Curtis - I had the same situation. Had the OmniPod for over a year and then the skin irritations started. I am now doing injections as my skin cannot accomidate pods with the oozing and itching. My sugars are all over the place. I am totally not happy, but I have no choices at this time. I used all the sites, except my legs. I actually really like using my back, but the skin didn’t like the pods here either. Good luck! Hope you have better luck then some of us.
Jean - Well I have tried every option that the OmniPod and everyone else here on the site has offered. NOTHING WORKS! I cannot stand giving the injections every 4 hours, but can’t stand the ichiness (not sure that is a word). I am going to try my old insulin pump (Cozmo) to see if my skin reacts to the adhesive on those. I’m now thinking that I have a reaction to everything that gets placed on my skin, almost like a lytex reaction. I will let you know if I have any reaction to my old pump. How are things going with you? Hope you have found a solution!
Hi Kris,
Funny that I got on tonight to find out what’s going on with you too! I found out from the OmniPod company that the adhesive (hypafix) is made in China (on American made equipment, they were quick to tell me). So I think it is quite possible that a change was made in China and OmniPod doesn’t even know about it! I’m not exactly sure what we can do with this information, but it seems important to me.
I went to an allergist today. He had a couple of good ideas. Since the tegaderm, and everything else I’ve tried as a barrier, was also causing a reaction…the nurse came up with the idea to not take the backing off the omnipod, that maybe the adhesive is getting through the barrier. So we are trying a test right now, with a large tegaderm OVER the pod to make it stick, but without taking the Omnipod backing off. So far, I’m good (only about 3 hours). I’m hopeful it will work. He also put a small patch of a hypafix tape that is made in Germany on my arm. So we are testing if I’m allergic to THAT hypafix or just the OmniPod hypafix that is made in China. He said that a very small change (1 part in 1000) to the chemicals in the hypafix could cause a reaction where there was none before, but it would be so small that the company would not need to report it. (So far no reaction to that small hypafix either…and the nurse that the hypafix is used by hospitals for patients who adhesive allergies, so it should be really safe.)
I’ll let you know tomorrow how these “tests” are going. I’m very hopeful to find a fix too. I’m sick of injections…it feels like going backwards in my diabetes care.
Kris, I was about to give up the OmniPod because of the pronounced rash. Then I came across the suggestion to skip the alcohol. Works like a charm. No more rash.
Thanks for the idea. I hate to say it, but I don’t do any skin prep before I put on my pod. Maybe that is my problem? Guessing not, I am totally going crazy with the itching. I put my OmniPod on last night with a 4x4 tagaderm under the pod and it was fine until about 1 hour ago. It is starting to itch under the pod. I can’t believe that the pod affects my skin on top of a barrier like that. I’m going to try my old insulin pump (Cozmo) tomorrow to see if the little connections affect my skin. I am taking any ideas right not. I’m getting tired of my high sugars and no control. My A1C 2 months ago was 5.4, I’m guessing by the next doctor appointment I’ll be at 8.0. This whole thing stinks!!
Well I made it 24 hours with the OmniPod on my back. Ripped it off this morning and went back to my old pump (Cozmo) to see if my skin is allergic to that backing (not sure what they used as their adhesive). If this works I’m sending my box of OmniPod’s back and I’m not using it anymore. Then I will have to find the workings for Cozmo since they have discontinued their pump. Maybe I can get by for the year, until I can purchase a new pump from someone else. I didn’t have any problems with the Tagaderm around the edges, just right underneath the pod itself. Another outline of an OmniPod on my skin. Wish they would figure this out!! Let me know if your way of using the Tagederm over the pod works or not. Between the two of us we will get this figured out!!!
Kris/Jean,
Thanks for the feeds. I think (think, as I am back in Iraq) with our teen daughter, the Tagaderm is working for her. She started with putting the Triamcinolone on her skin first and letting it absorb in before applying the Tagaderm. After that once or twice, she stopped pre-treating the area with Triamcinolone and just used the Tagaderm. She also is taking an antihistamine (Claritin)–Jean, if you are not taking one, try Zyrtec or Claritin!!! they are both over the counter (OTC).
I thought about and am betting on a hypafix production issue in China and hoping that the batch has been exhausted.
The tegaderm over the pod didn’t work. I lasted about 18 hours. When I took it off, I had the red, itching, oozing imprint of the pod on my stomach again. There were no marks where the tegaderm was, so the adhesive was irritating me THROUGH the paper backing of the pod. Its ridiculous! What kind of crazy chemicals must be in this adhesive! Next though, I’m going to try to remove the adhesive altogether and try to attach the pod with a tegaderm over it. The test of the hypafix made in Germany was completely clean…no irritation at all. Maybe if enough of us make a huge stink, they will change the adhesive. I have a feeling is a permanent change in the production of the stuff in China. (I’ve had 2 different shipments with the same issues.)
Well I am back to my Cozmo and absolutly NO PROBLEMS!!! My sugars are back in range and I am much happier. At this point I am calling it quits with OmniPod. My body cannot handle all the sores. I will keep updating and letting everyone know how it is going, but now I need to find the supplies since the company no longer exists. Then on to finding a new pump. My nephew is going on the Animas next month, so I will see what he thinks of that pump, plus they are planning on getting the pump and CGM put together this year. That would be excellant. Keep in touch and let me know if you ever come up with an option that works. I think we are in the same boat!!
Just wanted to let you know the latest on my skin reactions. I have been on the Cozmo for about 1 month now. Well…I am having skin reactions to the adhesive with these also. The irritations are not as bad with Cozmo as they were with the OmniPods, but I still have little round circles of itchness. I can at least wear these for the 5 days (ok everyone, I know that I am suppose to only go 3 days, but need to save some money on supplies right now). I went to my doctor today and he suggested trying Claritin-D. He said if this works even a little bit to get my other doctor to prescribe a stronger antihistamine. He thinks this will work. I will let you know. How are you doing?? Any changes for you??
Hey Kris,
That really stinks that you are having reactions to the other pump too. I’m back on injections. The next time I see my doctor I’ll ask about a new pump, but I wonder if I’ll have another reaction too. The last word on the pod was about 3 weeks ago I tried ripping the adhesive off the back and putting a tegaderm over the pod to hold it on. After about 5 hours I had a red itchy spot in the shape of the pod even from that! I talked to Omnipod again too and this time they told me that the adhesive is not hypafix, but something called cover roll, that is like hypafix. And that its not made in China, just assembled there. I’m pretty much done dealing with them. My levels are all over the place with the injections…Let me know if you find a solution with the claritin.
Jean - Two days on the Claritin-D (24 Hour) and I have not itched at all. I almost forget that I’m wearing it. I will let you know if it continues to work. Another cost to this diabetic deal! It’s only money, right? But my blood sugars are normal with being back on the pump. Hope that your injections work for you (they didn’t work for me, I kept forgetting about them) or your doctor gives the ok for a new pump. Keep me updated with your status. I’m sure something will work for us!!
All–our daughter has finally had to take an extended break from her Omnipod due to return of her skin rashes from the adhevise. Tegaderm and Claritin worked for a while but they came back. Even using Triamcinolone (steroid cream) didn’t help. Really do think it has something to do with the production of the hypafix used on the pods in China. Give a few months of time and reassess in July.
I have just given up my pods. I’ve been on shots for almost three weeks now and my skin has barely healed. My husband said I look like I have headlights and rear brake lights due to the red, scabby marks on my stomach and corresponding spots on my back… It is horrible, like a chemical burn. Blisters and oozing and pain… Itching non-stop. I miss my pods horribly–I forgot about my extended boluses and ended up with a 30 last weekend! It didn’t go up for over an hour and my husband was panicking and planning on calling 911. It was very scary.
We are planning on running some tests to check for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs for all you science nerds out there like me!) that may be coming out of the plastic or the vent hole. I’ll keep you guys up to date. I was going crazy with all of this and reading Jean’s posts is like reading my mind! I am having the EXACT same symptoms!!!
It is going through the Tegaderm, the Skin Prep, even special wound care adhesives that my mom (nurse) brought home for me to try. This makes us (my entire family is trying to help me with this issue!) think that it can’t be just the adhesive…maybe it is something inside of the pod that is coming out… We are going to try a few things and I’ll post as soon as we find something out. I am determined to solve this issue and help all pod users heal!!!
Thanks for all the posts on this topic–it’s nice to know I’m not the only one dealing with this! I told Omnipod about these posts and how I knew I wasn’t the only one (same lot and batch #s that Jean originally posted…) dealing with this. I am due to get a new shipment in a week (they wouldn’t take back the three boxes I told them I couldn’t use) and will probably try to go back to pods then. We’ll see… I’ll keep you all updated!!!
Thanks and sorry to hear, you too! Let us know what testing shows… quite curious.
Well here is the latest from me. I went to a dermatoligist and she told me to keep using the Claritin liqui-gels and then she put me on DuoDERM Extra Thin 4x4 dressing. I cut them in 4 pieces so that I can use them with the Cozmo. These two things are working perfect for me. I don’t have any itching during the time period that I wear my pump and when I take it off there are no red spots or itching. The only thing with the dressings are they are really, really expensive (10 sheets for $70). Cutting them in 4 pieces helps out, but still is expensive. I would love to try these with the Omnipod as I still love the “no cords”, but I would probably have to use a whole sheet or at least 1/2 of them and changing the Omnipod every three days would really make it expensive. I think at this time I am going to continue with the Cozmo and hope that I don’t have any issues since they no longer exist. Let me know how everyone else is doing. This is still going to be on my radar until we all get this issue figured out. Thanks - Kris
I have been on injections for a while now…totally given up on the pod. I would love to hear if you come up with anything with your testing Stef. I would still like to go back on the pod if possible. I’ll be going to the doctor at the end of the month and probably trying a new pump. Keep me posted on how you all are doing.
Amlactin used to be a prescription product and now is avalible OTC… kinda ugly bottle but amazing for skin redness issues… had a dermatologist prescribe it to me years ago… Also avalible in a costco size at that particular warehouse club…
That would be amazing. a pump which let you choose your sensor…
Kind of like pumps that use a Luer Lock for an infusion set or Dexcomm allowing any meter for calibration…
Im liking the sound of this
Open choices are good
Supposedly Smiths is going to be making cartridges and Cleo 90’s for some time IF I read correctly… Plus the Cozmo is Luer-Lock, so you can use practically anyones infusion set except Medtronics Paradigm ones…Have you tried using the liquid version of Skin-Tac-H and painting 2! coats onto the skin… letting it dry (without blowing on it) between coats…
Theres tegaderm HP which uses a different adhesive than normal Tegaderm…
Also you might be getting an infection of sorts… You could try washing near your infusion site with Hibiclens/Hibistat (hibistat is more convienent but it does have alcohol mixed in). before you put on the Teg or Skin Tac H… And with any infusion set. the one thing I always do after its removed WITH A REMOVER since this can also redden/peel the skin if you just rip it off… is put down some neosporin or other antiibiotic
Adhesion issues suck. I had a worse problem with a “regular” pump infusion set. I couldnt get them to stay iN!
Best of luck…