Switching from Omnipod to T-Slim

[IsabelleLucy]

I have used the Omnipod for 5 years now and have mainly had good experiences. I opted for this pump initially because I couldn't bear the idea of a tubed pump. Roll forward to now and I'm 4.5 months into breastfeeding my second baby and I'm finding the blood sugar peaks and troughs really hard to manage this time around. I use Dexcom CGM which I got as part of a trial during pregnancy, and my team have now suggested that I may want to look at the Tandem T-Slim pump which can work with Dexcom as a closed loop system. I'm not sure what the best thing to do is. Managing my sugars is taking a lot of energy at the moment and having at least some of the effort taken off me would be great - but I'm still nervous about tubing!! Anyone made it similar move and can share their experience?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

One of our members sometimes suggests to people who are concerned about tubing to experiment with a yoyo and some sticking plaster(!)

I think most people are nervy about many of the unknown aspects of starting (or restarting!) on an insulin pump.

I was never particularly drawn to tubeless personally, but I still remember that nervousness about having a gadget attached 24/7 by a short piece of string before I started on my Minimed Veo. What about sleeping? Getting changed? Going to the loo??

In the end all my fears proved groundless, or simply melted away.

I loved how ‘low profile’ and discreet the actual site was. Which meant I could put them almost anywhere and not worry about sitting/leaning/sleeping on them.

As for all the other things, short term it’s super-easy to just disconnect (eg for getting changed) and then re-attach the tubing to the site afterwards - or even easier to just use the pump clip to hook the pump onto whatever and leave it hanging there for a few minutes.

Dex and Control IQ work great for me, and while it doesn’t mean you can switch off and hand over the reins entirely, I find that it improves the outcomes for me by gently evening out some wobbles, and steering things in the right direction. It’s less effective in managing rapid swings on its own, but does a great job with gentle nudging (which sometimes is enough to prevent the rapid swings from starting).

It’s added a good 10-15% of time-in-range to my average day, so what was once 60-70 with occasional 80, is now 80-90 with occasional 100%!

 

[Inka]

I don’t have the T Slim but have always had tubey pumps and wouldn’t change. I don’t even notice my pump (current pump is a Dana RS) or the tubing. I like the fact I can move my pump around depending on what I’m wearing; I like the fact I can disconnect it in seconds, and I personally think tubed pumps are better quality.

So, don’t fear the tubing! Get the right length, get the pump accessories that suit you, and you’ll soon find you’ll be patting yourself to make sure you actually have your pump on you!

I’m due a new pump soon and will probably get another Dana but if I had to choose between the Omnipod and the T Slim, I’d definitely go for the T Slim 🙂 Many people here are very pleased with it. If it helps you like it’s helped others, then it will be fantastic.

 

[IsabelleLucy]

Thank you both, very helpful responses. I guess I have to just try it and see. Stupid question but what do you do with yours when you are sleeping?! These are the sorts of things that worry me! I don't always wear pyjamas and even with them on I'd be worried about getting all tangled up in my sleep!

 

[Inka]

I wear a Hid-in belt - very smart, very soft. I’ve never got tangled in my tubing and I’m pretty clumsy! You can choose different lengths but I find it just stays against my body, depending on where my cannula is. It can be as short as 30cm. It’s really thin tubing and kind of ‘soft’ so bends as you need it and stays in a loop. It really isn’t an issue 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Stupid question but what do you do with yours when you are sleeping?! These are the sorts of things that worry me! I don't always wear pyjamas and even with them on I'd be worried about getting all tangled up in my sleep!

I clip it to whatever I’m wearing, but sometimes it just happily roams free.

This was something I was worried about too as I do roll about quite a bit while asleep (steady!), but in the end it turned out to be a complete non-issue.

I’ve never got tangled or pulled a set out while sleeping, and I dont give my pump a second thought at night now.

 

[PhoebeC]

Thanks for posting these questions, there’s will be my 2 options.
I know most say they wouldn’t change from a looped system even to a patch pump.