I inject my long acting insulin once a day and my fast acting insulin at mealtime and other times, too. I am not familiar with what is available for getting insulin into our body without multiple injections.
Could someone describe an OmniPod to me, its purpose, and use.
It’s a tubeless insulin pump. Here’s a link to get you started:
I’m not sure how much you know about pumps in general so I will give a brief description.
Omnipod is an insulin pump and there are many brands out there. All insulin pumps give you insulin without shots 24/7. You set a basal rate which would be the substitute for your long acting insulin, this is released slowly throughout the day and can vary with different amounts at different times of the day if you want. Then you can give a bolus by a push of a button instead of shots with your meal or give other needed amounts instead of injections.
The difference with an Omnipod is it uses a “pod” that is filled with insulin that you attach to your body every 3 days. The control has a separate PDM that you carry with you. Most pumps have a cartridge with insulin and a tubing to an insert area. Omnipod is tubeless.
I was drawn to it because it is tubeless and can be worn in many different areas. It is also a really easy one to learn and use. I do use an Omnipod and love it.
Thank you for your help. I think I found what I am looking for in the (not yet on market) Calibra Bolus patch. It consists of a mechanical device solely that delivers bolus amounts only, no basal. I don’t mind doing my once a day pen injection of my long acting Lantus. I want to avoid too many fast acting injections of small amounts. With the cost of insulin, I sure don’t like wasting 2 units to prime the needle if I am only going to inject 5 units at a time, several times per day, in addition to my mealtime insulin, just to have my coffee or very tiny snack. It appears that the Calibra is exactly what I need when it comes on the market, expected this year. It is designed for both type 1 and 2, but much more suited to type 2 patients.
I met someone about a year ago (that has since moved away) and was in very poor control on oral meds (type2). She had a small plastic device placed on her stomach at a clinic. She would fill the device with insulin and pressed a button to bolus. There were NO tubes or cannulas, no separate device, just the beige plastic device attached to her skin. I do not know what it was called and did not get to ask her all the details. It was much smaller than the Omnipod, shaped very differently, and was tubeless. The only thing she told me was she filled it with insulin and then pressed the button to bolus when she needed it. I wish I could contact her and find out what it was called.
@Babs5 Is this what you’re talking about?
Hi Jason99,
Thanks for the link. It was interesting but not exactly what I was refering to in my comment. Sounds similar, though.
I really appreciate your help.
I’d never heard of such a device before you mentioned it. It was very difficult to find a link because Google kept giving me results for the Omni pod. I had to change my search words around a bit. That was the only link I could find. Happy to help.
I only prime when I change needles and I seldom change the needle. I haven’t run into any problems doing this. I bolus at least 3 times a day.
Are you talking about needles on a pen or syringe? Or the needle on an Omnipod?
I do multiple injections daily with a pen and needle and use a new needle with each and every injection so I am wasting 2 units to prime each time.
@Babs5 Have you thought about moving to an insulin pump? The basal settings on a pump are fantastic. A pump gives you so much more freedom than having to do injections.
Pen. Just like I used to use syringes over and over again, I use the needles on pens a long time. In 60 yrs I have never had a problem with doing this.
Thanks Marilyn6. I am thinking about using a different insulin delivery system which is why I was inquiring about the Omnipod. I don’t know anything about the other delivery systems beyond multiple injections and am so thankful for the people on this forum.
@Babs5 Starting treatment with an insulin pump changed my life. It was like having an 800 pound gorilla suddenly getting off my shoulders. The technology and innovation just keeps getting better. I would highly recommend looking into it.
I agree with @Jason99, I found using an insulin pump made my diabetes life easier. The style of insulin pump that has attracted your interest is sometimes referred to as a “patch pump.” There have been a few of these style pumps announced over the last 10 years but not all have come to market.
A patch pump is simpler than most pumps in use today and, as I understand it, doesn’t permit setting up multiple basal rates over a 24-hour day.
Good luck with your search for pump technology that works for you. I have used insulin pumps since 1987. I resisted the idea for almost a year due to not wanting to be tethered to some device. It was an emotional reluctance. I quickly adapted to its convenience and the better finely-tuned control it offered.