Customer Stories

"With OmniPod, I can enjoy activities without having to worry about how long I’ve been disconnected or how to adjust my insulin to compensate for being disconnected."

 

Shane used to struggle with his diabetes regimen. He didn’t care for schedules or being restricted in the many activities he participates in. He found it difficult to move freely with the pump he was on and often worried about his infusion set getting pulled out. Since switching to the OmniPod System, Shane no longer has to worry about getting caught up in tubes or disconnecting to do certain activities–he has found a new sense of freedom. He eats when he wants, is active when he wants and worries less. For Shane, the OmniPod System makes diabetes management seem easier.

 

 

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 3 years old. My mother realized that something was wrong with me when I started urinating more often than normal. She took me to the doctor and they told her that I had diabetes—my parents were both very distraught over the situation.

I started out on injections and was on them until I turned 10 years old. With injections, I had to take many shots a day and had to eat at certain times of the day. I didn’t like the schedule I had to follow, so around my 10th birthday, I began using an insulin pump. I switched because the pump allowed me to eat whenever I wanted and I only had to be poked with a needle once every three days.

However, I began to find that it was difficult to move around freely with the pump I was on, because there was a good chance the infusion set would be yanked out of my body. I enjoy physical activities like swimming, running and biking, and the tubing interfered with all of them. The pump would fall out of my pocket and then the tubing would pull on the infusion set and pull it out from my body. Then I would have to change out the set. I had to either be very careful with my movements or disconnect my pump. It became really inconvenient sometimes.

My mother kept telling me to try the OmniPod just to see what I thought. I wasn’t too excited about switching off my current pump at that time, because I had been on it for so long; however, after trying the OmniPod out for a week, I could appreciate the freedom it offers over a pump with tubes. Soon after that, I officially switched to the OmniPod.

I really like not having a pump attached to me through a piece of tubing. I never have to disconnect the OmniPod to do certain things. I can enjoy activities without having to worry about how long I’ve been disconnected or how to adjust my insulin to compensate for being disconnected. It’s also simple to set a temporary basal rate for these times.

My favorite part of the OmniPod is its simplicity. From changing out the Pods to general everyday use, it all seems easier. With other pumps there were many different processes and pieces that I had to keep up with when changing sites, but with the OmniPod, all I have to do is fill the Pod with insulin and press a few buttons. The whole process is much quicker and more efficient.

Another feature of the OmniPod I like is that I can test my blood sugar with the PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager). It’s nice having all my blood sugar and bolus information accessible, because if I need to correct for a high, the blood sugar is already entered, and again, all I have to do is press a few buttons.

The OmniPod makes managing my diabetes easier. Not having to worry about my diabetes as much gives me more time to focus on school, and now that I’m 19 years old, the freedom of the OmniPod helps me to deal with my new independent lifestyle at college.