Omnipod or MM??

[wvchinacat]

So Willow has now been dx since July (6 months today!! )  So about 2 monhts ago she started asking about the pump.  I have been on several boards and wathched several threads about pumping and I almost 100% that we will start soon - I am just not sure which to go with.  My DH is starting his OMnipod in January.  And I thought it would be so great if they were both on the same pump - but the MM rep really sold my girl on theirs.  So Willow REALLY wants the MM.  I think over time she is going to get tired of the tubing which is why I like the omnipod so much.  SHe is 7 and loves to wear dresses and in the summer with bikinis and such where will all that tubing go?  So I am torn - do I go with the pump that she wants or make the adult decision and go with what I think will be better in the long run.  I know that they are about a 4 year commitment (insurance wise)  And we are covered 100% so it does not matter what one we choose . . .

Any thoughts?  We are probably going to get the cgms too and I know it is built into the MM pump and separate with the OmniPod - but I don't seem to mind that . . .

Decisions decisions . . .

[garyscheiner]

Hi -

Thought I'd reply to the post from wvchinacat, regarding pump selection.  I've worn every kind of pump made since 1990, and train our clients on every kind as well.  They all have their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages (I've posted these in charts at my website:  www.integrateddiabetes.com; go to the pump section and click on the "comparisons" link).   

OmniPod is innovative in that it inserts the infusion set itself (no need to put them in manually), don't have tubing, and can be programmed using the remote control (so you don't have to hold your kid still during the programming).  The programmer has a built-in BG meter, but it is a bit bulky, and you can't program a thing without it.  You also cannot "disconnect" from the pod unless you take the whole thing off, and then you have to start a whole new one.  There is also a slight issue with how the programmer calculates "insulin on board", which helps prevent over-dosing for high BGs.

Medtronic has always been a market leader in pump therapy because their pumps are easy to learn, simple to program, and have innovative features like the incorported sensor data display and a tremendous online downloading/data analysis program called "Carelink" .  However, it is not waterproof (Omnipod is), and you do have tubing & infusion sets to deal with.

Bottom line is you can't really go wrong with whatever you choose, so long as you have expert guidance to help fine-tune the doses and teach you advanced management skills once you start on the pump.

- Gary Scheiner MS, CDE

[Betty]

We use the omnipod, we had the mm rep over too, but the omnipod sold itself for us. I can bolus at night without looking for a pump pouch , and I carry the PDM in my purse because my son is 6 and I am so glad we went with the omnipod. We love our Omnipod and wouldn't pick any other even if we could!
 
Like the previous poster said though, all the pumps are good so which ever pump you choose you really won't go wrong because they all give insulin.

[Lucysfam]

we use ANIMAS and my daughter loves it.  she did check into all the others, omni pod, the prob w/that is she's a girl and so she says it was too big a bulge to hide.  as for the line, i too thought it would be cumbersome, but not at all.  when she goes into the ocean, we always just disconnect and leave the pump on the beach!  never use any pump in the ocean, just incase it slips off, don't want to lose it!  and since they're in the water active, she really is always fine w/her bg #s.  also for omnipod my child also said, what if she forgets the handheld device?  (being 12, they do tend to forget things.)  animas has been great!  service is excellent!

[steve_99]

HI I have been diabetic for 37 yrs. Been on the MM pump for almost 10. Just changed to the Pod! I love it. No tubing is a godsend. The only thing I do not like is that you HAVE to change the pos when it tells you. WHen you get the warning it gives you 8 extra hours to change, but with the MM pump if things were good I would put more insulin in and use the same infusion set. The setup for the Pod is much faster and easier than the MM pump. I highly reccommend the Pod. We also have a group on yahoo dedicated to the Pod. You could get some good answers over there too.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/omnipodusers/

thanks

Steve

[BH05]

My daughter is 7 years old.  We have the MM revel with CGM and love it!  She tired the pod but did not like it.  It was too big for her liking.  The tubing has never really been an issue.  She wears dresses and just keeps the pump in a little pouch around her waist.  Swimming is not really an issue either we have a pool.  She just disconnects and swims and then reconnects when she is done.  We either give the missed basal as a bolus or she misses it if she is running low anyway.  We love the pump!

[jakesmom42]

Hello,
My son has been on the Pod since April 11,2011 and  it seems like a wonderful thing !!( for him i know it is , he was sooo sick of the shots ). I find that when we have to change out the pod for a new one his bs numbers seem to go up for a bit does anyone else have this problem with the pod or any other pump and what do you do about it?