I’m about a month into my Omnipod use and have loved it so far. However, with it starting to heat up here in Texas, and lake weather just around the corner, I wanted to ask you all for some tips on how you managed your Omnipods at the lake or beach.
I know that the pods are waterproof, but do y’all take any extra precautionary measures when you go swimming?
Additionally, it’s hard for me to imagine wakeboarding or going tubing, wiping out, and still having my pod on me when I got out of the water! Has anyone done any of these kinds of things and have any tips for how best to prepare for them?
Finally, one related question. I know the pods themselves are waterproof, but I’ve also noticed that the seal created around the cannula insertion site isn’t exactly waterproof (especially when I’m active), as the fabric adhesive is very thin around the cannula insertion site and routinely will pull away, allowing water in and around the cannula when I shower. Have others noticed this? Is it a problem? I’m not too worried about it when I shower, but I’m not as wild about lake water getting in there around the insertion site. Any thoughts or tips?
Hi Dave,
I am a new podder and have noticed that when I work out or shower sometimes moisture gets in the window where the cannula is. I was told not to worry about it - but like you I would worry about lake water & if that is possible to get in. I have heard on these forums that very active people wear the omnipod and they will have much more advice to give.
I did want to follow the discussion so I am replying to your post.
Best of Luck, Kathleen
Here’s a previous topic about slalom skiing and how it might impact the pod.
I’d suggest wrapping your pod somehow (coban, basketball shooter sleeve, etc, if you wear it on your arm). You might also try putting the pod under your life vest on your stomach or on your back (to brace it?)
Re: the canula insertion site and mirky water, there’s a hole in your skin which is obviously at risk for infection, but that risk would be the same as w/ any other insulin pump as well (the pod is not designed to make an air-tight/water-tight seal w/ the skin).
I have been a podster for 5 years now, probably the longest on TU. I have waterskied, Tubed, Scuba’d, snorkaled, etc. And never had a problem! Like Kathleen, I have notiece moisture in the “window” before, but never encountered any diffficulties b/c of it…Good Luck, welcome to the group and PEACE!
I have found that often when I’m doing more active water activities (tubing, water slides, etc.) I am in the water long enough to completely wear through the adhesive. I have lost about 5 pods this way. I usually find that when doing these activities I’m also active enough not to need much insulin so my pod lasts about 4 or 5 hours before giving out and the last 3 or 4 hours of activity I don’t really need much insulin so I’m fine. Yes, the pod is lost but my sugars aren’t really affected. I did recently find these: http://www.bands4life.net/. I haven’t tried one yet but I’m planning to this summer!
We’ve dealt with 3 seasons of swimming here, and have only lost 2 or 3 pods due to the adhesive coming loose after hours in the water. My daughter even spent 2 hours straight body surfing in the ocean and her pod didn’t come off (her blood sugar was only 40 when she got out though!) We use IV prep before putting a pod on, and in the summer, we do tape over the pod using 3M micropore tape (It’s cheap, only about $15 for 6 rolls. It’s extra adhesive, and keeps the canula down when she’s active. She did lose a pod from her back getting into a tube, so I’d probably recommend not using your back. She wears hers on her stomach a lot in the summer. If you wear it on your arm or leg, sports wrap might help, but might also be kinda gross when it gets all wet. The 3M tape holds up pretty well, even the sensitive skin one, though that one degrades faster than the regular one. I never thought much about the icky water issue, but we haven’t had any problems so far. Best advice is to make sure you have at least one extra pod and insulin with you, and then go have fun! =)
I’ve had the pod for almost a year now and I don’t wearing much during the summer.
I went to Vermont with it and I couldn’t even jump off the dock with out it falling off, never mind tubing, jet-skiing and other water activities. I had to transfer back to shots for my time up there because I was losing too many pods.
And I’ve never had any problems with water getting into the pod, even just the canula area…no big dealll.
Never had an issue after the first weeks of getting used to the thought of it. You probably wont, but just in case, be prepared to go through an extra 2 or 3 pods a month (for when you wipe out, get tackled by a small child, go for an impromptu waterski set or have a rough landing off the rope swing!)
I find I have about 50% FEWER site infections in the summer when it is constantly getting flushed with lake and salt water and baked in the sun. Don’t ask why!
If you are seeing the adhesive peel up (common if you spend a lot of time in chlorinated pools) buy a roll of Flexifix and cover the adhesive that is peeling up. FOr summer pods, I ALWAYS place 2 thin (1cm wide) strips of Flexifix across the body of the pod and on to the adhesive to stabilize it, it really helps reduce trampoline-induced pod changes!
Let me know if you have any other questions, I live on a lake in WA year round!
Hey Dave. This is my first summer on the pod as well. I have been skiing and wakeboarding several times already and have had no issues with the pod. Most of the time it’s on my stomach under my life jacket. But i’ve also been out with it on my arms and had no problem as well. Of course i have not had any falls yet either so that is still to be determined! Anyway like MaiaJane says i have got the fleifix tape as well. It is a REALLY good tape and has been able to hold up to anything I throw at it. So maybe just throw some tape over it for reassurance if you’re worried about it! Good luck! Where in Texas are you skiing? I am mostly on Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid (which is the Guadalupe River)
This will be my first Summer on the pod, as well, and have the same concerns that you do. I’ve never experienced any problems with the moisture around the cannula, but I’m kind of leery about lake water at times. I’m planning on using IV Prep wipes when I anticipate lake activity since it has some extra tacky to it. (I generally only use alcohol wipes).
Keep us posted on your discoveries and I’ll do likewise. No hard falls!!!
i’m hoping to go on to omnipod and was just wondering whether anyone has had issues with wearing the omnipod in hot weather? i.e. does it make the insulin less effective? I carry my insulin pens in a friopack and keep it in the shade on the beach…
If I’m going to be in a really hot weather for an extended amount of time (a week in Florida say) then I’ll put my spare vial of insulin I always carry in a frio pack. The pod itself is only on you for 3 days, insulin is rated for a month at room temperature so even in hot weather (say 100 degrees) three days has never been a problem for me. I’ve even done short dips in hot tubs without an issue (this is not recommended by Insulet). It will be trial and error as you get used to it but I doubt you’ll have a problem.
Right on. We always head accross the border into Arkansas and go to Lake Ouachita. It’s beautiful and we have some family with boats over there. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out on the water this summer, and I’ll try out that tape. Thanks for the tip!
Dave,
I live in Cali and surf with my pod on so you’re be fine wakeboarding. You need to buy some Opsite tape and tape that bad boy down to add extra security. I wear my pod on the side of my butt cheak when I am only in a swimsuit since its noice that no one can see it on me. These are my tips, good luck.
we are going on a beach vacation in June and I bought some of the large Tegaderm to place over my dtrs pod when we are at the beach. just to keep it clean from dirt or sand. (she’s 5 and going to be in to digging, burying, and being buried:) otherwise we use a strip of Kinesio tape which is also waterproof over the pod closer to the tapered end just to give it a little more support. if you’re worried about keeping it clean from dirt, sand, and murky water you may want to look in to the Tegaderm or Opsite options.
I was told by our Omnipod rep to not tape down the entire pod - that it has to be able to “breathe”. Do you follow this rule or do you tape the entire pod with a large Tegaderm?
well, I haven’t tried it yet. I am using the tegaderm just to keep it clean. I don’t want the adhesive around the pump to be dirty for 3 days from playing in the sand. I wonder why the pod has to be able to “breathe”. Did your rep tell you why, other than it has to “breathe”? We have only been on the pod for 3 months so still learning tricks ourselves. I’m gonna try it.
Our rep said it had to do with infections at the site. If you tape the entire pod, you are making a breeding ground for grems! She told us to tape down only half of the pod. If you are worried about the adhesive getting dirty, you could try to just tape the adhesive; not the entire pod. Maybe we should make a new discussion topic - to tape entire pod or not??? We are new to the pod too - my 10 year old daughter has been on it for about 8 weeks.
I don’t think one day covered at the beach will cause germ breeding so I’m still gonna try it. Sometimes the adhesive will pull away a bit on the window end and I’d rather not have dirt and sand up in there. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
