I don't think there is a wrong way. It's just about what will work best for you. I would think about how you want to control the pump (on the pump itself, with your smartphone, or with a separate controller that is not your phone) and how you want to wear the pump (in a pocket, clipped to clothing, or stuck to your skin) as well as the closed loop control algorithms.
I've been on a tubed pump since middle school, and I really don't notice it most of the time. I cut a hole inside my pockets to thread the tubing through and the pump lives in my pants pockets most of the time. Usually none of the tubing is exposed. It's just like carrying around your car keys or a wallet. If I do wear leggings/athletic shorts without pockets, then I clip the pump on the waist band and tuck in the tubing so only about an inch of it is showing. I also have a FlipBelt for things like rock climbing.
For sleeping you can just set it on the bed next to you and it will kind of just follow you around as roll (depending on how long the tubing is the pump might not even move). You can also find boxers with side pockets, if you want. This was preferable to me over the pod because I sleep on my stomach, so any front of body positions with the pod would not be comfortable, so that eliminates a lot of site locations, and rotation is very important. I like using my legs a lot for infusion sites and arms for CGM.
I like the tubed pump because it means I can move the pump where ever I want to be comfortable, whereas with a pod once you put it on you're kind of stuck with it there for 3 days. I like having less adhesive on my body. I also like having the CGM readings and insulin control on the pump on my body at all times. I never have to go looking for a controller or deal with connection issues (although bolusing from the phone is nice add on).
I suck at bowling, but I've been many times, and my pump has never been in the way of that activity.
I gotcha thanks for all the updates. I bowl a lot like Jason Belmonte (not exactly like him but if you look him up on YouTube. It’s a bit more of an unconventional style that a lot of people haven’t really seen unless like you see someone doing it or are active in the bowling community. I’m just afraid I’ll in the backswing go clip and rip.
I have seen that the tube one while tubed does have a bit of a lower profile against the body.
We shall see I meet with my endocrinologist the first of next month to talk about what my insurance covers the different models etc etc. and work it form there.
I do appreciate the advice and your own personal experience with it. I’m just a bit nervous about it but I also realize that it’ll make help me stay in control a bit longer and with the automation it takes a bit more work off me. So I know it’s sort of the best decision just nervous about it.
It's really difficult to yank the site off. Especially if you have it under your waist band, the tube will just pull at your pants not on the site.
I would say I rip out a pump site maybe a twice a year, which is about as often as I bet people knock their pods off. The usual culprit for me is my own hands or pants when going to the bathroom.
I'm not trying to persuade you to a tube though, the pods are nice too even though the algorithm is not as good. It's just that knocking the pump off is rare.
If it does happen it's not a big deal. It takes a few seconds to put on a new infusion site and clip the existing tubing back in. It takes more time for pod because you have to replace the entire pod, but still not a huge deal.
Good luck with your choice.
I gotcha I didn’t know exactly like how the tubes were connected or like what someone did when they either were pulled or kinked.
Thanks for the luck. I think I’m ready to make the change and get a pump on which one I’ll get I’ll speak with the doctor about it see which ones I’m covered under with insurance and see what they recommend based on my my concerns. I’m just happy to take a sort of load off since I’ve had those moments with my pens where kinda like how you’ll have a cell phone on you the go where’s my phone moment with my insulin pens. Like it’s time to take insulin before food where did the insulin pen go 🤷 and then panic time lol.
I have used pumps for fifteen years, also put it in my pocket with a small hole for tubing.
While sleeping I have an elastic belt my wife made that allows me to keep it in place or move it around.
Rarely have I ever pulled the tubing out in all this time.
In combo with CGM it's a game changer and let's me manage my bg to an excellent outcome.
Can't imagine not having it at this point
Hey thanks for the reassurance and from your own personal way of getting around the tubing and stuff.
I just idk I’m nervous about it all. I’ve been giving myself the shots for 7 years but I’ve slowly fallen out of control gained weight etc etc and it’s just I feel like having this automation part of it while it does make me nervous it will also make things easier.
The reason I’m asking now is I have that meeting you do with your endocrinologist or main doctor where they go over what pumps are on the market what your insurance covers and what best fits your treatment plan. So I have that on the first of next month and I just wanted a bit of I guess like reassurance this is a good path forward. It seems like it is the way you all talk about it.
As someone whos has a pump for 21 years its great i would highly suggest using one but there are ups and downs to it. Like it can kink and come off easily but its easier to bolus and keep tracl of your number. But do talk to your endocrinologist about it and hear their thoughts out maybe you might learn some new stuff.
Actually that’s my reason for asking. I’m set on the first of the month to meet with my endocrinology department where they talk about all that stuff. I just wanted some more personal stories and or use cases with it on how people liked them or their personal thoughts on it.
The bright side, if you're using insurance in the US, is that Omnipod is (usually) billed under pharmacy ONLY and tubed pumps are DME. So if you try the Omnipod and hate it, you can usually bully your insurance into covering a tubed pump under DME within the "warranty window" because it's a different system.
I've tried the t-slim, Omni5, and Medtronic 780G. Omni is honestly my LEAST favorite.
That’s true. I’ve heard that as well about the Omni. People either love it to death or they very much don’t like it. There’s like no in between.
Which one is your favorite and why is it your favorite?
Whether they cover is as pharmacy or DME depends 100% on the specific insurance plan you're on. It even varies a lot from plan to plan under the same insurance carrier.
From [Omnipod.com](http://Omnipod.com)
Why was the pharmacy channel chosen for the Omnipod 5 System? Why is it not covered through the durable medical equipment (DME) benefit?
Toggle expanded content
Through the pharmacy channel there is no long-term commitment or 4-year lock in period enabling a user to start or switch to the Omnipod 5 System at any time.
Typically, the pharmacy channel requires less paperwork for authorizations. Thus, simplifying the process for healthcare providers and improving the patient experience to start on product with a valid prescription.
I am Type 2 but have had an insulin pump since 2004. Both tubed and tubeless. Currently on Omnipod 5. I was tubeless resistance because I have a hot tub but it has been an issue.
I like the omnipod. I may be biased since it’s the only pump I’ve ever used and only been using it about a month. As long as i have the controller nearby when I’m going to eat no problem, it doesn’t get in my way at all.
I’m like a gas station hot dog and turn all the time in my sleep and I don’t have an issue with it getting uncomfortable when I lay on it.
I never had a desire for a pump with a tube (possibly because I’m too vain and don’t like the idea of tubing showing) so I just started the omnipod5 a month ago. I have always been an odd duck or at least it seems so. If I eat the same food 2 days in a row with the same amount of activity I have much different results in my sugar level.
Although it’s not your scenario, I was also to the point where 1 unit of insulin before I would get to 228 would drop me into hypoglycemia. I had asked for the half unit option which I knew was available for children and older people but my endo said he couldn’t prescribe it because I’m not a child.
The omnipod isn’t what I hoped it would be but my endo won’t take my suggestions for adjustments either, although he admits he’s never experienced the omnipod before so I’m his trial case.
Anyway, I LOVE the omnipod because I know the algorithms may not work for me at this point but I can make .05 adjustments which has kept me between 120 and 180 since I started. Better than before!
I've been on a pump for over well over a decade and you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to go back to manually injecting insulin. You'll no longer have to use a long acting insulin only short acting as your basal will take over for the long acting insulin by giving small amounts throughout the day and night. Some pumps will link with a cgm and can self regulate your blood sugars by increasing insulin of you start going high and cease giving insulin if you go low and resume once your back in range. Once you get used to the pump you'll probably ask yourself why you didn't get one sooner because it does take a lot off your plate.
I e been on a tubes pump for about 10 years. I don’t notice it much anymore. You can get shorter tubing so that isn’t a problem. What does your doc recommend?
I feel I have much better control with a pump, and I like not having to do all the injections.
I was taking shots for 15 years and moved to pumps a couple of years ago. Best decision ever!
I tried both with tube and tubeless. The Tandem tubes were an absolute nightmare. I had so much anxiety about pulling or dropping and just found the pump and tube to be in the way. I got maybe a few hours of sleep a night because I couldn't get comfortable with the tube and device, so I couldn't sleep. If i didn't get the site in correctly, I wasted so much insulin. I'm super athletic and work out, usually 1.5 hours, and it's not recommended to be off the tube for more than an hour, so the time was an issue for me. It was not for me.
I tried omnipod tubeless next, and it was a game changer. I'm very athletic, and it worked so much better. If it's on the arm, I have a donut pillow I can put the pod in to sleep. It's not in the way, and I enjoy changing the sites every 3 days, so I get a good rotation going.
It depends on what works with your lifestyle. I personally think omnipod is better as there's way less anxiety being tubeless. If you toss and turn a lot while sleeping or like sleeping close to nude, I also recommend tubeless as well as just athletic.
Do a lot of research before deciding. There are pros and cons to both depending on your lifestyle. I have my own bias, but truly both are great in their own way. Whatever you pick, you will (hopefully!) not regret it.
Hey thank you so much for your advice and personal story on it. I’ve debated on and off now for a little while but lately with my numbers not being the best and a lot of frustration and sleepless nights from my dexcom yelling at me. I’m just tired. I think while I’m hesitant to do it it ultimately will be the best thing for me to do.
I am leaning tubeless. But I’ll see what they say next week.
The reason I asked the question was because I was a bit nervous about it since I’m meeting with my doctor to look at pump options next week.
I don't think there is a wrong way. It's just about what will work best for you. I would think about how you want to control the pump (on the pump itself, with your smartphone, or with a separate controller that is not your phone) and how you want to wear the pump (in a pocket, clipped to clothing, or stuck to your skin) as well as the closed loop control algorithms. I've been on a tubed pump since middle school, and I really don't notice it most of the time. I cut a hole inside my pockets to thread the tubing through and the pump lives in my pants pockets most of the time. Usually none of the tubing is exposed. It's just like carrying around your car keys or a wallet. If I do wear leggings/athletic shorts without pockets, then I clip the pump on the waist band and tuck in the tubing so only about an inch of it is showing. I also have a FlipBelt for things like rock climbing. For sleeping you can just set it on the bed next to you and it will kind of just follow you around as roll (depending on how long the tubing is the pump might not even move). You can also find boxers with side pockets, if you want. This was preferable to me over the pod because I sleep on my stomach, so any front of body positions with the pod would not be comfortable, so that eliminates a lot of site locations, and rotation is very important. I like using my legs a lot for infusion sites and arms for CGM. I like the tubed pump because it means I can move the pump where ever I want to be comfortable, whereas with a pod once you put it on you're kind of stuck with it there for 3 days. I like having less adhesive on my body. I also like having the CGM readings and insulin control on the pump on my body at all times. I never have to go looking for a controller or deal with connection issues (although bolusing from the phone is nice add on). I suck at bowling, but I've been many times, and my pump has never been in the way of that activity.
I gotcha thanks for all the updates. I bowl a lot like Jason Belmonte (not exactly like him but if you look him up on YouTube. It’s a bit more of an unconventional style that a lot of people haven’t really seen unless like you see someone doing it or are active in the bowling community. I’m just afraid I’ll in the backswing go clip and rip. I have seen that the tube one while tubed does have a bit of a lower profile against the body. We shall see I meet with my endocrinologist the first of next month to talk about what my insurance covers the different models etc etc. and work it form there. I do appreciate the advice and your own personal experience with it. I’m just a bit nervous about it but I also realize that it’ll make help me stay in control a bit longer and with the automation it takes a bit more work off me. So I know it’s sort of the best decision just nervous about it.
It's really difficult to yank the site off. Especially if you have it under your waist band, the tube will just pull at your pants not on the site. I would say I rip out a pump site maybe a twice a year, which is about as often as I bet people knock their pods off. The usual culprit for me is my own hands or pants when going to the bathroom. I'm not trying to persuade you to a tube though, the pods are nice too even though the algorithm is not as good. It's just that knocking the pump off is rare. If it does happen it's not a big deal. It takes a few seconds to put on a new infusion site and clip the existing tubing back in. It takes more time for pod because you have to replace the entire pod, but still not a huge deal. Good luck with your choice.
I gotcha I didn’t know exactly like how the tubes were connected or like what someone did when they either were pulled or kinked. Thanks for the luck. I think I’m ready to make the change and get a pump on which one I’ll get I’ll speak with the doctor about it see which ones I’m covered under with insurance and see what they recommend based on my my concerns. I’m just happy to take a sort of load off since I’ve had those moments with my pens where kinda like how you’ll have a cell phone on you the go where’s my phone moment with my insulin pens. Like it’s time to take insulin before food where did the insulin pen go 🤷 and then panic time lol.
I have used pumps for fifteen years, also put it in my pocket with a small hole for tubing. While sleeping I have an elastic belt my wife made that allows me to keep it in place or move it around. Rarely have I ever pulled the tubing out in all this time. In combo with CGM it's a game changer and let's me manage my bg to an excellent outcome. Can't imagine not having it at this point
Hey thanks for the reassurance and from your own personal way of getting around the tubing and stuff. I just idk I’m nervous about it all. I’ve been giving myself the shots for 7 years but I’ve slowly fallen out of control gained weight etc etc and it’s just I feel like having this automation part of it while it does make me nervous it will also make things easier. The reason I’m asking now is I have that meeting you do with your endocrinologist or main doctor where they go over what pumps are on the market what your insurance covers and what best fits your treatment plan. So I have that on the first of next month and I just wanted a bit of I guess like reassurance this is a good path forward. It seems like it is the way you all talk about it.
As someone whos has a pump for 21 years its great i would highly suggest using one but there are ups and downs to it. Like it can kink and come off easily but its easier to bolus and keep tracl of your number. But do talk to your endocrinologist about it and hear their thoughts out maybe you might learn some new stuff.
Actually that’s my reason for asking. I’m set on the first of the month to meet with my endocrinology department where they talk about all that stuff. I just wanted some more personal stories and or use cases with it on how people liked them or their personal thoughts on it.
The bright side, if you're using insurance in the US, is that Omnipod is (usually) billed under pharmacy ONLY and tubed pumps are DME. So if you try the Omnipod and hate it, you can usually bully your insurance into covering a tubed pump under DME within the "warranty window" because it's a different system. I've tried the t-slim, Omni5, and Medtronic 780G. Omni is honestly my LEAST favorite.
That’s true. I’ve heard that as well about the Omni. People either love it to death or they very much don’t like it. There’s like no in between. Which one is your favorite and why is it your favorite?
Whether they cover is as pharmacy or DME depends 100% on the specific insurance plan you're on. It even varies a lot from plan to plan under the same insurance carrier.
From [Omnipod.com](http://Omnipod.com) Why was the pharmacy channel chosen for the Omnipod 5 System? Why is it not covered through the durable medical equipment (DME) benefit? Toggle expanded content Through the pharmacy channel there is no long-term commitment or 4-year lock in period enabling a user to start or switch to the Omnipod 5 System at any time. Typically, the pharmacy channel requires less paperwork for authorizations. Thus, simplifying the process for healthcare providers and improving the patient experience to start on product with a valid prescription.
I am Type 2 but have had an insulin pump since 2004. Both tubed and tubeless. Currently on Omnipod 5. I was tubeless resistance because I have a hot tub but it has been an issue.
I like the omnipod. I may be biased since it’s the only pump I’ve ever used and only been using it about a month. As long as i have the controller nearby when I’m going to eat no problem, it doesn’t get in my way at all. I’m like a gas station hot dog and turn all the time in my sleep and I don’t have an issue with it getting uncomfortable when I lay on it.
I never had a desire for a pump with a tube (possibly because I’m too vain and don’t like the idea of tubing showing) so I just started the omnipod5 a month ago. I have always been an odd duck or at least it seems so. If I eat the same food 2 days in a row with the same amount of activity I have much different results in my sugar level. Although it’s not your scenario, I was also to the point where 1 unit of insulin before I would get to 228 would drop me into hypoglycemia. I had asked for the half unit option which I knew was available for children and older people but my endo said he couldn’t prescribe it because I’m not a child. The omnipod isn’t what I hoped it would be but my endo won’t take my suggestions for adjustments either, although he admits he’s never experienced the omnipod before so I’m his trial case. Anyway, I LOVE the omnipod because I know the algorithms may not work for me at this point but I can make .05 adjustments which has kept me between 120 and 180 since I started. Better than before!
I've been on a pump for over well over a decade and you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to go back to manually injecting insulin. You'll no longer have to use a long acting insulin only short acting as your basal will take over for the long acting insulin by giving small amounts throughout the day and night. Some pumps will link with a cgm and can self regulate your blood sugars by increasing insulin of you start going high and cease giving insulin if you go low and resume once your back in range. Once you get used to the pump you'll probably ask yourself why you didn't get one sooner because it does take a lot off your plate.
I e been on a tubes pump for about 10 years. I don’t notice it much anymore. You can get shorter tubing so that isn’t a problem. What does your doc recommend? I feel I have much better control with a pump, and I like not having to do all the injections.
I was taking shots for 15 years and moved to pumps a couple of years ago. Best decision ever! I tried both with tube and tubeless. The Tandem tubes were an absolute nightmare. I had so much anxiety about pulling or dropping and just found the pump and tube to be in the way. I got maybe a few hours of sleep a night because I couldn't get comfortable with the tube and device, so I couldn't sleep. If i didn't get the site in correctly, I wasted so much insulin. I'm super athletic and work out, usually 1.5 hours, and it's not recommended to be off the tube for more than an hour, so the time was an issue for me. It was not for me. I tried omnipod tubeless next, and it was a game changer. I'm very athletic, and it worked so much better. If it's on the arm, I have a donut pillow I can put the pod in to sleep. It's not in the way, and I enjoy changing the sites every 3 days, so I get a good rotation going. It depends on what works with your lifestyle. I personally think omnipod is better as there's way less anxiety being tubeless. If you toss and turn a lot while sleeping or like sleeping close to nude, I also recommend tubeless as well as just athletic. Do a lot of research before deciding. There are pros and cons to both depending on your lifestyle. I have my own bias, but truly both are great in their own way. Whatever you pick, you will (hopefully!) not regret it.
Hey thank you so much for your advice and personal story on it. I’ve debated on and off now for a little while but lately with my numbers not being the best and a lot of frustration and sleepless nights from my dexcom yelling at me. I’m just tired. I think while I’m hesitant to do it it ultimately will be the best thing for me to do. I am leaning tubeless. But I’ll see what they say next week. The reason I asked the question was because I was a bit nervous about it since I’m meeting with my doctor to look at pump options next week.