Hi guys! This is my first post on tudiabetes. I only got diagnosed in July and am still adjusting to life with diabetes. I’m contemplating getting the Omnipod, but I’m still having a hard time psychologically making the switch from quickpens. Because I’m a single lady, that makes my decision more difficult. However, I’ve maxed out my deductible and it would be free for me to start before the end of this year. The reason I’m thinking about a pump is mostly because I think I could benefit from the dual wave bolus. My first A1C was last month, and came down from 14.9 to 7.1 (yea!). However, I know based on my CGM that I just hang out in the 200s for hours. I’m wondering 1) if a pump will make a big enough difference and 2) which one to get. Thanks for your advice!
Annie,
I was diagnosed in March … I just started on the Omnipod this week. Before that I had been using pens - Lantus and Novolog. I’ve only been using the pump 4 days and still tuning the settings, but it already seems much more convenient than the pens. Before, I would avoid eating snacks sometimes to avoid sticking myself (and I am not afraid of needles). It’s just so easy to enter the carbs and push the button…it makes meals so much easier…especially if you are eating a multicourse meal spread out over time, or decide to have dessert later, etc.
The main reason I wanted the pump was to deal with dawn phenomenon…I would wake up with a fasting blood sugar of 150 to 170 many days. I couldn’t increaqse the Lantus more because I would go too low in the early evening. Programmable basal rates seemed to be the best way to solve this. Splitting the Lantus didn’t work. I guess if I didnt use the pump I could have tried Levemir or another long acting insulin with an action time closer to 12 hours, but now that I see how easy the pumo is, I don’t see that as an attractive option.
That said, you need to go at your own rate. If you feel more comfortable not having anything attached to you (for dating or whatever) then stick with the pens until you are comfortable. (Although if you have a CGM ,sounds like you already have something that is as attached as a pump).
Wow - I could have written almost exactly that for my son.
Dawn phenomenon, grazing over hours, going low if you increase the lantus . . .
I think if you are “hanging out in the 200s for hours” you might need a variable basal pattern as well, which we have really appreciated about the pump. My son’s been on the Omnipod for 2 years and he would never consider going back to shots, pens, or even a tubeless pump - it’s been great for us. Yes, we’ve had problems (pods that malfunction, or a couple that were knocked off) but Insulet has been great with us, and the problems nowhere near outweigh the benefits.
Hi Annie…he oPod is great, but only you know how you will feel with a half a kiwi attached to you. There has been some discussion about feeling sexy with the pod. You might want to research past conversations. Good luck and congratulations on your great recent A1c.
good question for sure. I’m still on pens too… was on a pump for a year and loved the freedom but couldn’t handle the itching and scarring from the infusion site, but I think it’s better with newer pumps now. I’ll definitely be asking something similar to this in the future… I’d love to hear what you end up deciding! And good luck!
Annie,
As HPNpilot said, this crazy Diabetes that we have is very individual. Some people like pumps, some are very happy wuth MDI. I like the pump, and Omnipod in particular. I was previously on another tubed pump and have been on insulin for 20 years. I do like the freedom of eating when I want and not counting on Lantus to keep me stable for 24 hours. I was never able to get Lantus to work for the whole 24 hours. I split my dose, which worked relatively well, but on Omnipod I got my A1c down to 6.7. My best advice to anyone considering the pump is to do research. Talk to people using the pump (and different ones if you can). There is a lot of info out there, so it can be a daunting task. YOU are the one who has to decide what is best for you. As far as my dealings with Insulet (on the Omnipod) has been great. I have no complaints about their customer service. They have promptly replaced any pods I had a problem with. They have not replaced pods that did not work due to my problem (bad sites, pulled off, came off due to excessive sweating, etc). I expected that to be the case. There are some people on this site that will tell you that Insulet customer service is the worst they have ever experienced. I would argue against that, given my experience. Good luck with your decision and come back to this site for lots of good information. Hank
Hi Annie, I’ve been using syringes or pens for some time. I’m in the process of starting with Omnipod by month’s end. I wish I had the opportunity to choose when I was first diagnosed! It’ll be different and have it’s own issues but ultimately it (Omnipod or the pump of your choice) will be the right move. Good luck!
Annie, I will second everyone else on the benefits of a pump - mainly because of the way it allows for fine-tuning your basal insulin needs on an as-needed basis. And I’ll affirm for you that every pump on the market is pretty great. They all have their pros and cons, but I’ve had experience with almost all of them and think that you just have to meet with sales reps, get them in your hands, and see which one feels right.
But as someone who did the whole single lady switching from shots to a pump thing on the dating scene, I can tell you that it really made no difference to the guys I dated. Of course, there may always be exceptions, but most prospective partners thought it was (a) great that I had a cool tech toy and (b) great that I chose treatments that made me feel healthy and empowered. Best of luck to you.
I second (or third? 
everything that Mel and the others have mentioned here. I did MDI with syringes and pens for about 8.5 years, pumped a few versions of MM for about 5, and have been with omnipod almost 3. I think that every pump out there is great, but they all have different pros and cons. Just like going to the store to mess with a new phone or laptop before you buy it, I think it’s a great idea to get in touch with as many sales reps as possible (or possibly loaner models through your endo?) to be able to try these out for yourself before making a big purchase.
From the other side of the table, as a single guy who is in the dating scene, I “wear” my diabetes pretty openly, and haven’t ever really had any problems with it. At least not with women who I was really interested in dating. And things like the pod are often good conversation pieces on some of the initial dates 
The diabetes thing was not a hang-up, and the pump was even less of a hang-up. In your case, if the guy shies away b/c of the pump, then you’re better off without him anyway, hands down, no questions asked. Dealing w/ this from day to day is part of who you are, so anyone who’s interested in being with you is going to embrace however it is that you decide to manage it.
Hey idk how old you are but ill put my 2 cents in. Im 21 years old had type 1 since i was 12 and been on a medtronic pump since 15. I just recieved my omnipod yesterday and so far i enjoy it very much. I read many reviews before i got it and was afraid of it not staying on since i am very active… needless to say it stay on just fine (even in my krav maga classes).
Now ill get to the social aspect of it There is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed to get a pump because you are single… Are you kidding me? when i was 19 I was a promoter for a club and trust me people dont have a problem with pumps, i mean i was doing this with my medtronic with a tube hanging out getting pulled off in the bed and it still wasnt a problem to them. Sorry to get a bit in detail i just feel that it is necessary so you can feel better about your decision.
Get a pump! get better A1C’s, Be happy!!! take from a young active guy. As long as you are confident about yourself it doesnt matter to people if you have a pump.
Anyway about the omnipod… its awesome, i am actually writing this at work (im a bartender now) and it is so cool i dont even notice it. The PDM is a bit big but i can work around it, This pump just works great and Im loving it so far. Let me know about your choice soon!!! Hope i helped.
Hi “HPNpilot”,
Wow, so you’re an late onset like me. Pretty big change having lived a long time without it, huh? It’s weird that I consider my life right now to be “before diabetes” and “after diabetes.” Hopefully that separation won’t always be that way in my mind…
Yes, I miss snacking! I only snack now on cheese and nuts…boring! I don’t know how I feel yet about snacking with carbs, since I don’t want my blood sugar to always be going up (Gary Schneider from “Think Like a Pancreas” discourages it for this reason.
Have you always had the Dawn Phenomenon? So far, I don’t have it. I don’t know if it has to do with the fact that I probably have some remaining beta cells left, or if is just my body being different than 70% of type 1s who have that.
I’m actually considering trying regular insulin, since it peaks at 2-3 hrs and lasts longer. That is when I get my peaks: generally longer than 2 hrs post meal. Sometimes 3-4 hours after a meal! Either regular insulin or using the dual wave should help with those late, long peaks (or so I’ve read).
Yes, I have a Dexcom but it is much smaller than a pump and I can take it out if I need/want to for a time if I’m new in a relationship. It doesn’t give me “life support” like a pump, so that also makes it less scary.
Do you know if we have to have a 4 year contract with Omnipod? What if you don’t like it? Will your insurance let you go back to quickpens?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Elaine,
Oh thank you so much for that! I looked it up and found some great dialog! And thanks for the congrats; am pretty sure it will be better for the next A1C test
Hi Fatima,
Did you just go back to pens? Did your insurance and the pump company allow you to stop using the pump after only being on it for a year?
Hi Hank,
Thanks for letting me know about your experience with Insulet. Yes, I’ve heard about their poor customer service, so it is nice to hear that that is not what everyone encounters.
Hi Neil,
I’m looking forward to hearing how your experience with the Omnipod goes. Best of luck!
Hi Melissa,
So you’ve tried many pumps?! Did you have to commit to one for 4 years like I was told you had to? Why did you switch to Omnipod and would you go back to a conventional pump?
I am glad that you had good experiences with the pump and dating. That gives me hope! I must admit that I will have to work through my lack of confidence with a pump. Perhaps future guys will get distracted with other parts on my body instead of the pump
My male friend says if I date a Trekky, they will love the fact I would be part “Bionic Girl”. LOL
Hi Tristan,
Yes, I’m worried about it not staying on because I’m active as well. (What is krav maga?) I want to try hot yoga and am worried that it will kill the insulin!
Do you think there is a difference between a guy wearing a pump and a girl wearing one? I wonder if women would be more understanding of it, since men are stereotypically more “visually oriented”.
The good part is that I’m in pretty good shape and can hopefully distract the guys in other ways The bad part is that I don’t have a lot of regions to put the pump on since I have a small build.
I do believe that you are right in that if I am confident, it will have a positive effect.
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
I’ve pumped since I was 20 and I just turned 32, so I’ve had my turn with several pumps. I had 4 Minimed pumps in 8 years (sometimes because they offered product/software upgrades, other times due to warranty or malfunction, etc), then had the Cozmo for 9 months, and then when Cozmo went off the market, Omnipod sold me their system in 2009 for $50 out-of-pocket. Then Omnipod upgraded me to their next generation pump for another $50 about a month later. I’m currently using the 2nd gen Omnipod, but still have both my 1st gen Omnipod PDM and my Cozmo as backups. So, while yes, your insurance will often pay their portion only every 4 years when the pump’s warranty expires, depending on the circumstances, you might find that the cash price of choosing a different option is reasonable enough to bypass your insurance. If you’re talking about switching to a new, $6,000 pump every year, then no, your insurance is going to throw a fit.
Yes, I would consider going back to a conventional pump. I really like being tubefree, but I also didn’t mind wearing a tubed pump. What I prefer about the Omnipod are the features of the PDM - the screens, menus, usability, the incorporation of Freestyle strips (love how little blood they require and how accurate they are) into a built-in meter, the fact that they’re working to integrate with Dexcom’s CGMS, and the completely automated insertion. If another company comes out with a model that meets my standards and that I like just as much, I’d be willing to change. I almost went with the Animas Ping, but I don’t really like One Touch strips and I didn’t care much for the quality of the color screen on the Ping. Felt like I could see it flicker and it bothered my eyes, but nobody else seems bothered by it. Again, it’s all in what feels right for you.
Thanks, Melissa!
It is interesting to me that you didn’t mind the conventional pump. I’m glad that the Omnipod PDM user interface sounds user-friendly. I would love something like the Freestyle because I often have a hard time getting enough blood onto the One Touch strips, but I think the prices are higher for me with my insurance. Then again, if I max out my out of pocket like I did this year then it is a moot point…I just reach my out of pocket sooner
I really hope they integrate it soon with the Dex and that we can have that version of the PDM!
Have you heard about the 2 other tubeless pumps coming out: the Jewel (from some European company) and one from Roche (they bought an Israeli company)? They are smaller than the Omnipod. The Roche one is launching in 2012. That also complicates my decision. But if I leave my job before I meet my out of pocket for 2012, that would suck. That is why I’m thinking of doing something now while I’ve met my out of pocket for 2011.
Thanks for your input on your experiences!
Annie,
For me , anyway, there was no “contract” for the Omnipod. The PDM has a 4 year warranty. The PDM’s list price is around $400, but your insurance company may have a better negotiated rate. Like you, I had exceeded my out of pocket max this year, so I had no co-pay for the PDM or the pods. You pay for the pods as you use them, of course. So you could stop at any time and go back to MDI. The real issue is your insurance, and since the pens are cheaper than the pods, I don’t see how they would have a problem. It’s just a matter of your Dr. writing or renewing the pen prescriptions. I also heard that the pump manufacturers will give you a 30 or 45 day trial period to return it if you don’t like it, but best to confirm that
before ordering it.
Yes, I have always had the dawn phenomenon. My endo. thinks I am still honeymooning because there are too many good numbers, despite my using about 40 units /day on MDI (it is less on the pump so far). She says even with perfect carb counting there should be more spikes. I think she isn’t taking into consideration diet changes - I am on a moderate but not very low carb diet.
The dawn phenomenon is related to morning rise in hormones, whic in turn trigger glucose release…and I suspect that people simply vary in that regard and in regard to any residual beta cell capacity to compensate. Some people seem to have it more severely than others and others don’t have much of an issue with it.
With regards to snacking…there are other low and no carb things besides nuts and cheese. I like avocados. An avocado and tomato salad is nice. Some light yogurts are relatively low carb and can be compensated for relatively easily with insulin Hummus with carrot chips/sticks isn’t too bad if you don’;t eat a ton at one sitting.
Here are some suggestions from the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center:
VERY LOW CARB SNACKS
(5 g carbs or less)
¼ cup mixed NUTS (almond, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts)
¼ cup SEEDS (sunflower, pumpkin)
1 oz low-fat cheese (any soft or hard) with 2-3 baby carrots
1 slice lean cold cuts (turkey, low fat ham) rolled up in a leaf of lettuce (optional: add mustard or a pickle)
½ hard boiled egg (or just egg white) with light mayo
½ cup raw vegetables (baby carrots, celery, peppers, cucumber) with1/3 cup cottage cheese, low-fat ranch or sour cream dip
½ cup low-fat cottage or sour cream with 2-3 sliced strawberries
1/3 cup Tuna, egg or chicken salad with light mayo
(Instead of bread use a leaf of lettuce)
1 cup salad (mixed greens + raw veggies) with oil & vinegar
3-4 celery sticks with 1 Tbsp NATURAL peanut butter (SMUCKERS)
or cream cheese
1 serving sugar-free Jell-O with lite whipped cream
1 Dannon Light’n Fit CARB CONTROL Smoothie (4g of carbs)
1 Dannon Light’n Fit CARB CONTROL yogurt (3g of carbs)
1 Sugar Free PopsicleÒ
½ cup ricotta cheese with (cinnamon, vanilla extract, 4-5 nuts, splenda)
3-4 Pickles or 5-6 olives with 1 oz low-fat cheese