Jan 18

A1C Update

By Cary diabetes, OmniPod 1 Comment »

May 2010 – 6.3%
January 18 2011 – 6.0%

I’ll take my .3% drop; knowing that I still need to reduce variability. Reducing highs and lows are really the only improvement I can make to my numbers at this time.  Going into my A1C check I knew I would clock in under 6.5% easily – just look at the numbers in the meter and it’s evident.

I put a huge order in for Rx’s – will be going back on my Lantus/OmniPod regimen – a modified version of the Un-Tethered Regimen that is more comfortable to workout with and suppresses my BG very well.  For some reason I have a very difficult time running while on the OmniPod (it tends to bounce or feels like it is bouncing irregularly in certain spots).

In other news, I continue to be interviewing for my Diabetes Dream Team; Average Joe/Jane Endocrinologist need not apply. Only looking for those looking to push the envelope and try new things on my silly diet and lifestyle (and you have to be interesting me too). I’m fickle.

Dec 14

Rethinking the OmniPod Long Term

By Cary diabetes, OmniPod, pumping 7 Comments »

Between myself and a friend we have lost almost an entire box of pods due to Pod failure in the past six weeks. Astronomical failure rate in a business where failure is death. I already have a list of complaints that still need to be fixed — but failure is not an option for Pods.  This morning I was pretty cranky — waking up at 6am with an empty Pod, go to fill a Pod and even before priming getting the siren of death. Angrily smashing it with a screwdriver helped.

Starting in 2011 I will likely take another pump vacation but hang on to the OmniPod for the time being too for cycling and busy work days at the office.

Insulet/OmniPod customer service is always polite, but not able to truly speak openly about the failure of the product or what they are doing to correct the situation. Maybe when a manager calls back they’ll ship me the replacement Pod as I requested and I even offered to pay the shipping on. Alas, it sounds like I will have to wait for my next shipment.

Customer Service follies: when something fails — fix it today; not when I get my next re-order since there may not be a next order.

My allegiances lie with patch-pumping; not OmniPod/Insulet. When the other players enter the market starting in 2012, we may end up with some real competition.

Update: As of Jan 2 I have lost almost an entire box of pods myself due to various pod failures (usually in the priming stage although some while wearing during the first 12 hours). It seems that OmniPod had a manufactoring issue that was disclosed at their investor conference call; but did not issue a recall since the phone-in complaints were only marginally higher (although noticable in their call center).  My wonder is what the people that toss the Pods and either use a new one or switch back to their old system.

Update 2: As of June 2011 – the last few months using a fresh box of pods has been quite sucessful.  Basically no failures.  And still, no competition to speak of as OmniPod gets closer to releasing their next gen pod (I hear talk of early 2012).

Aug 17

Long Distances, Sailing, Diabetes

By Cary diabetes, OmniPod, sailing No Comments »

I have the privilege of being able to do many distance races over the years (sailing, cycling, etc).  But when a race becomes a multi-day affair things get complicated quickly.  With the OmniPod, I only have a maximum of 3.5 days of life.  What’s my backup?  Well, it may surprise you, but it’s not another Pod.  It’s heading back to MDI. Rocking and rolling at sea is not easy to load up the pod and keep it flat while it initializes; however, I’ve been giving myself shots long enough to be comfortable with a tiny pen needle in pitch black (or my red-light headlamp to keep my night vision stable).  And I’ve made the mistake of moving it once during the initialization process — the Pod just kills itself.

As I’ve mentioned before about “feeding the basal” (taking more Lantus, or basal in the pump than is required to sustain a BG).  I do this so I can eat small snacks throughout the day and not need to test/bolus for everything I eat.  My PDM rarely comes out of its plastic bag, and never comes topside (it always stays down below in my bag).

This weekend we are headed for a 150 mile sailing race.  Should be a 24-30 hour event.  I’ll put a new Pod on 12-24 hours before heading out.

Diabetes Packing List

  • Waterproof bag 1: PDM w/vial of test strips & pricker
  • Waterproof bag 2 (backups): meter, test strips, pricker, lantus & novolog pen + pen needles
  • Waterproof bag 3 (Pod backup): 2x backup Pods, vial of Novolog, alcholol wipes
  • Secret Stash: 1x bottle coke, small candy, Gu

Notice that this is not a lot of stuff.  My sailing gear takes up 98% of my bag – no room for excess stuff that I will not use (but I could live for a week in survival mode with what I bring).

Aug 06

OmniPod Correction Bolus / IOB

By Cary diabetes, OmniPod 2 Comments »

A while back I wrote about how the OmniPod calculates IOB in a different way than my old pump.  The OmniPod does not take into account meal boluses for IOB — only corrections.  I gave a small correction bolus today forgetting a large meal bolus I took earlier in the day and ended up stacking my insulin until coming crashing down.  Going back through the history of the pump, it is evident that I should not have taken that bolus.  Really wishing I could modify the software on this pump occasionally.

It’s really great — until you get hung up on a small difference in the way they do something that does not jive.

Jun 10

OmniPod Complaints

By Cary diabetes, OmniPod 10 Comments »

I want to preface this post with the note that I am actually really enjoying the OmniPod and is has some really wonderful functionality.  It’s about 80% there. 

My current list of complaints about the OmniPod system:

  • Does not show Insulin left in the resivor until you are under 50u.
  • Will not calculate bolus after first insertion (had to wait for my IOB to clear before it would calculate) — I must have missed a step to enter my current IOB, so it turned off the calculator as a precaution. Nice safety feature–yet annoying.
  • Cannot change basal pattern without suspending basal.
  • PDM is much too large and has a button I will never use — “?”. And it does not even work for more than half the menus.  They could actually have designed the whole button interface with just four buttons and saved a ton of space (this is just asking for a iPhone like touch screen).
  • UI is a little slow (but I would say that about all Insulin Pumps) — I like to flick through menus quickly when I know where I am going.  Forcing me to slow down is annoying (but probably a safety feature to make me read it–while I actually am multitasking and not paying attention).
  • Food library is not very helpful since it seems to be quite arbitrary AND it does not let you bolus from it — I want it removed from my home page (best part of the Cozmo, I could REMOVE crap I didn’t want to see).
  • Calculates IOB in a strange way – only takes into consideration bolus on corrections, not food.  It is easier to stack boluses without realizing it.
  • Self-destruct mode – 3.5 days and the pod basically self destructs.  I would much prefer that I could set an amount of units to remain as basal in the event of emergency.  Basically, I want 10u that I cannot ever bolus, and will just deliver as basal at the end of the Pod.  Again, this is a safety thing that I really liked in the Cozmo (always important when you could be stuck at sea/on a mountain).
  • Screen quality is poor – cannot see in bright outdoor light and the screen scratches constantly.

Wants
Touch bolus on the pod.  It’s so obvious to me — not sure why it is not there. (Cozmo had it, it looks like the Solo system may have it too)

OmniPod likes are too easy — however, the funtions they highlight when they sell/advertise the device is completely backwards in my opinion.  It’s all about the automatic insertion. Stick it on, click go on the PDM, and it is done.

preload preload preload