I originally was on the Omnipod (before they switched Pod sizes) from October 2011 to May 2013. I went to TSlim thinking tighter doses better control. Then come late 2014 to Jan 2015, I started having issues. Was getting basal insulin even when I wasn’t supposed to be. My endo at the time even took the pump to test it when I went back on MDI. I was on MDI from Jan 2015 to Sept 2016. I just started back on the Omnipod yesterday. Rocky start by having multiple lows but my basal rates were harder to figure out due to being on Toujeo instead of regular Lantus. Getting those figured out pretty fast though with the help of my trainer and doctor.
I decided to go back on the Omnipod due to my career choice. I’m a personal trainer and the connivence of not being hooked to tubing is very good plus it being all in one with the testing done through the PDM.
I’ve been Type 1 for nearly 16 years and my doctor is pleasantly surprised that I’m still very sensitive to Humalog and it doesn’t take too much to drop me down.
Good luck with your choice! I can definitely see why you would be interested in returning to the pod. It’s all I’ve ever used, so I’m a real advocate of tubeless. I can’t imagine any other way, though I know many people with conventional pumps probably feel the same way. The pods, in my experience, are much more reliable now, and of course the smaller form is a big plus as well. I hope you get your dosages dialed in soon.
Can all audible alarms be preemptively silenced? Even like the pod fsilure alarms etc? I’ve heard stories of audible alarms sounding at inopportune times— for me that wouldn’t work out well…
no, there are certain alarms that sound regardless of situation, pod failure being one of them. They can all be easily silenced with the PDM or a hammer if necessary
I tried the Omnipod back in 2012 and seem to remember an alarm that would not silence. I even remember some people here commenting that they would strip a screaming pod off of their body and throw it in the freezer. Perhaps I’m remembering something that’s been fixed long ago. I’m curious about the answer to this question, too.
-Pod expiration alarm (couple beeps)
-Low insulin reservoir alarm (couple beeps)
-Pod failure alarm (high pitched alarm that continues until you cancel it on PDM. Obviously this one makes sense to let you know you are not getting insulin).
@Terry4 - the pod failure alarm is the one you are probably speaking of.
@mikep, the alarm I remember was a continuous one that the PDM could not silence. Hence the freezer treatment, a hammer would probably work, too. From your list of alarms, I’m thinking that my experience was likely an anomaly that Insulet fixed.
@Terry4 yep must have been fixed because all alarms can be silenced via the PDM. Now if you don’t have your PDM, then hammer treatment ensues . . . LOL.
I’m the only one that has issues that I have ran across with that problem with the Tslim. I have heard of people have them fail but for me I went off due to the severity of my lows and it freaking both myself and my husband out. He found me passed out one to many times due to it. I have heard of lots of people that have had success on it. For me and what’s going on in my life Omnipod was the best choice.
A continuous alarm that could not be silenced while I’m at the controls of a large ship maneuvering in close proximity would not be acceptable. I’d have to carry a hammer at all times and have an assistant tag along to operate the hammer.
Agree but not true of the current gen of OmniPod and honestly, I don’t ever remember having an alarm that couldn’t be silenced by the PDM. All alarms can be silenced and they all make sense as they relate to either the pod expiring (hey you need to put a new one on in the coming hours) or pod failure (hey you aren’t getting any insulin).
I have noticed very small beeps coming from the pod after bolus, but they’re nearly silent. I’m just thinking in my sons shoes, in 3 or 4 years, when he’s sitting in classes (which tend to be quiet when the teacher is speaking), and having those tiny beeps going off from the pod as the insulin is being administered. They’re almost inaudible, but in a quiet room, they can be heard.
We’ve definitely had pod errors that could not be silenced with the PDM. I don’t remember why it lost communication with the PDM, but there is no doubt about it, the PDM was of no use. We don’t get many Pod errors at all these days, so it’s difficult to compare.
Caleb’s been using OmniPod for almost ten years. I don’t know if the last one was before or after the most recent generation update. It’s possible. I’m disappointed in myself for not remembering the specifics. Caleb might though. I’ll have to ask him.
When it happened to me, it was the older and larger pod size. In my brain I connected the loud insistent alarming pod with the “screaming howler” letter in the Harry Potter series. It’s heathy to find the fun in annoying situations!
Been using Omnipod for last 8 years. I’ve had just 1 occlusion with the smaller 2nd generation pods and 3 or 4 with larger ones.
Occlusion happened at a most inconvenient time, while I was getting a manicure. It was shrieking for more than an hour until I could get home and do a pod change. And then to silence it I used the only method I that works for me; I threw it into the freezer. After a couple days it finally died. And yes, the staff at Insulet told me about sticking a staple into one of the ports to end the alarm but I have very little fine motor movement in my hands (due to arthritis and carpal tunnel release) and that’s the only way I can cope LOL
I do hate the constant beeps happening repeatedly as the full expiration nears. I’m able to get the 3 days plus 8 hours from each pod. I also find the beeping 90 minutes after a new pod is started. That’s because, quite often, I’m in bed sleeping.
Aside for some imperfections, I do love the ease of OmniPod.
There is a way to silence the pod failure alarm by using the pod itself. On the underside of the pod…under where the lot information is…there is a tiny rubber button. Supposedly if you push it the alarm will be silenced. I haven’t yet tried this yet though to verify that it works.
