Hello, I'm posting this on this site only because i don't want to create alot of controversy. we have had more pod failures lately, mostly kinked canula, occlusion, and one pdm error that we need to reset the pdm. i would say our failure rate has increased lately, we love the omnipod but am just wondering what the norm is out there with failures. i would say previously it may have been a 3-5 % failure rate, but it has been higher lately. such curious what the 'average' failure rate is. thanks so much! amy
We have probably only had about 5 failed pods since we began in May. All but one of those was for an occlusion. We had one PDM error. I personally don't see an occlusion as a problem on the part of Omnipod. I see them as just part of pumping. There is nothing anyone can do about it. The PDM error was probably my fault too because I didn't change the batteries soon enough. It was early in the pumping experience and I wasn't good at reading the battery life indicator.
Overall, we are very pleased with our experience.
We recently had a very high failure rate on a box of pods. On Insulet's conference call with investors a few weeks ago, they reported that they had identified a component that needed to be changed that was causing problems. They halted shipments for a few days to implement the change around the end of September. To date, the pods we received in October have been error free.
UGH!! Let's hope they figured SOMETHING out and are making a real improvement which the product is in need! We have had 50% a box fail, 90% of a box fail, and most recently we have had a rash of pods that will not activate (like 8 in 2 months). On average I would say we have about a 30% failure rate with each box of ten. Failure applies to a pod alarm, not activating, etc...NOT occlusions (which we've only had two of in 1 yr). I really hope they get it figured out because the pod works GREAT when it works. Sometimes I think that when pinching up the skin, if you're not pinching it up in just the right direction ie..shifting the skin over to the side, etc...can lead to the cannula kinking or bending left to right and obstructing the dosage enough to cause higher bg but not enough to cause an occlusion alarm (in my experience). I think I am having that issue with my dtr right now. We placed it on her arm and I was at a weird angle when I was pinching the skin for cannula insertion. Also, if you tape the pod for more support I think it can push the cannula in too far or cause kinking if you taped it down too firmly. Recently we have been using the replacement pods they sent us for the last 8 that would not activate and have been having good results. Now I am going to have to perform 100 superstitious acts (like knocking on wood, salt over my shoulder) for saying that!!!! Just hang in there is about all I can say..... Good Luck!