Hey everyone! I have my appt. next week with my Pump Educator to get me going on the OmniPod! I was wondering about you people that are runners, can you share any tips? In my mind I am thinking I will like having the pod in my triceps area, but maybe you can share with me what sites you have found that work well while out running.
Also I do some strength training, does that mess with the cannula? For example if I had it on the back of my arm and was doing tricep work, would it be an issue.
My son wears the pod and runs in soccer a lot. He wears it on his tricep area almost exclusively - and loves it. He hasn't had any problems with sweat but I think some people do - you can use skin-tac if you feel like the adhesive won't stay on after sweating too much. (you have to apply it when you first put the pod on) Also, he likes to wear a coban wrap around his arm when he's playing sports - partly for stability and partly in case someone runs into him he's not so worried about it getting knocked off. I think that's a personal preference sort of thing, but it's worked really well for us. It sticks to itself but not his skin so he doesn't mind putting it on and taking it off.
I run every day and most of the time I wear the omnipod on my lower back, that's my favorite spot! I also wear it on the back of my arm, but I don't really do any strength training (other than lifting and carrying my 30 pound toddler), and it's always fine there. Good luck!
I addressed placement issues and ideas in "jla replied to Jeanine S's discussion 'Thigh Sites' in the group OmniPod Users". Although I'm not a runner anymore (I'm nearly 67.) I bike, windsurf, swim, play hockey, kayak, and a variety of other active pursuits. My favorite sites are my hips and buttocks and have found they work fine. One of the things Tech Support asks about if you have trouble is if the site has some "flesh" to it or they ask if I am very lean. I don't consider myself "very lean" but I am careful to place the cannula where there is some "padding" but not too much. I think that the absorption is not as good if I place the cannula too far down the buttocks.
Thanks Amy, so on the lower back, would that be above the waist area? I wear pants that fit (aka form fitting) and wonder if that would be a problem...
Never had too much of a problem with pod sites while running. Some sites tend to allow the pod to flop up and down more than others. If that happens, I just use a couple of strips of Opsite to secure the pod a bit more.
I've never had a problem with arm sites when I lift weights.
Both those things being said, some "insertions" have been troublesome. Usually, if there's going to be a problem with a site, I'll know right away. I had one insertion that was so painful, I buckled over and had to remove the pod immediately.
I've had a couple of occasions where an insertion was too close to a muscle and I didn't find out until I exercised, but there was really no way to anticipate where those particular sites were. I just learned by trial and error to avoid individual spots.
thats a great spot amy mercer! I have never worn mine there. I wear mine on my tricep not very often because I dont get very good absorption there so I try to avoid it as much as possible. I wear it on the upper part of my butt but I wont do ab workouts that require me to be on my back because its very uncomfortable. I have not had any issues when I run, I wear a hydration belt and it doesnt bother any of the lower back or ab areas I also wear it on my thigh and havent had any problems when I run/workout. Good luck with your new pump :)
outer thigh I place my hands on the side while standing and anything above my finger tips since I have more "cushion" there. Thats how I was taught when I used to do shots to use the area that my hands could reach.
I love wearing my pump on my my tricep area for running and lifting, but I also like the love handle area. If I feel the pod is in an area that jiggles...I will take some hypafix tape and put it across the pod. I aslo like to wear more compression tops when I have it on my stomach so it feels more secure :)
Hope this pic works. This stuff is called Hypafix. It can be put how ever you like over the pod…or just to hold down a loose corner… it is strong and made like the same stuff that holds down the pod. My son has started being way more active and this stuff is the best thing since sliced bread! I just ordered 2" sized from the internet… but it even comes wider if you want.
I run 3-4 times a week. It doesnt matter where I put the pod because I tape it down everytime I start a new pod. Please talk to your trainer about setting up a lower basal rate to use while running to avoid going to low. Sometimes I turn my basal off completely depending what my starting BG level is at when i start my run.
