Real Life with Omnipod - A Podder® answers your questions!

With the Pod, I love that I put it on my body and completely forget about where it’s physically located for up to three days, until it’s time to change it. I don’t have to worry about my outfits, or finding pockets to put it in, or getting the wires caught, or connecting and disconnecting when I shower or swim. I put it on, and I get on with my life, whether that’s going to the gym or going out for dinner. The Pod just comes with me, whatever I’m doing. The technology of course must work, but feeling good about wearing it is important too.

When it comes to my health, accuracy of the doses really made a difference. With injections it’s hard to be precise, and for all the years I was using injections, I only got a pen that delivered 0.5 units in the last year - before that it was whole unit doses. With Pod Therapy I can track exactly what I’m bolusing down to 0.05 units, which is so much more precise! It’s easier to make little tweaks to try and keep my glucose levels in range.

When using the Omnipod System, being able to adjust my basal programmes in fine detail is so helpful. When I first started on Omnipod, I couldn’t believe that changing my basal dose from 0.5 units an hour to 0.75 units an hour could make a difference, but it really does! I’ve prevented so many hypos by setting a reduced temporary basal. That’s just not possible on injections.

Now using Omnipod 5, I know insulin will automatically decrease or pause.

Using the Omnipod System I used to split my bolus insulin for high fat high carb meals, which was a game changer. Being able to programme it all at once meant I didn’t have to remember to take the second part of the dose later. All these little capabilities mean I have different tools to manage my diabetes. They really have made a difference to my lifestyle in terms of feeling like diabetes isn’t holding me back or taking up so much of my time.

Does the Pod cannula insertion hurt?

For me it feels like someone flicking an elastic band on my skin. It’s not painful, but I do feel it. However, it’s very quick, and after the insertion I don’t feel the cannula at all.

How long does it take to change a Pod?

For me the bit that takes the longest is getting the insulin into the syringe without any air bubbles - I refuse to let any into my Pod! But I think once you get used to it, a Pod change doesn’t take more than 2-3 minutes.

Can you travel with Omnipod?

Yes! I’ve been on short-haul flights and long-haul flights - as far as Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Argentina. The key is in the planning, but it’s all possible and I always feel extra proud when I’m exploring a city or jumping into the sea somewhere new, because I know I’ve had to think about so many extra things to get myself there. It’s really empowering.

If you’re planning a trip with type 1 diabetes, there’s lots of helpful information about travelling with Omnipod here.

Is the Omnipod Pod waterproof^†? HOW waterproof^†?

I’m very active - I go to the gym multiple times a week, as well as running and cycling. I’ve jumped into lakes, oceans and pools - the Pod is waterproof^†!

What DOESN’T the Pod like?

For me, it doesn’t like extreme changes in temperature. These are obviously rare situations, but accidents can always happen, especially when you’re doing adventurous activities, so as long as you always carry a backup it doesn’t take long to get another one set up. 

The Pod’s operating temperature has been tested and found to operate safely between 5°C and 40°C. Under normal circumstances, your body temperature keeps the Pod within a range of 23°C and 37°C. It's not recommended to use the Pod outside of these tested limits.

What do you do with a screaming Pod?

A screaming Pod is when the Pod stops completely, either because it’s been running for longer than 80 hours (72 hours plus the eight-hour window after the Pod expires), or because it’s run out of insulin, or something like the above example which causes the Pod to occlude. It’s rare, but you can’t miss that sound!

Once you’ve removed the Pod, pull back the adhesive and you’ll see there’s a hole on the bottom side of the Pod (at the opposite end to the cannula). Push a paper clip or an earring into the hole to stop the noise and activate another Pod immediately. And enjoy the silence!

Does the adhesive stay on?

The Pod, which contains your insulin, sticks to your skin with adhesive. This takes away the need for tubing which was a big part of why I chose Omnipod.

It’s designed to stay on for the full 72 hours, and for me it absolutely does, even though as I mentioned I’m very active. But everybody is different and everyone’s skin is different, so the best way to try it would be a demo Pod*, which is an insulin-free ‘dummy’ Pod that has the same adhesive as the real Pods.

One thing I would say is that I wouldn’t put a new Pod on right before a shower or a sweaty gym class, for example. I like to give the adhesive a few hours to stick to my skin first! And it’s important to put it on clean skin - I once put it on after I’d moisturised without thinking, and it couldn’t stick to my skin, so it just slipped off a few hours later.

Were you nervous to have something attached to you when you switched from insulin pens to an insulin pump?

A little; it was the primary reason I didn’t switch to an insulin pump for many years. Back in 2015, I wasn’t using a glucose sensor either, so it was the first diabetes device I had attached to me.

The fact that Omnipod is tubeless really helped me make my decision. I knew I didn’t want tubing, but I had got to a point in my life where I really wanted the flexibility and dosage customisation that an insulin pump offers. It’s a complicated topic and I think it’s good to wait until the timing is right for you - it can seem like everyone online is on an insulin pump but that’s not the reality, and I’m glad I waited until I felt ready. Now I feel confident with my devices because we work so hard together to help me feel healthy, which means I can go out and live the life I want to live.

In the end I decided to give it a go with the reasoning that if I really didn’t like the insulin pump, I could switch back to insulin injections. But I haven’t looked back - I just feel so much more in control with an insulin pump. We’re a little team!

Do you have to fill the Pod up with insulin every time?

The Pod needs 85 units of insulin minimum, so you must put that much in for it to work but each Pod can store up to 200 units of insulin.  

I don’t go through that much in three days. Since my insulin needs vary daily, I checked my total daily insulin on the Personal Diabetes Manager/Controller and added a little extra to get to a good amount. This works for me although insulin requirements may differ depending on the individual.

Where on your body do you wear your Pod?

It's a personal preference, but for me it’s generally somewhere across my abdomen. My legs are more muscular, so the Pod doesn’t feel as comfortable, and I don’t like wearing it on my arms as my glucose sensor is normally there - but for a lot of people that’s their favourite spot!

For me it’s a balance of rotating my sites to avoid scarring and thinking about what I’ve got coming up in the next few days in terms of whether I want the Pod on show or not. For example, if I know I’m going to be doing a lot of running, I will wear the Pod lower on my abdomen where I know my running belt doesn’t catch it. If I’ve got a nice dress to wear for an event, I might think about where on my body the Pod will be most flattering or feel the most comfortable underneath my clothing.

The best way to find your favourite Pod placement spot is to try a few out. I’ve had a few accidents catching it as I’m pulling my jeans up, or hitting it with my handbag, but you don’t know until you try!

Refer to the Omnipod User Guide for a full list of approved Pod placement sites.

Do you need any extra patches or sprays?

Again, everybody’s different. I personally use Cavilon spray as a barrier to help prevent irritation, but not everyone needs this. I didn’t use anything for years, but my skin has recently become more sensitive. Hormones, eh?

Can the Pods go through airport scanners?

In a word, yes! The official line is that Omnipod Pods and Personal Diabetes Managers and Controllers can safely pass through airport x-ray machines, and Pods are safe to be worn through airport scanners.

From my experience, wearing a Pod doesn’t set off the alarm, but if I must have a pat down, I always warn the security staff that I am wearing an insulin pump and a glucose sensor before they start. Sometimes that means it needs to be swabbed, but that’s always been quick and nothing to worry about.

I don’t feel nervous unless I’m running late! I figure that airport security staff see all sorts of medical devices all the time, but I always have my doctor’s note and a copy of my prescription with me.

Take a look at this page on travelling with Omnipod for more information about passing through airport security with the Pod.

How long does one charge last on the Omnipod Controller or PDM?

I’m currently using the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System, and I plug my Controller in to charge it overnight at the same time as my phone. I think without charging it lasts around two days.

Can you sleep ok wearing a Pod?

Yes! Every night, without fail. I have my preferred Pod sites, so it’s about balancing that with the need to rotate the cannula sites to prevent scarring. I’d say the best way to find out your preferred sites is to try them out. If you tend to sleep on one side, then I would avoid putting it on your leg where you would be directly laying on it, for instance.

Can you… have sex while wearing a Pod?

One word: Yes.

Check out this blog post: Simplifying sex with Type 1 Diabetes: ‘In Bed with the Omnipod DASH® System’ and learn from someone’s real story!

When is the best time to change your Pod?

It’s a personal preference (are you sensing a theme here?). I try to time my Pod to expire in the evening, so that it’s more likely that I’m at home where I can change it easily without pressure or stress. Some people do it first thing in the morning, but I’m not prepared to have that expiration alarm interrupt any chance of more sleep!

You also have the eight-hour window after the Pod expires to keep using it, so if it’s not immediately convenient to change the Pod, it’s ok to wait. I have had the alarm go off in meetings or in the middle of the workday, it’s just the reality of life with type 1 diabetes!

Where is the weirdest place you’ve had to do a Pod change?

I’ve done them at work, on the bus, at festivals, on a plane, in the gym changing room - you name it. My priority is always looking after my health and getting a new Pod activated if I need one, to make sure I don’t stop my insulin delivery. I will try to take myself somewhere more private if I can, but it’s not always possible.

Do the different Omnipod Systems use the same Pods?

No. You need specific Omnipod 5 Pods, for example, to use Omnipod 5.

Why did you choose the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System over other hybrid closed loop systems?

I was really happy on my previous Omnipod. I wanted to continue with a tubeless insulin pump, and I was already using a glucose sensor so there were no extra devices to get used to.

Omnipod 5 was available when my previous Omnipod was due for renewal, so I jumped at the chance to try automated insulin delivery. Spoiler: it’s great!

What do you think of Omnipod 5?

The hybrid closed loop system is amazing! I just immediately didn’t have to work as hard or think as much to manage my diabetes. It’s not a complete fix - you still very much have to manage your diabetes and work with the technology. From my personal experience I am consistently achieving higher time in range now, but crucially with much less effort. I am sleeping better, I have more headspace, and I just feel like my diabetes is taking up less of my time every day. My high glucose levels aren’t as high, and I rarely have hypos now. Obviously, my feelings are influenced by the experience I’ve had of going from multiple daily injections to an insulin pump to a hybrid closed loop system.

How long did it take to get used to the hybrid closed loop system?

Unlike my first insulin pump where there was an adjustment period to get my basal settings right, with Omnipod 5 and automated insulin delivery it just instantly felt like it was working with my body and my needs. I think it was because I was already on an insulin pump, which meant I had all the correct insulin to carb ratios for example. The switch was a lot smoother.

The training session for the transition to Omnipod 5 was a few hours long and the Omnipod trainer went over everything I needed to know. It took a few Pods for the system to learn my total daily insulin needs, which is the basis of Omnipod 5 and automated insulin delivery. The adjustment settings are more restricted with the first Pod, but everything quickly felt like it was working well.

How does Omnipod 5 differ from other Omnipod Systems?

The biggest change for me was forgetting about temporary basals or switching basal settings. Automated Insulin delivery is all about total daily insulin. When it’s in Automated Mode, it’s just working away to move you towards your Target Glucose - a target that you personally set with your diabetes team.

Carb-counting as accurately as possible has been a big key to getting my bolus doses right, but if I do that, I generally avoid really extreme post-meal spikes. If my glucose level does go high, it doesn’t go anywhere near as high as before.

If I’m not eating or correcting, generally there is no interference required from me. So, the biggest change was probably realising that finally I didn’t have to work so hard to look after my health! That was and is the most incredible feeling.

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