Omnipod Starter

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t1diabetica

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Type 1
Hi everyone!
I’ve been on pens since the age of 11...now I’m 27 and I’ve chosen to go onto a pump - specifically the omnipod.
Change makes me really nervous and my anxiety flares up although I am very excited !
I wanted to see if anybody can give me any tips for starting on an omnipod !
How long is the transition period?
Are the first couple of weeks tricky?
Is it easy to learn?
Basically anything you can tell me is great!

cant wait to hear all your advice !
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum 🙂

I'm not sure if there are many active members that are using the Omnipod to be honest so you may be better using the search function of the forum to see if there are any results cause I honestly can't think of a user
xx
 
@stephknits uses an omnipod

Regarding pumping in general though, it takes a bit of time to get used to, but has a lot of advantages. You only have one needle every 2-3 days when you change the cannula or pod, then only need to push buttons to deliver your insulin. You can extend boluses rather than just shooting them in all at once, helps with foods which digest slowly. You can change your basal by the hour and get more when you need it and less when you don’t, and hopefully achieve much more stable blood sugars. You can temporarily move the whole basal pattern up or down by a percentage, helps dealing with things like illness and exercise.

Downsides: it's a lot of hard work (sometimes I feel like I’m constantly fiddling with the settings on my daughter's pump!), you have to get used to wearing it, although most people get used to that fairly quickly, and you have to be much stricter with testing , because if the pump or cannula develop a problem and the pump can’t tell you about it, you have no long acting insulin and will go very high very quickly. But if you test regularly you should spot such problems early enough and be able to sort them out. And problems like that don’t happen too often!

Whatever pump you get you’ll hopefully love it in the end, there are very few people who would change back once they've swapped.
 
Hi, great to hear you have been offered a pump.

I haven’t used an Omnipod, but have had a pump for eight years now. I would definitely not go back to pens. This switch dropped HbA1c by 10, and the Libre did the same.

It is a lot of work at the start and takes a bit of time to get used to it. The first day was nerve racking but there was plenty of support from the rep and DSN. It makes my life a lot more flexible and I like being able to change how I deliver my Bolus, at the press of a button up my basal insulin or lower it if I am about to do exercise. No need to plan so far ahead.

Pumping Insulin is an excellent book by Gary Sheiner. It deals with all the different things you need to do and has recently been updated.

There are loads of pumpers on here and most of the issues are general, but there is also @stephknits who is an Omnipod user too. Just keep the questions coming.
 
I'm about to change to the Omnipod too. I got an email yesterday booking my virtual training session for the end of September. The new kit hasn't arrived yet though as there seems to have been a delay in the supply line somewhere. I'm waiting to hear when it will be shipped.

This is my third pump system. One of the trickiest aspects to using a pump is getting your basal profile right for you, and you get used to making little adjustment and refinements regularly. I expect that when I go over to the Omnipod I'll just transfer my current profile. Since you're starting from scratch, your pump DSN or trainer will suggest an initial profile and you can then refine that as best suits you. I do remember that at first it seems that your whole diabetes life has started anew, but stick with it. I'm pretty sure I speak for most pumpers in saying that when you've got a hang of it, you will never want to go back.
 
Kaylz said:
Hi there and welcome to the forum 🙂

I'm not sure if there are many active members that are using the Omnipod to be honest so you may be better using the search function of the forum to see if there are any results cause I honestly can't think of a user
xx
Click to expand...
Thankyou! I will do that ! Hope you are well 🙂
 
Sally71 said:
@stephknits uses an omnipod

Regarding pumping in general though, it takes a bit of time to get used to, but has a lot of advantages. You only have one needle every 2-3 days when you change the cannula or pod, then only need to push buttons to deliver your insulin. You can extend boluses rather than just shooting them in all at once, helps with foods which digest slowly. You can change your basal by the hour and get more when you need it and less when you don’t, and hopefully achieve much more stable blood sugars. You can temporarily move the whole basal pattern up or down by a percentage, helps dealing with things like illness and exercise.

Downsides: it's a lot of hard work (sometimes I feel like I’m constantly fiddling with the settings on my daughter's pump!), you have to get used to wearing it, although most people get used to that fairly quickly, and you have to be much stricter with testing , because if the pump or cannula develop a problem and the pump can’t tell you about it, you have no long acting insulin and will go very high very quickly. But if you test regularly you should spot such problems early enough and be able to sort them out. And problems like that don’t happen too often!

Whatever pump you get you’ll hopefully love it in the end, there are very few people who would change back once they've swapped.
Click to expand...
Thankyou so much!! That’s so much useful information I’ll be noting everything own in preparation. I too have rarely come across a pump user who would go back to pens ! I’m hoping I’ll feel the same ! 🙂
 
SB2015 said:
Hi, great to hear you have been offered a pump.

I haven’t used an Omnipod, but have had a pump for eight years now. I would definitely not go back to pens. This switch dropped HbA1c by 10, and the Libre did the same.

It is a lot of work at the start and takes a bit of time to get used to it. The first day was nerve racking but there was plenty of support from the rep and DSN. It makes my life a lot more flexible and I like being able to change how I deliver my Bolus, at the press of a button up my basal insulin or lower it if I am about to do exercise. No need to plan so far ahead.

Pumping Insulin is an excellent book by Gary Sheiner. It deals with all the different things you need to do and has recently been updated.

There are loads of pumpers on here and most of the issues are general, but there is also @stephknits who is an Omnipod user too. Just keep the questions coming.
Click to expand...
Thankyou so much!! That’s so helpful! Congrats on the huge improvement to your hba1c!! I hope my diabetic nurse will be as helpful ! 🙂
 
m1dnc said:
I'm about to change to the Omnipod too. I got an email yesterday booking my virtual training session for the end of September. The new kit hasn't arrived yet though as there seems to have been a delay in the supply line somewhere. I'm waiting to hear when it will be shipped.

This is my third pump system. One of the trickiest aspects to using a pump is getting your basal profile right for you, and you get used to making little adjustment and refinements regularly. I expect that when I go over to the Omnipod I'll just transfer my current profile. Since you're starting from scratch, your pump DSN or trainer will suggest an initial profile and you can then refine that as best suits you. I do remember that at first it seems that your whole diabetes life has started anew, but stick with it. I'm pretty sure I speak for most pumpers in saying that when you've got a hang of it, you will never want to go back.
Click to expand...
Thankyou!! Yes I definitely will try not to panic and want to revert back! It sounds like everybody on a pump loves it so I hope I’m one of those too! Thanks so much ! 🙂
 
Hi, yes I have the Omnipod - the old system, you will presumably be getting the dash. Essentially the same, just an updated PDM. I love it, particularly because I can stick it in a really good range of places and don't have to consider what I am wearing / how I will access it etc. I wear them on my arms, thighs, tummy and lower back currently. I like the fact you keep it on in the bath or when swimming etc as I'm sure if I had to take it off fora shower, I would then forget to put it back on, or I would take it off half way through an extended bolus or something.
You do have to remember your PDM if you go out though, as otherwise you can't bolus. Background still goes in though. Any questions, fire away
 
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