Well obviously, the Omnipod pods adhesive is stronger than it was a year and a half ago. I did have problems w/ the old adhesive because if I went jogging, my sweat would cause the pod to slide right off my skin. NOW, the new adhesive causes me to have these terrible rashes after just one day of wearing it. When I take it off after three days, there’s a red rash that will last for a few more days. I have to use my toddler’s diaper rash cream to stop the itching. Anybody have any issues like this?
I’m about ready to switch to the T slim over this. I don’t want more ugly skin (2 kids, and stretch marks that are worse off from injecting insulin and then wearing Minimed tubing in the same place on my belly for years…yikes)
Some folks have very successfully ended up using a steroid-based MDI (the “other” MDI, a metered-dose inhaler, used by some people with asthma) sprayed onto their skin before adhering their Pods and/or Dexcom sensors. Most endos are comfortable prescribing these inhalers for this off-label use. Something to consider adding to your “bag” of D-tools…
Hello Everyone! I was having the same issues. I was at the point that I was almost head to toe with rash and irritation. I reached out to Omni Pod customer care and they recommended spraying the area of insertion with Nasacort, Flonase, or any type of nasal allergy spray. I wiped with prep wipe (let dry), spray with Nasacort (let dry), spray with 3M Cavillon barrier spray. I then adhered two of the Johnsons and Johnsons tough pads. I placed the pod on the tough pads and then proceed with the insertion. Had no irritation or itchiness during the entire three days. Took it off after three days and no redness or irritation. Super excited that I finally found something that works! I tried EVERYTHING under the sun! Tapes, barrier wipes, and all other products suggested by Omnipod.
I hope that it works for everyone else that sees this post. I was so desperate that I was scouring the Internet every night looking for ANY solution. So here you go…
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one experiencing this. At least now, there’s a couple of things to try. Seems that Insulet should be pro-active in these type of instances. Instead of them responding only to those who call in (which I hadn’t, but I did see my Doctor about the irritation/rash, I would think that they could monitor user forums and listen to what’s going on in the community. I would think they could simply compose an email and broadcast it out to all registered users explaining what’s going on and some possible remedies to try.
Interesting routine to go through Angie, but well worth it, I’m sure. I’ve been on the pod for at least 3 years now and have had zero issues with rash or irritation - until the last month. I’d like to say since my last shipment of PODs, but I’m not exactly sure. It’s terrible - like an itchy bump that shows up the next day and a rash around it.
I’ve tried antibiotic cream, but it didn’t do much. It almost sounds allergic, but why now after 3 years of awesome? I’m going to try a few of these suggestions to see if something helps, I really don’t want to go off the pods. Thank you for your question, and everyone’s responses.
I am just getting started on the omnipod and doing the saline trial. I too am having problems with itchiness around the area of the pod. Also when I take it off it is still itchy with red dots. I demoed the Animas vibe as well and didn’t have the same issue as the infusion site is so much smaller. Although the insertion process takes so much longer. This I did not like, and the insertion is more painful. So I feel as if I have tried everything and I am getting really frustrated. I tried the IV prep and it was terribly itchy. I have tried the pod with nothing underneath and it is still itchy. I have yet to make it to the 3 day mark without taking it off. Any suggestions??
So an update. After calling Omnipod support, they suggested sending me a new lot to try, which I received and started on those immediately. As I suspected, after two PODs, the same thing - still getting rash around the whole adhesive in the shape of an egg - red and itchy after the 2nd day. Again, this was not a problem for the last 3 years, I’d go 3 days and then some (until it screams) with no issues whatsoever. Id take it off, then the next day it was like nothing was ever there.
I’ve tried the 3M spray barrier now, but it didn’t seem to make much difference. I called Omnipod support back and let them know that the Lot did not seem to be the issue. In speaking with them, I got the impression that this late-onset rashing seemed to be happening more often recently, with more of these issues being reported. Also, that “they were trying to find the reason behind the issue”. So, is there a recent issue?
I’d be interested in hearing if other, longer term Omnipod users have been experiencing skin irritation issues recently. Tp me, it seems like something has changed with the adhesive, but, it could also just be my body suddenly thinking the POD shouldn’t be there and fighting back all of a sudden (I hope not). I’m going to try the Tegaderm film next, fingers crossed.
The lots I’ve received for the past 3 months have been much better. I still feel itchy/see redness but only after i remove the pod. I used to have rash just hours after I applied a new pod. For the minimal rash now, I use my toddler’s diaper rash cream, which relieves it quick. My problem is exercise/running/biking- sweat which weakens the adhesive and pod falls off… I’m assuming some adhesives are too strong and cause rash and other adhesives ware off if too much moisture… i wish Omnipod would get it right for all skin types ;).
Hi all, my first post on the site-- stumbled across looking for information on this issue. Been a pod user for a couple years and have had zero problems until the last batch was sent to me (manufacture date in June). After having the pod on about a day, it would itch pretty bad, and after taking it off would leave skin irritated for some time. Called Insulet last night-- they were super helpful and are sending a new batch. They told me they are investigating, but aren’t aware of any changes to the adhesive. Thanks for the tips above-- they also suggested using tegaderm underneath.
Wow, it’s looking more and more like something has changed recently in their “recipe”. I was told almost the exact same thing from Support - that they are investigating and don’t think anything has changed - I believe something has changed. I was also told that I was not the only one reporting this recently.
I’d really just like to know for sure if anything has changed so I can stop trying to figure out if it was something I did, ate, washed with, cleaned up with, petted, grew, drank, walked in, sat in, or slept in. Just tell me for sure one way or the other so I can focus on dealing with the actual issue. I too don’t want to stop Podding.
Interesting to see this discussion. I started to notice skin breakouts with my Omnipod several years ago. This irritation was not present for the first year or so that I was using them. I called Insulet at the time, and got similar answers. “No, we haven’t changed the adhesive. No, we don’t know about allergies to the adhesive.” Etc., etc. At least some of you have gotten some constructive information from them. I may call again. My endo suggested using Tegaderm as a barrier, but even that makes my skin blister around the edges. That’s the odd thing. It’s only the edges, not the middle, where there is also adhesive.
Got a new batch in the mail and unfortunately same result. Started itching after a day or so and had to take it off before the three days was completely up. I mentioned to my endo who passed along to the local Insulet rep. She called and offered mostly the same advice. I tried generic Flonase on the pump site I put on today, will update if that helps. It’s really a shame because I’ve loved the pods for the time I’ve been using them, but might be time to switch.
Definitely going to be calling them back tomorrow and ask some more questions on why this is hapenning to others, not just me. So, I did try the spray, and that didn’t work at all, still itchy by day 2. I have been using the Tegaderm film, try this link: https://well.ca/products/3m-tegaderm-film_88189.html?gclid=CLK5o6vs9M8CFQoPaQodwEoI6Q
This is what I have been using for the past couple of pods and they’ve made a huge difference, actually lasted 3 days again. I’m still getting a little irritation where the cannula goes in, but not the big red pod-size burn marks I was getting - I can live with this little annoyance - Also, that was also never ever an issue before the last shipment of pods.
I have to believe Insulet has changed something and can only hope that they reverse that change. In the meantime, I guess I keep using the Tegaderm until they work this out. Obviously it’s not affecting everyone, otherwise, there would be a lot more chatter about this.
Some people develop an allergic-type reaction to the adhesive even if the adhesive has not changed. It’s just something that develops over time in some folks for unclear reasons.
Thank you for the response, I’ll take all the help I can get with this one. I agree with you 100%, it is definitely possible to build up some kind of resistance/allergy to the adhesive or the cannula material and it’s entirely possible that is what’s happening.
In my case though, it happened overnight from the last pod in one shipment to every pod since. Strangely, it wasn’t a gradual thing - I’ve had absolutely no sign of any reaction to the pod ever in 3 years. In fact, by the time I take the old one off, I could mistakenly put a new one on in the same place because I couldn’t tell where it was taken off from (except for the little hole, [] ).
It went from nothing irritating me to a severe red egg shaped welt/burn under the pod adhesive after a day and a half until I finally took it off after 2 days. It was like it was burnt, and the marks are still there several weeks later. All pods in the last shipment are doing this, until I finally used the Tegaderm, which is way way better now.
I totally agree with you, it could just be my body deciding it doesn’t like the adhesive anymore, but it just seems too coincidental to happen when it did (when I opened a new shipment). Also, the severity of the irritation and instant change from not showing any sign of trouble on one pod, to severe burning irritation on the next (and subsequent) ones seems suspect.
Now that I’ve been using the film underneath, the irritation is gone, so I’ll just keep using that until my next shipment and try again without the film and see what happens. Maybe by then my body (or Insulet) will have sorted things out, and if not, the film isn’t that big a deal - I do love the POD.
Again, thanks for the email, and sorry for the long winded reply.
For what it’s worth, I’ve now tried both the over-the-counter fluticasone and tegaderm (thanks for the link). The first application of fluticasone worked really well-- only a little redness/bumps. Then I tried tegaderm-- it was better than nothing, but not nearly as good as the fluticasone. Both of those I got to the full 3 days. I then went back to fluticasone and for whatever reason I had to take that off after 1 day because it was itching so bad. So this time around, I’m trying both at the same time-- fluticasone with a tegaderm on top. I even cut out a little notch on the tegaderm to maximize coverage.
It’s the worst feeling because it’s so itchy and you can’t get to it because it’s under the pump
Rob-- I will agree with you, it was an abrupt change when mine started too, and it takes a month or longer for the redness/irritation to go away.
Yes, it did happen really sudddenly. I spoke with both my diabetes trainers this week as well as my local Omnipod rep. The trainers were looking into other pod users to see if they had any similar recent experiences, which will be helpful. My local rep took my info and said that there have been a few more of these situations lately, however, not mass numbers or anything, just more than regular. She said thet the incidents were being investigated and would get back to me. She also suggested that if the Tegaderm did not work (some people say its too thin), there was another thinker one that she could recommend that some people have found works well. I will ask her what it is, but for me, the Tegaderm is working so far (fingers crossed). Good luck Jason, I’m sure there’s some combination that will work - Its nice to get 3 days out of a pod again.
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