First Impressions: New, Smaller OmniPod
Clearly the new, smaller OmniPod is... new and smaller.
Demo Pod with Clear Shell
But is it different, better and will your BGs magically be perfect when you use it? Most importantly... is it still the OmniPod that you know and love? What follows are my unfiltered initial thoughts about the new OmniPod system. This blog is not a complete rundown of every change and feature, today I'm writing about the stuff that jumped out at me after using the new OmniPod for about a month. Arden has recently completed the first box of ten pods and I feel ready to share my thoughts on that experience. Okay, are you ready? Are you excited, nervous, wrought with fear? No need, it's pretty much the same OmniPod, just smaller, newer and with a few changes that I think are worth talking about.
Size
In my opinion, size doesn't matter as much as footprint. Insulet has said in the past that the new OmniPod is, "Approximately 1/3 smaller than the current pod". That sounds impressive, and it is, but what does it mean and are the measurements as important as the overall experience for the wearer? Let's take a look...
You can see in the images above that the new pod is smaller in dimension, though the numbers suggest not by much. That reduction, however seemingly insignificant, has created a footprint that changes the way the OmniPod interacts with even the smallest body and that is in my opinion, what is so exciting about the new pod.
Our first month with the new pods has shown me that the reduced footprint brings:
Less drag - During activity or motion, the pod doesn't pull when your body changes directions in the same way that the old pod did.
More site possibilities - Small or lean people can sometimes have trouble finding locations on themselves that don't present challenges. The new pod creates more sites for those people. One example is that Arden can now wear the pod on her lower back, a site that wasn't available to her with the first generation pod because of it's larger footprint.
Less noticeable - The reduction in overall size and height creates more opportunity for the pod to match up with your body's natural contours. The reduction in size has created a device that is one step closer to being a seamless part of the wearer. It may take years before a pump exists that the wearer can't feel, but this is definitely a positive step in that direction.
Smaller means lighter - Not 1/3 lighter but there is a noticeable difference when you hold the two in your hand.
Easier to hide under clothing - You know, cause it's smaller.
It's cuter - What, it is!
PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager)
One day last year Arden's 1st gen pod experienced an error about four minutes before her bus was about to pull up to our home and I was able to change that pod without Arden missing her bus. How could I do it so fast? Muscle memory. I was at the point where I didn't need to look at the buttons during the insertion process, I'd done it so many times over the years that it was like typing. I had no need to look at the keys or even pay complete attention to what I was doing because I'd done it so many times before.
With the new system I find myself looking down at the PDM and perhaps that's not a bad thing. There are a few new screens and some redundancies that are meant to add safety. I can see how they were needed and I don't imagine that it will take users of the previous PDM very long to learn them. New users shouldn't be bothered greatly by the differences because none of the new screens are ridiculously unneeded or difficult to maneuver. It's my understanding that some changes were deemed necessary by the FDA so, like them or not, they are here to stay. Here are two examples of new screens:
If you look at the image below you will see that the new PDM requires that you confirm who you are before beginning. If you look closely you'll see that the "Confirm" button even changes positions each time that the PDM comes online. This may not be a safety issue for most people but in households with multiple people using an OmniPod, it's a big deal. You don't want to bolus the wrong person, a problem that is increasingly more possible with the new PDM's stronger signal range. Temp basal adjustments now require an extra step but the process removes the confusion that some experienced in the past by asking you up front if you want to increase or decrease the basal rate. Bonus, you are now informed of when the temp basal will begin and end on the final temp basal screen (I like that feature).
Signal strength - So this is a feature that I think may only matter to caregivers of people who use the OmniPod. I don't imagine many adults are being bolused by another person, so signal distance probably isn't an issue for them. Having said that, the signal distance is greatly improved. In fact the distance is a vast improvement over the first generation PDM and it even works through some walls and floors (Though not as well as the DexCom G4). Take note that the PDM can still have an issue finding the pod at close range if your body is shielding the pod. Overall, the improvement is amazing... if you don't believe me you can check out this video that I recorded and see for yourself.
Nuts and Bolts and Stuff that went wrong.
We've had three pod failures during the first box and I'll admit that I was worried for a few minutes but it's been smooth sailing since then. Coincidence? Early product issues? I don't know. What I do know is that Arden has been using the OmniPod for a very long time and we've maybe had, I'm guessing, twenty that have needed to be replaced in four years. The strangest part about OmniPod errors is that they come (At least in this house) in bunches. We can go six months without one and then have three in a month. It's difficult at times not to look into things too deeply when that happens but in the end, it always seems more like a fluke to me than anything else. Plus, other pumps have their own issues that OmniPod doesn't, so I take the spectacularly good with the bad.
Here's where I love OmniPod and the recyclable nature of the pump. I bet that we've all experienced an error that sometimes requires us to send the pod back to Insulet for inspection. Those pods help the company to learn why errors are happening and when they have their answers, they are able to make adjustments to future production runs that eliminate the issue. In short, OmniPod is able to upgrade their pump without having to replace each users device and that only benefits the consumer.
So, does it suck when three out of ten pods fail, it does. Did I get pissed when that happened, I did. Did Arden complain about having to change her pod three times in five days, you better believe it. Do I have more than a reasonable expectation that this won't be the situation for every box we receive, absolutely. Am I hopeful that six months from now the issue we experienced will be eradicated, I am.
Other Stuff
Apparently filling a new pod with more than 200 units of insulin can cause an error. Be on the lookout for a communication from Insulet about that soon. In the meantime, don't fill your pods with more than 200 units.
The syringe that fills the pod has a much short needle than previously.
The cannula is blue now so you can see it easier after it has deployed.
The PDM reminds you to test after a new pod has been placed.
There's a little window on top of the new pod that turns pink when the cannula has been properly inserted.
The cannula now enters at a different angle, Arden doesn't notice the difference and insulin delivery is unchanged.
Insulet Customer support has been overwhelmed of late making it nearly impossible for customers to get their calls through. I've had trouble and I know from watching online conversations that so have most of you. The other day however, on August 31st, a CSR picked up my call on the first ring. That experience led me to wonder if Insulet was perhaps getting a handle on the problem, so I reached out to the company and asked if they would like to make a statement here on Arden's Day about the recent trouble they've had answering the phone.
With regards to customers calling for service, we realize that we haven't lived up to our usual standards lately, and we apologize sincerely to anyone who's experienced this first hand. We can assure you that it is our foremost priority to get back to our usual high standards of service. Our customer support teams have worked around the clock to respond to all inquiries in a timely manner, and in response we've done our best to expand the teams to match the high demand. As we've ramped up, and as we're getting closer to having converted all of our OmniPod wearers, we're also experiencing better service levels. We're not quite there yet, but we're seeing good improvement. To clarify a little bit, the nature of phone calls are manifold, and the teams equipped to respond to certain types of calls are not one and the same because they require different types of expertise. Unfortunately, while a majority of calls have been related to orders, you will find that some of these calls end up with our product support teams and vice versa. Billing is an example where we don't receive a lot of calls typically. We do acknowledge the inconvenience and disruption this has caused to some, and for that we're truly sorry. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we finalize the transition of all users onto the new OmniPod. - Hjalte Hojsgaard, Director of Marketing for Insulet
Final thoughts
The overall size decrease is amazing, a smaller footprint means everything to kids wearing the OmniPod insulin pump.
I wish the transition went a lot smoother than it did but I'm hopeful that many lessons were learned about product transition as well as how to navigate the world of the FDA while seeking clearance for a new device.
Arden likes the new OmniPod a lot!
I don't see any changes in Arden's BGs with the new pod. They aren't any better or any worse.
We haven't experienced any change in adhesive potency. Swimming and bathing are all status quo for Arden.
Arden wants me to tell you that the sequence of clicks that occur before insertion has changed. Those of you who prepare yourself mentally for the needle buy counting those clicks will need to adjust.
I'm already excited to see what the next generation of improvements will bring!
Update: Arden just received a new supply of OmniPods from Insulet and this note was included in the order. on 2013-09-25 15:05 by Scott Benner
Important! I am currently providing Insulet with six written pieces for their blog Suite D. Two have already run, one will post soon and three more are on the way. I was compensated for my writing. Please know this, no freelance job is more valuable to me than the integrity of Arden's Day and the information that we (You and I) use to make important decisions about the health of the people that we love. If there was something bad to say about the new pods or if I had any concerns about something Insulet related, I would say so here without hesitation. Insulet has never asked me to have thoughts that aren't my own and if they did or ever do, I would decline. I am only compensated for the writing that I do for their blog and I am not compensated in any other way. My family pays the full amount that our insurance doesn't cover when we buy Arden's Omnipods.
Left, Left, Left, Right, Left.
Arden's right hand knows a secret that her left hand doesn't, but it wants to tell...
I know that there are days when you worry about your child's ability to adapt and grow with type I diabetes - I worry too. That's why I loved it when Arden came to me recently for help becasue she couldn't figure out how to test the fingers on her right hand. Arden is right-handed and the other day she came to me and said that she knows she needs to vary the fingers that she uses for testing more frequently. The problem with that... she can't seem to hold the lance properly with her left hand.
This was maybe some of the best news that I heard all summer, here's why. First, it means that she really does hear the conversations about site rotation and she understands them. Second, she hit a speed bump and wasn't afraid, embarrassed or nervous to ask for help. Last of course, she is taking ownership of her diabetes, slowly, as she is prepared to do so. Diabetes on her terms, I love it!
The rest of the tale isn't as story book. I too wasn't able to hold the lance properly left-handed and after two tries she, a bit annoyed, took it from me and then proceeded to similarly fail at the task. So while the core issue was left unresolved, all that the issue shed light on is now out in the open and cause for celebration. That celebration only resides however, in my head and on this blog, two places where Arden doesn't have access. I did tell her that I was proud that she was thinking about rotating and we spoke for a few minutes about the fact that it would take some practice to use her left hand for the task, but I didn't make a big deal about it, not to her. I am however, celebrating in my head. This was a great moment and a clear sign of maturity and understanding.
Hey FDA, what about diabetes!?
From diaTribe:"The Food and Drug Administration has begun to hold a series of patient meetings to gain a better understanding of specific diseases. Over the next five years, the agency plans to conduct at least 20 such meetings on conditions ranging from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Narcolepsy to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.But not diabetes. That is unacceptable.Four “slots” remain open (view the current list), and we want the FDA to add diabetes to its meeting docket for 2013.According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 26 million Americans have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and an additional 79 million have prediabetes. Those numbers are also increasing each year – the CDC estimates that if current trends continue, one in three US adults will have diabetes by 2050.No one disputes that diabetes is one of America’s – and the world’s – most serious health epidemics. In 2012, more than one in five total US healthcare dollars was spent on diabetes, totaling $245 billion, and the government covered 62% of those costs, meaning everyone is paying for this epidemic. Despite growing needs, research dollars have also leveled off.New therapies need to be investigated, tested, and brought to market, and as part of that process, the FDA must understand the daily challenges that patients face.We need to tell our story to the FDA: about the need for accurate strips, more physiologic insulin, a broader range of drugs, and the Artificial Pancreas.Our voices need to be heard.
Thank you very much."
Seven Years Later
It's 2:45 in the morning on August 22, 2013 and I can't sleep. I'm tired but not in the way that I remember tired feeling seven years ago. Seven years ago when I felt tired, I'd shut my eyes and go to sleep, the process felt natural and without repercussion. Seven years later, I forget what it's like to feel refreshed. I sleep when I'm able and stay awake when it's necessary. Tonight I'm up fighting with a few spoonfuls of a bedtime snack that seems to want to keep Arden's BG at 250.
I checked Facebook, perused Twitter, read your blog comments, made notes for myself so I won't forget to do some important things tomorrow and so now I'm downstairs writing to all of you. It's 2:52 now and in a few minutes Arden will have type I diabetes for seven years.
I remember the emergency room doctor coming into the room, he looked tired and he didn't make eye contact immediately upon entering. I knew he was going to tell us something terrible, I could feel it. Kelly and I sat next to each other in a palatable pool of sadness, waiting for him to confirm what we already feared was true.
The next two years were among the worst that I've ever experienced, but today, seven years later, I'm mostly okay and Arden is great!
It's exactly 3 AM now, the clock turned while I was looking for a passage from my book to share with you. I looked up and saw the time move forward when I heard, and I can't believe this just happened, when I heard Arden's DexCom beep twice at exactly 3 AM. That seemed like a sign until I realized that thing beeps all damn day... Anyway, I could search my mind all night for the right words to explain what I've learned in the last seven years, but I think I already found them when I wrote my book...
People can make claims about how to navigate personal turmoil, and there is a literal ton of books to help you get through life’s terrible moments. I only have one piece of advice, and I can lend it to you with the full knowledge that it served me well.
Don’t stop and don’t give up.
Some days will bring the weight of the world to you—don’t stop. There will be times that those days turn into weeks—don’t give up. There is a wonderment of understanding on the other side of your struggle, and it’s worth getting to. These days and weeks that seem as though they exist only to torture you and the people that you love—they teach. The pain strengthens you and the dings in your soul aren’t as deteriorating as they initially seem. In the end, they are reshaping it, and it’s up to you to decide what shape it will take.
Join The Strip Safely Tweet-In, August 21st at 8pm EST
Strip Safely is headed by my friend and DOC legend, Bennet Dunlap. In my opinion, when Bennet says something is important for me to pay attention to... it's important. I hope you can send some tweets tonight! - Best, Scott
Taken from www.stripsafely.com
On Wednesday, August 21st beginning at 8pm Eastern, we are staging a StripSafely Tweet-In, asking Congress to send aides to the upcoming Diabetes Technology Meeting on September 9th.
Please join us and add your voice.
We’ve made it easy. Simply go to the Let’s Tweet page of Stripsafely.com, find your state and click the link listed next to your senators and congressmen. We’ve already created the message – you just need to tweet it out. (Don’t forget the leadership at the top of the page – we can all tweet to them!)
Then, please, get creative and send additional positive messages to help the diabetes community build friends in Congress. Include the hash tag #StripSafely. Feel free to use this link to our letter in your tweets.
Diabetes isn’t partisan about whose life it impacts. We shouldn’t be partisan in seeking support for our health.