I am a current Medtronic pumper and love it. However with dogs, kids and my job I tend to get snagged on things a lot more often then I would want even when I tuck the tube in.
I am also hard pressed to place the infusion anywhere but my stomach because of the tubing.
I am looking at making a switch to the pod system. They told me I could get the unit for $199 plus the pods which is normal. I am trying to figure out if I should make the switch.
The sales guy told me that he has seen people use less insulin using the pod vs medtronic, not sure how except for what is in the tube which is 7 units tops, he is saying 20 to 30% less usage, has someone seen this?
Is the pod a decent system, and is it worth trying out, I figure for $200 plus supplies it might be a decent venture to try but thought someone may have words of wisdom.
Also using the pods on different parts of the body does the insulin still work as good or is it less effective. Failure rates i read are low and then I see people with high rates, is the system that flawed?
I am also a medtronic pumper who was considering going to the omnipod system because of the tubeless feature. Unfortunately, it seems that the new pods are a bit testy and that a lot of people have problems with them.
One woman gave a very lengthy story about her personal experience (so, the experience may not be the same for you), and it was not a very good experience... I think I am going to wait to see if another better tubeless pump or other technology comes out in the next 3-4 years or so. There are some on the market in Europe that are working on FDA approval here.
I'm calling BS on the less insulin, especially since pods sometimes fail. Some people love Pods and some don't. I have a lot of body hair, so I needed to shave the areas I placed the PODs and I had a good number of Pod failures while I tried it out, but that just may be me. Still, they tend not to be as reliable. Also, there is effectively one cannula fits all approach with Pods.
I tried the Pods for much the same reason you are. A big downside for me was that they required a lot of gear. You need to carry the controller (which uses Freestyle test strips...make sure they are covered), 1-2 PODS in case of failure, and insulin. Arguably the controller replaces a BG meter, but the controller and case is a lot larger than a BG meter, and no longer pocket sized. Also, the controller isn't water resistant , and has an exposed data port.
For $200, I think it is worth a try. They had a 45 day free trial where you could get a refund for the controller and unopened boxes. You might check and see if that is still going on. Admittedly, it is a PIA to get the refund, but you'll get the money back.
One last thought, you might consider an "untethered regimen"...having a portion of your basal through long acting insulin, so you can detach the pump during activity.
Have you tried keeping your pump in a Spibelt? I bought one a few years ago and it has let me wear my pump inside my shirt so the tubing never has a chance to snag on anything.
Like you, I don't see how changing pump manufacturers would decrease your total daily dose (TDD). My TDD went down by about 25 - 35% from MDI to pumping.
Damon I was considering the exact same thing. Thank God, here in Switzerland i could order a trial sample with supplies for one month for free, so i went for it. I am back on minimed now. it depends on how long you have been using your pump, but after a while, it gets extremely difficult to get used to carrying around the PDM all the time. i just forgot it all the time. also, i had one failure in one month, it was my first pod ever that went bad after 27 hours, so not very nice ;)
also, to me, changing to the pod did not bring a huge new real estate for where to put the pump. i could put it on the arm, but not anymore on the butt, as this pod is soo bulky and my pants pressed so uncomfortably against it, that it hurt.
after all, i was just so used to my minimed, that the few advantages were not worth it to make all these adaptions.
i can not tell you if it is worth trying it out, as you have to pay for it. to me, it was a great experience, but as i said, it was free…
take care
SC
I am in the process of applying for a new(er) Medtronic pump. It's been about 5 years now and I haven't even thought of another brand. A different model, yes. I used to tear out my quick set on a regular basis but I have found that, when I switched to te 42" long tubing, I tore it our much less. Sure, it would get hooked but then I would have more of a warning before any damage could be done. Sneaky, huh?
I took the $199 deal with Omnipod and tried it for five months in 2012. I've been a pumper for 27 years and have used many different brands and models. The pods failed me. I had inconsistent absorption and many occlusions. Almost every pod change left me with hyperglycemia. My overall control suffered. I would not try them again unless there's a major redesign. Thankfully, the $199 trial meant that my insurance company was not involved for the pump (PDM) itself and I was eligible to buy a replacement and get it covered once I terminated the Omnipod.
I say that it's worth the trial as long as you go into it with your eyes open and realize that it may not work for you. There are many satisfied Omnipod pumpers on this site. Good luck with your decision.
Thanks so much, I am going back and forth on it because like you I am watching for the new tech to come in the next 3 to 4 years. I really wish it would come sooner. I was disappointed by medtronic and the new system they brought out, its not really a great system its just doing what we all have had access too just a little automatic now. Thanks for the link I read through it and had some great points!
I am with you on the BS factor, I just don't get it. I don't know if freestyle is covered but thats a great point. They always tell you that its less to carry but its not really, it would be more. I don't like the fact that the PDM isn't pocket size either, I do a lot of stuff with the kids I would love to be able to slide it in the pocket and forget about it until I need it.
I will take a look at the 45 day thing and see what I can find out. As for the untethered idea, that's not a bad idea. I am not frustrated with it until I get hooked on something and that's at random times, luckily I have been able to stop and get unhooked with out tearing it out over the years.
Until today I had never heard of the Spibelt, but I will be checking it out for sure today. I saw a decrease in my TDD when I went to the pump as well, but from one pump to another I don't see it other than whats in the tube.
I wish it was free here! =) I am leaning towards giving it a try to just say I tried it. My minimed has been good to me I have come so used to it I don't notice its there 9 times out of 10 until I snag it which is more when I am just laying low around the house because I don't have my dress clothes on with it tucked away. I have a sample pod I am going to try tonight and see if I can stand sleeping with it.
I am not sure I like all the talk on the failures, I think in all my time with medtronic I have had 3 kits fail on me and I have been on it for years. Seems like everyone is having issues with the pods though.
Not a bad idea, I thought the longer tube would mean more problems but you bring up a good point its a great warning system =) I kind of look at this thing as my best friend I don't want to tell him to go away but I thought maybe the pod would be a good system, I am really starting to wondering. I will try the longer tubing and the belt mentioned above as ideas too!
Good information to know. I look at it with the $199 insurance is out just like you were saying so if it goes wrong I can always come back and get the new model of the medtronic. I am thinking I might order it and try it, but if i get pod failures I will be done with it. I want to stay around for my kids and not be killed off by a bad pod =)
I used Medtronic pumps for about 9 years before I switched to Omnipod. I didn't have any issues with Medtronic, but I just thought I'd try out the Omnipod. I've been using the pod for almost a year now. I really like it. I like that I don't have to remove the pump to shower, swim, etc. I started with the "older" pods, then recently switched to the smaller pods. I think the first batches of the new pods were causing problems, but I think the kinks have been worked out. I haven't had a single failure with the new pods. I only have a handful of failures with the old pods, and they were all during priming. Even though you're not supposed to, I am usually able to draw some of the insulin back out so I'm not wasting it. Any failures like that are replaced by the company.
When I made the switch I took advantage of the same deal, $199 for the PDM. I liked the idea because it isn't going through insurance. So, if you buy the PDM, then get the pods to try it out, you aren't committed to it for 4 years. You could still go back to minimed and get an upgraded pump through them.
I would recommend giving it a try. If you haven't already, go online and request a sample pod. It's not a working pod, but you can wear it and get an idea of how comfortable it is.
FWIW, I have always used the longest tubing possible for a variety of reasons. Chief among them is the ability to wear the pump in different places without worrying about pulling the infusion set out and to give me more options when I sleep at night.
When I worked in downtown D.C. I had an interesting tubing mishap while walking down the street on a warming spring day. There was a lady walking in the opposite direction wearing a light unbuttoned sweater over her blouse. As she passed, a gust of wind blew her sweater into me and one of the buttons hooked my tubing. The next thing I knew, my 42" tubing was stretched to over 60 inches! When we came to a stop and untangled I discovered that everything was intact, but the tubing was really, really thinned out. When I returned to my office, I swapped out the tubing from a spare set just to be on the safe side.
I have been using the new pods for almost a year now. That makes somewhere around 100 pods and I am very happy with this system. I have had maybe 6 failures but I always keep an extra pod and insulin with me, so it was no big deal. I also use a Dexcom G4 CGM. With the help of these two systems, I have excellent control. And I really like how discreet they are. :)
How very funny your story is!! I've never had to contend with anything so bizarre; just my own clumsiness and inability to keep my tubing under my blouse at all times. When I wear the longer tunics, I'm safer.
I actually never thought about using the length to put it on a different part. I usually stick to the upper abdomen 'cause I can't see putting it on the arm, leg or below the waist. That would seem to me asking for an occlusion because of it getting caught under the waistline. Trouble is, where else do I put it because I think I'm getting a little lumpy from scar tissue.
I started on the minimed 723 in July 2013, and since then I've tried 23", 32", and 43" tubing. I ripped out the connection 3 times using the 23", and since using the 43" I have not ripped it out once. Medtronics will send you whatever length tubing you want for free, to sample. I can't imagine doing without my medtronics pump, and have never used a omnipod. If you change let us know how it is. The only drawback using the longer tubing is the amount of insulin it takes to prime the pump. I have enjoyed being a pumper. I have been a dibetic since 1995, and have tried every type of new product on the market, with different results. The pump has been the most consistent system to control my BG!
Sorry this comment won’t really be informative. It’s funny to see metronic users argue they are better and omnipoders defending themselves . I’m a podder through and through (my mom is as well, and so are two of my cousins). All happy podders. Go omnipod!!!
