Not encouraged by the number of issues with the new pod. I'm new to any kind of pump, much less the omni pod. I'm just over a month old with the new system and am feeling like a complete failure. I've had a really high rate of occlusions. I don't know how much more annal I can be about filling and making sure there is no air in the insulin. I was hoping the pump would be a life changer but am beginning to wonder if this is the answer. Any advise on how to avoid wasting so many pods would be appreciated. Also any words of wisdom in general would be appreciated. I feel like I am carrying around an extra bag filled with insulin pens, pen needles, insulin viles, and extra pods just to be safe. It's making wired pumps look appealing...
Change to a tubed pump! Talk to your care team. Request a visit from an OmniPod trainer.
I’m about a month in with the new pod too. One super helpful trick someone on here taught me was to fill the syringe with more insulin than you need and then knock the air bubbles to the top of the syringe away from the needle. I have no issues with air bubbles because I don’t plunge down to where the air bubbles are hanging out.
I’m going to have to go back and find who gave me that tip, because it saves me a lot of time and worry with my changes.
Have you had a trainer with your new pod?
Niclan....yes, that works well. As you said....after I fill it with more insulin, tap the syringe and turn it upside down to move any stray bubbles down to the bottom...I find gurgles in the spout (top little area that shoots first). Before I inject, I turn the insulin bottle upside down on top of the needle and shoot these back in.
I wish I could say that all of this helps me eliminate post change highs, but alas....I also need to bolus with a syringe for the next meal or 2..because it seems as though my body doesn't want to absorb the insulin right away.
Hmmm...I don't have much to offer for advice I'm afraid. I usually change my pod in the morning after I have given myself a bolus for breakfast. Then depending on how long my pod changing process takes, I give myself a mini bolus as soon as I change it to compensate. It probably also helps that I'm using sites that I never used for MDIs, so the scar tissue there probably isn't an issue.
Hope it works out for you!
Yeah I have been doing the mini bolus...0.5 or so units after a change..it helps but sometimes I need another one shortly after a change to get it going. Not sure if that happens with the new ones or not...
If nothing else, I'm encouraged that it will get better.
Will be meeting with the pump educator next week when it's time for a changing of a pod to make sure all is well. Yesterday went through two pods but third one is not having issues so far so am hopeful it will be okay until time to change. Thanks all!
+1 with the mini bolus. Without it, I battle the post-change highs. But with it I have no issues :)
I might have missed it...are you on the NEW ones?
I think the mini bolus helps build up pressure at the infusion site to force insulin into the capillaries just under the skin. Remember, we're not penetrating a vein or artery, we're just depositing insulin under the skin for the capillaries to absorb. I think the infusion site needs a little positive pressure to push the insulin into the capillaries. That's my theory, anyway.