesn’t come down either. Had a run up at 300 for about 12 hours, which I never see, but not rising steadily either, second or third bolus from a new pod finally started bringing it down. For now using shots for those high boluses as someone described sounds like a good idea I’ll probably try out for now.
It is so nice hearing how others are dealing with this too! I agree completely with all your points and have also resorted to additional injections but fear overdosing as well. I'm not sure at what point or hour I should do a separate injection. Obviously I should wait at least 2 hours after I pump, so then what...wait the full 4 hours for the last pump so I know it's completely gone? My BS can get above 300 by that time. BTW, I'm not convinced the insulin is active (or somewhat) for 4 hours like they say. Are you?
Huh....I wonder if my hormones are affecting this. At this time of my life my hormones are hugely malfunctioning. I'm done with puberty (ha), so I'm in the menopause thing.
Yeh, I'm thinking I'll need to keep doing the additional shots to bring it down and try not to get discouraged. (I mean really.....what is the point of a pump if I'm constantly giving myself additional injections.) I must be insulin resistant somewhat too.....
I agree, seems silly and frustrating to have to take shots. I might try a bit to see if it helps. Since someone else mentioned Insulet wanting the pods back for these bolus problems, I’ll probably give them a call too. Have you called them about this?
For me, I don’t think it’s insulin resistance since it’s random and sporadic. My dr also had me on Metformin for about 6 months last year thinking I had insulin resistance, but it didn’t make any difference for me, so I stopped it.
The first time it happened I called them and they ran thru their list of questions and the only possible explanation was placement. I had it a couple inches under my breast that time. Shortly after the call my BS started slowly lowering so I didn't change my pod and thought...OK, some funky snafoo and I won't put it there again soon. I'm slowly learning it was not a funky snafoo...it's more frequent for me.
I'm still adjusting my basils and carb ratios so I suppose some of it could be that too. My trainer had her "standard" calculations that I started with and I'm moving away from those quite a bit and trying not to feel like I'm a freak for being so different from "standard." ha
This forum is going to help me not feel like a freak. Thanks for your input! I really appreciate it!!
this is an interesting topic, we used to really scratch our heads to put it nicely with the first generation pods and had a lot of issues with pod change highs but have had a lot more reliability with the new pods we still have those days where Jacob will sit way to high for no good reason if this persists for a good part of the day I will have him change it out assuming perhaps a partial occlusion or an absorption issue once he changes it out things turn around so that seems to be it luckily for us because he uses so much insulin more than 200 u in three days his script is written to change out every two days so we don't sweat it to much if he needs to change it out early I think if two corrections don't turn things around then the pod should be changed pulling out needles shouldn't be part of the answer! hoping for better luck for all podders out there! amy oh and jean I think you asked something about insulin action time we changed Jacobs to 2.5 hours it really seems to be mostly done by then and he eats frequently so the insulin on board feature was having the pdm suggest way to little insulin we still watch for this and add in more if need be... so many variables...
Hi, I'm new to this site but have been experiencing this same phenom for the 4 years I have been using the Omnipod. My Endo tells me I am allergic to insulin and do have other symptoms that also have led to this conclusion. I can run in the 200 to 300's all day, go for a short walk and and end up with a low of 50 an hour later. i have had some very scary lows with this issue. I must also note that I seem to continually adjust the settings, both bolus and carb ratios.
Well that is scary...What are the symptoms of insulin allergy? I know that my Endo suspects that I am both type 1 and type 2, I also seem to run high after I change pods . If only this were an exact science...
hi there do you do a small bolus with no food after pod changes? my son used to have to do more with the old pods but he still does .5-1U obviously more if he needs more of a correction this has basic resolved the problem 100%..... if an insulin 'allergy' is suspected why not change insulin brand??
I think that the allergy theory is given by duckatect above. I was advised to switch to humalog for the Omni Pod (by the nurse /advisor)..other forms of insulin are also more expensive.My Endo has said that I seem to have some insulin resistance . I do give one unit of insulin when I change pods, but that is taking longer and longer to kick in. I have lots of questions for my doctor at the next visit.
I have tried Humalog, Levemir and now Apridra with no change in allergy. I get red bumps at the infusion site about the size of the end of a finger and raised about 1/8". They go away a few hours after changing sites. I also get a lot of itching but am also allergic to adhesives so it's hard to tell if this insulin or adhesive allergy. My Endo said my main symptom is that the insulin is not used/absorbed right away but then builds up and it all gets released/absorbed with a super fast crash to the 30's. I just started using a Dexcom CGM and love it as it alarms me when the crash is coming. Adhesive allergy is an issue with the Dexcom but hopefully I can just change the sensor more often.
