Just joined, currently doing MDI, just started the process to move to the pod + dex G4 CGM as a complete management system. I AM EXCITED BEYOND WORDS!!
I'm type 2, with (what I consider) pretty high insulin resistance. My I:C is 1:3, correction ratio 1:10. So, I use A LOT of insulin. The 200U the pod holds will last me a day and half -- IF I basal with it.
I thought on this, 'cause I really don't want to get tethered with tubing, am pretty active, etc. etc. So, I asked my endo, "what about continuing the 50U of Lantus for now, and just bolusing with the pod?" She said that would work fine, but I have less flexibility in adjusting basal for different activities / circumstances, just so I'd factor that in to my thinking.
So, we decided to start with my basal still coming 100% from Lantus, then once everything's running smoothly and we see how the consumption goes, we'll move some of the basal from Lantus to the pod until we get to the "sweet spot" where my pod lasts 3 days, with a little cushion.
A strategy others might consider if they need a lot of insulin, but really want to use the pod.
Some people on the forum have also used U-500 insulin, you might try to search for podders who use it and ask your endo if it makes sense at all. You would have to change all of your ratios, but, you should get 5x as much effective insulin out of the pod.
I'll be starting on my new Pods in the next couple of days.
With MDI my gear is pretty minimal. I have a preloaded syringe (or even 2) of Apidra in with my BG test kit. The issue for me is greater control. There are times of day where I need more basal, and for me I also don't have a good solution to the exercise issue with MDI. For example, while I was on vacation over the past few days, I was getting far more exercise than I normally get (basal needs decreased by nearly 50%), and there was no simple MDI work around. Thankfully I had my Dexcom, but at least for the first day or two I had to eat a lot of carbs, and at times I ran pretty low of glucose tablets.
Are there any areas where you can wear a POD in which it doesn't hurt?
i use the Hollister which were great with the old pods. I do Fit X and they never fell off or lost they adherance. I cant seem to keep these on past day two, the new ones... you should see the one i have on now---I have bandaids attached all around it since they wear off at the front..So since it expires around 7 tonight and I am afraid to waste yet another. It looks hysterical! something tells me I better start carrying my pens as well.
I use the Level gel when I exercise. YOu should try it. 15 instant carbs. I have had lows in the 40's due to the intense exercise. having them always on me makes me feel safer and they bring you back to normal within 15 mins!
Steve D: you said " I went on the pod (when it was first introduced in Virginia in 1995...I was my CDE's first "experiment" on it)....how is that possible when Insulet wasnt formed until 2000?
Dangnabbit! No U500 humalog (or other fast-acting). So, not a solution for me.
I'm going with my original plan -- basal with Lantus initially, use the pod for boluses. As I settle in to the new treatment regimen, I'm going to gradually transition enough basal from Lantus to the pump so I get 3 days out of the pod, and hopefully will have enough basal delivered by the pump to have temp-basal flexibility for exercise, etc.
Have you tried Mastisol? I have no experience with it, as I haven't started pumping yet (I'm at the beginning of getting through all the hoops to get my Omnipod system), but I've read elsewhere that this stuff is like virtually sewing the pod on. You have to use the remover stuff to get it off.
I'm pretty active, so I'm looking for ways, like Mastisol, to avoid all the issues with pods not staying on for the duration. Dealing with some medical, skin-safe glue doesn't bother me nearly as much as having the pod detach when its least convenient -- which is, of course, when they com off :-)
Not sure why you can't use U20 in your pod -- just adjust (divide) carb and correction ratios by 5. If your current I:C is 15, put in 3.
It should work just fine.
I think the reason everyone is "forced" to use U100 is because that's the only concentration of fast-acting analogs available (Novolog, Humalog). Good control with pump therapy is much, much, MUCH easier with fast-acting insulins. While there is still an advantage to a pump with ordinary Humulin, the delayed action negates much of the real-time control capability of a pump.
So, you could go to U20 Humulin, but you would have far less timely control via the pump (or injections, for that matter).
We're all stuck with U100 until the pharms develop and market a different concentration. U20 for the Type 1s, U200 or U500 for the type 2s.
I doubt it will happen, though. Not enough volume to make it a viable product.
People have tried it, I don't think anyone has got it to work. I believe the issue is that the Omnipod plug-in for copilot uses low level USB commands to access the Omnipod and tell it to produce the data download file (an XML file). It uses a special driver to do this and that driver seems to have significant compatibility problems. It's not just the Mac; I gave up trying to use it on Windows after I moved to Windows 7, and I haven't even tried on Windows 8.
As far as not having enough pods. That isn’t the distributor’s fault it is your doctor’s. You can have your doctor write your prescrition that goes to the destributor for more pods. Say that you need to change pods every 2 days. Your shipment will increase and over time you will have a safety net of extra pods. Good luck. My son just got his new pdm today and will be trying the new smaller pods really soon!
Indeed. Seconded. I would say that everyone needs a 2-day prescription.
If Insulet got their act together then the prescription could be set at 2.5 or maybe even 2.8 days per pod, but three days simply doesn't work. Pods get ripped off, pods run out of insulin, pods sometimes have to be taken off; for example if you are participating in a sport where the presence of the pod would interfere with the sport. I don't expect a replacement for any of these cases, but I've experienced all three.
I'm currently on a 2 day prescription, even though simplistic chemistry would say I can easily manage 3 days between pod changes. The reality is that because the pod aborts after 3.3 days it is very difficult, if not impossible, for anyone with an active lifestyle to manage on a 3-day prescription.
You might consider the opposite approach. Basal with the pod, that way you have the all day control of your basal amount, where you really don't have near the control with Lantus (i.e. no control over morning phenomenon) and bolus with shots. I did this a while back when I was trying to get more than 1 day out of a pod. Foruntately things improved and I don't do that any more.
And U500 should work just fine for a basal; it's regular (so it should be cheap - it's non-prescription) and the more extended action relative to Humalog (4-8 hours rather than 2) would be less of an issue. The onset time should be the same - 30 minutes - because that seems to be a function of the subcutaneous injection, not what was injected.
I thought about going back to injections the first 6 months with Omnipod. Then after 4 years I have realized how incredibly easy my life is now, even with the inconvenience of pod failures or occlusions. I work out hard at the gym 5 days a week and surf as well and I find the Omnipod the best thing on the market. I normally wear mine on the side of my butt cheek or the back of my arm and it works great for me.
I Also use the Dexcom CGM so knowing what my BG's are makes my life so much easier. Being a diabetic used to be hell and even with all of the inconveniences our setup is 1000% better than it used to be. I can eat pizza with the Omnipod! Love it.
