Rob,
I completely understand your frusteration with failing pods, however this insulin management system is too close to perfect to give up on. I had a couple of questions for you, and hope you can provide some insight for me. I am actually in the process of evaluating the OmniPod as I have only been on it for a little over two months. When your pods fail… What is the expiration of them typically…are they on your body when they fail? or mostly during priming?.. The only reason I ask is because I have yet to experience many pod failures whatsoever. I presume youre aware that the pod will finish out its preset basal rate even if the pod fails. So in the case of carrying around 2-3 extra bricks of pods, I have found it seems to be unncessesary. Even after expiration of the pod, it will carry out the basal rates for up to 8 hours. I cannot explain how much this system has changed my life, and will continue to use it in hopes it can only get better.
I am actually a candidate for an Islet Cell transplant, and hope to eventually not need the pump or shots… I’m very skeptical about this, and am not getting my hopes up, but I think to say the least, it’s going to be a fun trip to Miami. Anyways, I hope you don’t give up on the OmniPod… In my decision to get the omnipod, I actually teatherd myself up with a conventional pump, and it was on for 45 mins while I spoke with my endo, and just that 45 mins made me feel like I was on a leash. OmniPod gives freedom of this, and understandably the technology may have its malfunctions here and there, but what technology doesnt?
Would you throw away your laptop if it malfunctioned a few times? trade it in for a conventional desktop? All wired, and STUCK to the desk. Maybe a bad analgy, but I hope you see where I’m comin from… Anyways hope this helps either you or someone out there in making their decisions.
Hi Jon,
I’ve been using the Omnipod system for a little over 1 year. Since the beginning, I would have to say I’ve had at least a dozen pod failures, with the most common failure in priming. It primes then sounds an alarm. During April-May 2008, I had about 5 pod failures from the same box. These were the pods that clicked when priming, prompting Insulet to send out a warning not to use these pumps.I’ve also had a few failures once the pod has been placed and functioning, but these were occlusions and I chalked them off to bad placement. So, you might say a dozen failures in 1 year amounts to a 10 percent failure rate overall (considering the average use is 10 per month).
For a medical device, is this acceptable?
When I was on a Minimed Paradigm pump, I had some software failures as well with the pump having to need reprogramming after battery changes. I was always treated well and a replacement pump was sent by next day mail. Not a big deal as the pump still functioned and I was able to give myself insulin. In fact, I’ve only had 1 complete malfunction in the 5 years I was on a Paradigm. I was travelling in Brazil and my pump got wet and shorted out due to a faulty O-ring. The response from Minimed was extraordinary: they FEDEX’d
a new pump to Brazil and had their Sao Paolo rep personally contact me and give me a loaner until the pump arrived. This is the type of customer service that all pumpers, regardless of what type of system is used and whether you use the Omnipod or another pump should expect.
And no, I don’t think you can compare a computer malfunction to an insulin pump malfunction.
Rob,
That failure rate is 100% unnacceptable I agree. I’m not sure exactly how you are coming across so many malfunctioning pods, however, Insulet has replaced the pods for you correct?
I understand that the process of replacing the pods is a major pain, however, like all electronics, even your Paradigm has the occasional failure. The point I’m trying to get at is that for people people who have used pumps in the past, have warmed up to the idea of teathering. People that are going strictly from injections, to the OmniPod, have fantastic success with it, because they are still free from being teatherd to an original style pump. Obviously to each their own, but in my opinion, the OmniPod has been a life saver. My average blood sugar went from a 220 down to almost a 149 over a 60 day period. That in inself is the proof regardless of whether or not you are dealing with pod malfunction. Oh, and the whole computer failure position, I hope you realize was strictly to address the wiring portion of the whole aspect, not necessarily the failure. Sleeping with the OmniPod vs a conventional pump alone in my opinion is well worth the switch. I hope you are doing well with whatever insulin management system youre on, and happy pumping…
Jon,
My pump failures are real and also documented by other Omnipod users on this site and others.
Since my insurance carrier does not cover the Omnipod ( I’ve been paying out of pocket for it ), and despite the replacement pods that I’ve received from Insulet, I’ll be switching over to an Animas Ping once I finish the pods that I have left. I’d rather be tethered than pay for aggravation.
Good luck to you and other pumpers on this site. I hope my postings have had some positive effect.
Well, I hope to be able to comment on this in a relevant fashion within the next couple of weeks, since the training is tomorrow.
I can say, with no reservations, that I am highly sick of 7+ injections a day. I pumped with a Minimed for 4 years ( several years ago) and HATED the leash. I worked in a max prison at the time- and the checkpoint officers were forever wanting to put their hands on my stuff. I understand about security concerns- and was perfectly willing to hold stuff up for them to look over- but I didn’t know where their hands had been ( might have been picking their noses and scratching their butts all day for all I knew!). This is less stuff to haul around. If I have to take it off away from home, I’ll just check every 2 hours and bolus with a pen. The water resistant factor also attracted me to the Omnipod, as we spend 1/2 the summer on the pontoon and in the river. I had problems with hypo unawareness at one time ( BG 27- and I was fine), but I know I’m prone to it now, so I’ll be on the lookout.
I was impressed with the speed at which the company got me approved and shipped the stuff. The local rep called me today to set up training. I told her that she was a day late and a dollar short since I had taken care of this.
Wish me luck,everybody. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Boy, what a difference a day makes! The trainer failed to make time for me (“I didn’t know you were coming”- say what?!) and apparently thought I just showed up out of the blue.As peeved as I was- I did agree to wait for a while. After an hour, I left- but not before informing them that I’d better NOT see a charge to BCBS for training. I called the company (not very sympathetic I must say) and they gave my contact details to their trainer. She called after I’d gone to bed last night. Well, I called at 8 this morning, left a message, and I’m still waiting. If she doesn’t call today, I’ll just start it myself. My CDE gave me the settings to start with, and I’m not new to pumping. I have to admit, I’m dismayed by the difficulties so far. Perhaps my expectations were too high.
Better news. The trainer came to my job today- and I have now been pumping for 3 hours. So far- I like this thing. But the Lantus is still onboard, so it’s not a true response. We’ll see after the weekend!
I’ve been diabetic since 1970 and have tried every infusion set before going back to shots about 6 months. My A1c I just completed was 6, but I take 6 shots a day and my blood sugar seems to get lower often with shots than the pump, but I have too much scar tissue in my stomach after years of shots and infusion sets for any infusion set I’ve used to work.
I too think the technology for the infusion sets is a joke. It’s basically like walking around with an IV.
You can’t tell me we don’t have the technology to make a better infusion set.
I just started a search tonight to see if anyone else has such issues with the pod (frequent failures). My husband is the ominpod user and hates the thing. He liked it at first, has been using it for a little over a year. He did not have many failures in the beginning but the past 3 months has been nothing but pod failure after pod failure. Tonight, twice - 2 pods in a row!
We don’t know what to make of it. Planning to call Insulet tomorrow to see what they have to say. He does not want to go back to a regular pump though, he cannot stand the tubing. At this point he almost is ready to just go back to shots.
It’s been frustrating to see him so upset with it and for him to have to deal with it. He drives for a living. It’s not exactly easy to just pull over and switch your pod all the time. They need to be reliable!
Rob,
My husband and 8 year old son have Animas pumps. Thanks for your insight on the Omnipod, since it is new to our area. I just wanted to let you know that I have never had better customer service in my life with anything as I have had through the Animas Company. Good Luck to you
I would like to say that I have been on the OmniPod since January of this year and I have experienced several issues over the summer the humidity would be part of the problem with the adhesive. I too was getting frustrated, my husband and I rode motorcycles to Texas from Minnesota, it was cool when we left and hot in Texas and the pods would fall off. I had adhesive patches with me from when i was using the animas pump and used several to hold them on during the trip. Recently I too have had issues of when the Pods were priming and would quit half way through the process. I called Insulet Tech Support and they said they would replace the faulty pods. when calling have the pods in hand to give them the numbers and they check to see if others have problems with the same lot numbers. The do this to improve the product, the weather here is cold with winter beginning now and the pods are located in my home in a place where the temperature is warm not hot and not cold. I have had 2 fail in a row from the same box.
When using the Animas Pump i would have the same problems the adhesive not sticking, occlusions, and the tubing hooking on things or my sisters small children pulling on the tubing and the infusion set wasted. When riding my motorcycle on the Diabetes run during the summer the humidity would loosen the adhesive and they would fall off no matter how much extra tape was used (I even tried duck tape) when it is hot nothing helps.
With that being said I would never go back to tubing, I have had my moments of wanting to go back to injections and said no way, I refuse to go back to tubing. Nothing is perfect and I will deal with the minor set backs to have the control and freedom I have now. I just wanted to let you know your not alone with the concern. I wear the pods on the back of my arms, stomach, legs, near the ankle (my socks hold it on) would not recommend with wearing boots, and lower back. The location does not make a difference if the pods are faulty.
I have noticed that when I work out at the fitness center if the pod are in locations where they are not covered the adhesive problems are reduced. The pod failures is a problem for insulet to figure out.
I hope this information can help with bringing back the positive attitude and future problems that might arise and I get frustrated too, but it is less frustrating than tubing. Good luck and keep us updated.
i would just like to say that i have had issues that i called omnipod support and there were issues with specific lot numbers. i have since not had any more problems with primming or otherwise. i am not replying to be negative about the pump and this is not the first pump i have had the same issue of adhesive not sticking. I ride my motorcycle on the diabetic run every year and it is hot. again the adhesive does not hold well. this is an issue i can deal with just to have no tubing i can and have found other ways to hold the pods on. i will never give up my omnipod pump, no one could pay me enough to go back to injections. i too have read alot of negative things about all pumps and it does not change my opinion to what pump i use. to each there own choice and best wishes to them all. thanks
Victoria, Try this trick: get some gel-type baby oil (less messy) saturate the edges of the pod with it and let it sit for a couple of minutes…this makes a HUGE difference for my 11 year old, it usually slides off pretty easily! Good Luck!!
Dear Kungfu Mama,
My 11 year old son started on the omnipod in April of 08. Same situation …reluctant to try something new, very private about the whole thing. The good news is, he absolutely LOVES it. Its been a miracle for our whole family, he’s active with sports and all kinds of outdoor activities and wouldnt give up his pod for anything. He says he only feels like a diabetic once every three days. That works for me! Peg
Cody,
You’re entitled to your opinion like everyone else
But to say that pod errors are 100 percent user error when Insulet Corporation has acknowledged problems with the priming of pods in the past is in my opinion untruthful. You seem to be disrespectful to those of us who are being honest with our evaluations and experiences. A terrible and sick thing indeed.
