"The whole thing has been an
amazing change in my life. There is
no comparison. The OmniPod is
miles ahead."

 

As a child Robyn Cox had one dream: to train dolphins. And she saw no reason her diabetes should get in her way. But because Robyn’s schedule is constantly in flux, it’s tough to keep control with shots. Conversely, she’s in the water so much that she couldn’t use a conventional pump. Then Robyn’s doctor told her about OmniPod. “Suddenly this little bitty thing means I don’t have to think about injections. I can vary my schedule. I can be in the water as long as I need to. It stays exactly where I put it and I don't worry about anything getting kinked or tangled. You can’t even see it under my wetsuit,” Robyn laughs, “and the wetsuits are pretty tight. OmniPod has made all the difference in the world.”

 

 

When I was 13 years old, I started losing a lot of weight. I would come home from school, gorge myself, then go to sleep for the afternoon—but I was still getting thinner. I was an athlete, but I was losing muscle, too. Two of my aunts have diabetes, so my family recognized the symptoms. One aunt tested my blood sugar; it was high, and soon I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Because of my aunts, diabetes wasn’t a completely foreign disease; I knew what it entailed. But I was still scared. Like any 13 year-old, I didn’t want to be different.

Having diabetes was rough. I was used to being very active, but after the diagnosis I had to think about snacks and shots and keeping the insulin cool. It was a big adjustment. Originally, I took a shot in the morning and one at dinner, then watched my carbs during the day. But as diabetes education got better, and I learned more advanced techniques of caring for myself, I went to three and four shots.

It sufficed; I am in pretty good shape considering that I have had diabetes for 21 years. Was it easy? No. Would I want to go back? Never.

But until the OmniPod, injections were really my only choice, because of my career.

Around the time I was diagnosed with diabetes, I decided I wanted to be a dolphin trainer. A lot of kids visit a marine park, watch the trainers, and think, “That looks like fun. I’d like to do that.” But then they go on and get normal jobs. I never let go of my original dream. When I set my mind to something I tend to stay there, and I never thought of diabetes as an issue. I went to college, practiced my swimming, and got a job with a marine park when I graduated.

Of course there were roadblocks. It is hard to become scuba-certified when you have diabetes. I had to convince people that I was well-controlled, knew how to care for myself, and wouldn’t put myself or others in jeopardy. Another hurdle is my schedule; there is no regular schedule at all. Things stay different; the number of performances a day depends on the time of year. Some days I go in at 7 am; some days at 10. Some days I get off at 4 pm; some days at 10. Sometimes our performance schedule is intense; sometimes we just train, and play and build relationships with our animals. It is hard to keep control with shots.

Over the years, several doctors had suggested I go on a pump, but I am in the water so much it just wasn’t possible. There is no way I could wear a wetsuit without the tubing getting bent or kinked. Then my doctor told me about the OmniPod. The lack of tubing makes the whole thing possible, so I tried it.

I thought it was great.

Obviously, I have been taking injections for over 20 years and that is all I knew. Suddenly this little bitty thing means I don’t have to think about injections. I can vary my work schedule with no problem. I can easily adjust my insulin to my situation—considering whether I am going in early or late, how much physical activity I am doing, when I can eat. It has made all the difference in the world.

I never think about the Pod. I can wear it in the water as long as I need to. It stays exactly where I put it and I don't worry about anything getting kinked or tangled as I swim and work with the animals. You can’t even see it under my wetsuit—and the wetsuits are pretty tight. And because I don't have to take a shot, I can have lunch in my wetsuit; I just calculate everything in my PDM and go to lunch with no worries.

I think the PDM has a mind of its own. I just test, and it tells me my blood sugar. I tell it what I am going to eat—and if I don’t know the number of carbs I can look them up right there—and it does the calculations for me. I don’t have to think about anything. Plus it is much better at math than I am.

Not only is the OmniPod a lot easier, my control is much better. My A1C has gone down a point to a point and half. That is great.

The whole thing has been an amazing change in my life. The OmniPod is miles ahead. I am already recommending it to people. There is no comparison. OmniPod definitely makes diabetes a smaller part of my life.