Well, it's day 4 of being on a pod and as luck would have it, 5 hours after my pod change, the battery indicator shows only one bar left. So I pop off the backs, pull out the old batteries, pop in new ones. A minute and a half, tops. When the pdm stars back up, I have to reset the clock and I realize it's asking me to deactivate the pod *that I just put on*. So I freaked, called Omni, and they are sending me a replacement pdm because the back up battery failed. And a new pod.
Anyway, so I read I could withdraw those 100 units of insulin I just put in. So I did but... uh, now what. How do I measure it? Is it supposed to sit in the omni needle I used for 3 days to help fill the next pod?
I'm trying not to waste it, but this doesn't seem like a good idea (to let it sit around). What do you all do?
Uh...you were supposed to use it to fill the pod you just put on to replace the one it told you to take off ? Why does it need to sit for 3 days ?
Very strange the batteries would only last 4 days...they last a couple of weeks for me. Glad to hear they are replacing the PDM... normally there is no issue when you change batteries... it comes back on and everything is where you left it.
I do find that Energizer MAX batteries last longer than Duracell.
it didn't have enough insulin to fill the min level- I only use 100 units in 3 days. When I sucked it out, it didn't hit the Min line. Can you add insulin from a dead pod, refill syringe with fresh from the bottle, and then continue to fill a pod?
Hmm...that's actually a good question. I don't know. What I'd do in that situation, to avoid bubbles in the pod is : a) open up a new pod package
b) take the new, sterile syringe from the new pod and suck out the insulin from
the defective pod
c) sterilize the vial cover and fill more insulin from the vial into the syringe to meet the minimum level or whatever I need for a fill, carefully removing all air bubbles from the syringe.
d) Use the now filled syringe to fill the new pod.
That way the fill of the new pod is just like a normal filling.
eeeks what a bummer, glad they are sending a new pdm, we have never tried to "harvest" insulin from a malf pod, i've been to nervous to try. plus we get a hefty 3 month supply so i never worry about wasting, you really are not even supposed to mix insulin from bottle to bottle so if we just have a small amount left or not enough to fill a pod we toss it. with the big money industry gets from supplying diabetics with supplies and insulin i never worry about wasting, but then again we have good insurance. best of luck there will be days like this but there will be better ones too! best, amy
I've done all of the above and can't remember ever having a problem. Sometimes I can't remove the insulin so I just skip it. I keep a pretty good supply on hand and I have a generous prescription for it. I also had the battery change problem, like you described and they immediately sent a new pod. For awhile there, I had to time my battery changes to when the pod deactivated. Then I realized that wasn't normal. With all that said, I don't think having the insulin sitting around in a needle is a good idea, never have had to do that. Good luck!
Yarh, from what other said here. Don't mess with it. Just use one pod to the next without messing with it. YES, you will have a "break in" period where things will seem all amuck. Don't worry. Stick with what your doc's office recommends and move foward. It'll work out in the end. Either in a few days or a few months, it will work out.
I'm probably way too lax about things, but I remove insulin from any pod that is just one day old. I fill the new syringe from the pod and top it off from my insulin vial. I squirt the bubbles up into the vial just like it was all new. I try not to mix too much old and new, but I'm sure some gets pushed into the vial. I don't worry about it and have never had a problem that I'm aware of.
I would say ditto to Jims comment. I do exactly the same. Anything over one day is too far along to reuse. Cost aside I just don't want to waste any. Usually have 20 units or less when time to change. I do beat the daylights out of the the syringe to remove the bubbles. It is a challenge.
I've withdrawn from an old pod then stuck the needle in to the vial to withdraw the balance needed, no problem but I was immediately filling my new pod. I've occasionally placed it back in the vial when not going into the pod. I carry a in use vial with me in case of emergencies or if I have to change a pod out so it just goes back into my current vial.
