Hi im Diana, im 14 years old... Three months ago on November 18 2009, i was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.... from there my life changed completely, sometimes I get angry with myself and I cry occasionally. I wonder sometimes what did i do to deserve this.
So im just done with the shots i dont want to do it anymore, im planning to change to a pump and the one that i like it the most is Omnipod thats why im writing this, because i want some help... i have this questions i hope that someone could answer them!!
1.- How much does the Omnipod System cost??
2.- How much the monthly supply (10 pods) cost??
3.- How much does the PDM cost (separately)?? Most of all i want to know how much this would cost for my parents.... i want to be sure about my decision before changing because this would be an investment for life.
As Spooky said, the cost depends on your insurance. The “retail” (no insurance) cost of the “starter kit” which includes the PDM and a few pods, is $660-$800 I think. After that, the pods “retail” price is $276 for a box of 10 (they usually ship 3 or 4 boxes at a time). But again, these are the no-insurance costs - your actual cost will depend on what the insurance company agrees to cover. For example, mine covers 80% after a $300 deductible for the year.
By the way, I’m 36 yo now, but I was diagnosed when I was 14, like you. I got along with 3-4 shots a day for 20+ years, but going on the OmniPod changed my life! I wrote a little about the experience here: http://bewarethepenguin.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-experience-with-omnipod.html
It’s great to see you taking charge and recognizing that you aren’t going to be a good patient with shots. I hope your insurance coverage is good enough that you and your parents can afford it.
Heyyy!! thank you… i would tell my parents you know im in the same situation im really afraid and i dont know what to do right now. I just hope that the cost wont be more than an usual pump because if that was the case my parents wont allow me to buy it. Yeah me too i heard of the Omnipod because of Nick, he is like the sweetest, kindest, admirable person i have ever known, he give me the strength to keep fighting and you know if Nick dont let the diabetes slow him down i would do the same, and you are so LUCKY because to meet him is like a dream!! Thank you again is awesome to talk to people to know about this things you help me a lot. I cant wait because is just so annoying to have to shot yourself like 6 time daily.
Thank you i really appreciate.
Diana =)
P.S. Tell your husband that im a huge fan of the TV show is magnificent…
Diana, I am so happy that you are wanting to try pumping. You do not deserve diabetes and always remember you did not do anything to have diabetes. You have to have insulin and until you can get on the pump you still need to have shots. Just hang in there. Everything will be all right and it will get better. Carolina my daughter was taking 6-8 shots a day and did not like it either. I have always used ice before injections or Pod changes so she does not feel the insertion at all. My daughter started on insulin Oct. 2009 and then started on the OmniPod, Jan. 2010. She loves the Pod.
Insulet Corp. (makers of OmniPod) will give you prices over the phone. I do not remember the cost exactly because insurance covers my daughters 100%. A person who does not have insurance or if insurance will only cover the PDM and not the Pods they have a special price. They will tell you their special prices over the telephone for people who only have partial insurance coverage or no coverage. Their telephone number is 1-800-591-3455 and there is someone there 24/7, but I don’t know that the customer service reps. work those hours. I hope this helps you and I here for you if you need someone to talk to. You can also talk to my daughter if you’d like.
Heyy!! Thanks Eric!! it helps me a lot the info you gave me… like i said to Spooky i dont know what to do right now i just want to stop shoting myself… Comparing the cost of other pumps i think that Omnipod is the priceless because one pump is like $5,000 i think. But i just have to talk to my parents and my insurance to make that big change to my life. And you blog is really awesome!!
Thanks a lot
Diana =)
Heyy!! Thanks… Oh thats awesome that they give you special price this help me more… You know this have been all so quickly that i havent been used to it just three months normal girl and now completly different i just getting used to it… And of course i would love to talk to Carolina is amazing how people support you when you are needed.
Thanks again
Diana =)
OMG!! i have seen them she is so adorable and the boys too!! haha wow that is so amazing
Thanks a lot you have been really nice with me, tomorrow i have an appointment with my doctor
and i would ask all the questions i just cant wait but i have to say that im kinda nervous.
I have to go now because i have school tomorrow…
Thanks!! is the greatest thing ever to talk to people that is going through the same situation.
Thanks again
Diana =)
Hi Diana,
It’s already been said, but bears repeating. You didn’t do ANYTHING to deserve diabetes. No one does. It just happens. And, it definitely changes your life completely. My daughter was diagnosed almost exactly two years before you – on 11/27/07 – and she’s been on the OmniPod since 4/1/08. (Yes, she started pumping on April Fool’s day!) We’ve had two different insurance companies in that time, and haven’t had any trouble with either paying for the pump. And, like you, my daughter actually did all of the research and figured if the OmniPod was good enough for Nick, it was good enough for her. She was lucky enough to get to meet him at one of the concerts, and even put a JB tattoo on her pod. =)
I know my daughter’s much happier with the OmniPod than with shots. And, I’d also be willing to bet that if they can, your parents will do what they can to make managing your diabetes easier. My daughter’s not on TuDiabetes, but if you’d like to chat in email, we could set something up. She’s 15 and a freshman in high school.
And, Spooky – good for you making the change after 22 years! My brother’s a T1 too – 30 years now – and he asks me a lot of questions about her pump. Guess the idea of one shot every three days appeals to him too! But, his endo actually discouraged it because he does so well now. His A1Cs only 5.8!! How did you find the adjustment? I know my brother’s a little leery of having the pod on all the time. I actually wonder how Nick J gets the pods to stay on so well with all that flipping on stage! I know my daughter’s knocked quite a few off.
My daughter was the same way (and actually still is) about diabetes care in public, and I think it was after one night of standing in a restroom trying to draw the insulin out of the syringe, and just thinking how gross and unsanitary is this? that we ended up getting the pump. A new doc made all the difference to us as well. We started with the doc affiliated with a local hospital and he was so behind on what’s out there (notice we were using an insulin vial rather than a pen?) Sorry to hear you’ve had a tough year, and the stress will definitely do a number of your A1C. And, yes, the Jonases do seem like a genuinely nice family. When we met them, they had their family friend come out and stand on the meet and greet line with us, which I thought was sweet.
Thanks to all that answer me!! Spooky, Eric, Daisycolors and Serena… you have been really nice with me. Today an about 1 hour i would have my appointment with my doctor im so excited i cant wait it would be so amazing to change to the Omnipod. And well i hope that my insurance if i have one cover most of all it would be a great help because i dont have a lot of money lol! But anyway your support has been amazing, you are, all of you the strongest person ever…
And OMG also you are the luckiest it is my dream to meet Nick Jonas my hero, role model, inspiration… i would die if i meet him but anyway that is just a dream, oh he is like the greatest of all time<3<3… I have to go now wish me luck because today is the BIGGEST day of my life OMNIPOD here i go…
Thanks to all again!!!
Diana =)
P.S. OMG!!! Omnipod is wow haha i have to put that to express my feeling ahhhhh!!! Thanks very much i really appreciate.
(after doctor’s office i would tell you all with details)
Pretty Good! my blood sugar is kind of normal… and about OMNIPOD!!! next week i would go to the appoinment of Omnipod with my doctor, parents and my insurance! im so excited… all depends in that appoinment it can be a yes or a not!! hopefully YES!!! omg im just thrilled i cant stop smiling =D lol…
Thanks <3
Diana
Oh i almost forgot i have a BIG question for you, kind people… how many days i can wear one pod, do i have to change it every 3 days obligatory?? And maybe this is a fool question for all of you expert people but it doesnt matter if i drop some of my shampoo (Head and Shoulders) on my pod or soup whatever, i just want to know what happen when something fell on you pod??
Thanks
Diana =)
The pods are waterproof. You can swim and shower with them on. The worst thing that might happen if you get a bunch of shampoo on it is that you might loosen up the adhesive. If that happens, you can just put some medical tape on to keep it more secure. No big deal. The PDM – that’s the electronic part you don’t wear that looks a little bit like a cell phone – can’t get wet though.
When my daughter started, she changed her pod every two days. Now, we usually do three, but you can’t really go past three days (I think it’s actually 3 days and 8 hours – I bet someone else here will know for sure?) because the pods expire. But, you’ll find it makes a big difference in your life. You’ll still have diabetes =( but, instead of having to do at least 4 or 5 shots a day, you only have to insert the pod every couple of days. It’s much better. Plus, it’s more discrete, which I know must be important to you as a teenager. I’ve actually had to tell my daughter’s teacher’s that she’s not texting in class, that she’s checking her blood sugar!
If you want to actually see someone putting on a a pod, go to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kFrqTlgmEI) and look at the video that Lorraine posted of her son Caleb doing a pod change. It’s very informative.
Diana, Yes you can only wear a pod for 3 days. The pod will automatically shut off at 80 hours and you will not get any basal insulin. I have my daughter’s PDM to start alarming at 4 hours prior to expiration which is 3 days/72 hours.
If you drop something on your pod it may hurt, it may bleed, it may knock the pod off. Just depends on how hard the pod gets hit. I doubt you will have a problem with the pod getting hit hard enough to cause a problem. I think what you mean is can you get shampoo on the pod while you are taking a shower. The answer is yes. The pod will be fine. There are many extra adhesives to keep the pod stuck to your skin if you have a problem with the adhesive loosening. We have changed the pod every three days for almost 2 months now and have not had a pod to come loose. I wonder in the summer with swimming and sweating if we will need to add extra adhesive.
Summer can be a problem. We usually use extra tape (we use 3m micropore) regualrly during the summer. My daughter lives in the pool, and we only had one or two “floater” last year. She actually didn’t even feel them come off until she noticed them in the pool! For the most part, they stay on though.
Oh thats great to know… because i get the Free Demo Kit (love it by the way) and i was like taking a shower and i was thinking like omg!! really worried at that point but then when i finished i touched it and it was like perfect in its place. And yeah the PDM i think has the size of a Blackberry so it would be so funny everybody telling you" oh diana, new phone… give me your number" lol. And i have seen them all, Caleb´s videos are really incredible such a strong boy.
Thanks Serena again for your help…
Diana =)
I have to say that i take care of my omnipod (right now the free demo kit) like a baby… i love it so much!! is like the best thing in the hole wide world… And of course if its neccesary i would put extra adhesives but for me the one that im trying right now is really good stuck in my skin.
And i would be really carefully because i dont want to hit my precious omnipod!!
Thanks very much…
Diana =)
My daughter used an insulin pump since age for. She is now ten and just switched to the OmniPod. Site changes are easier and she likes going tubeless. The only “drawback” is that at first we forgot to take the PDM with us and had to race back home to get it. Now it is routine and we never forget it.
A couple of months ago we got the system so these prices should be fairly accurate: The PDM sells for $800 but they had a sale going so we only paid $300. However, OminPod is charging a full retail value of $450 for one box of 10 pods (which will last one month as long as none go bad - we have not have any pod problems at all and only one site that needed to be changed early.)
Over the span of four years, if you do not have insurance and insulin pump is cheaper. BUT soon everyone will be able to have health care insurance that will have to cover diabetes supplies. I think young people really like the Pod because it is pretty invisible without the tubing. As a mom I like it because it is so simple to use compared to some pumps that my young daughter can now handle her diabetes with very little help. That is a great thing for kids that go to schools where the schools will not help with diabetes care.
Good luck to you - having used both, if you can afford it, I think the Pod is a good choice. It is a little less convenient than a pump but in many ways I still think a better choice for young children and teens who would rather not “announce” their diabetes to the world. (A backup or spare PDM is about $250-$300. If one goes bad, Insulet will usually replace it for free.)
Hi Diana–Didn’t read all of the post but from what I scanned it really comes down to how much your insurance will cover. I just went thru this process as I was diagnosed on 1/23/2008 and only took Lantus for the last 2 yrs and had pretty good control but struggled with certain events as I couldn’t control some things at public functions, company meetings and some other things. In Fact I haven’t started on the Pod yet, am scheduled to put my first one into action at 4/14/10…So I’m a total rookie here! So Like you when I researched all the pumps and talked to a person that has been on a pump for a while I decided on the OmniPod or I’d stay doing what I was. I checked online and signed up for some newsletters and then I was invited to a informative meeting where there where there were some that were on other pumps, multiple injections and we learned about the Pod, how it worked, had a user there that gave us his likes and problems that he had. They were not pushy and I learned a ton. Like you I was wondering about the cost and wondered if they would even cover it as I was afraid my insurance would deny me as not be necessary. But my Endo said I should qualify as I was T1 and so I took the next step and filled out a form and sent it into Insulet and they contacted my insurance company and the next thing (about 2 weeks) I got a letter of approval from my insurance company. I just got my bills from my company to get the PDM and they sent 40 pods wass $3550, then there was an insurance discount of $1065 and the billed applied to my deductible was $2,259. Since I have a $2500 ded. it was a cost to me but after that it’s pretty much covered by my insurance.
I struggled making this decision as I thought I was doing ok and couldn’t stand spending more money but then it hit me that it was the best investment I could make…It was an investment it ME!! Like you stated in your last line of your post “because this would be an investment for life” Your right, it’s an investment for life…Your Life! So if you feel this will help you with your life than I would support you and your parents in at least checking it out…The good news that if this doesn’t work it’s the cheapest pump I believe you can get started on besides being one the the least conspicuous ones also.
Good Luck Diana! I’m new to this and just went thru this so if you need anything chances are that I went thru it or at least looked into to it so feel free to give me a shout! Take Care ~Schmutz
~Schmutz