Omnipod Insulin Pump

Omnipod Insulin Pump

Apr 27, 2018 | 0 comments

Omnipod Insulin Pump

initial thoughts

If you read my previous post on the Medtronic Guardian Link, you know that I decided I wanted the Omnipod instead. I spoke with the representative from Omnipod on Wednesday and received the Free Demo Kit yesterday (Thursday). Talk about fast shipping and great customer service!

 

What’s in the Box

In the photo above you can see what came in the box (there was also an alcohol swab under the flap). Inside there was a empty, non-working pod, one alcohol swab, two little booklets (one English, one French) and a flap which has a helpful image of where the pod can be placed. This little kit is perfect for trying out the Omnipod, to see if you like (or don’t mind) the way if feels.

Omnipod Demo Kit

 

First Impressions

I was very impressed with how quickly I received the Demo Kit. I am also very impress with how small the pod is. Especially when I compare it with the MiniMed 630G insulin pump. It is lightweight as well, so you hardly notice it at all. Of course it has insulin and all the technological stuff inside the pod that makes it work so it isn’t the size of the Freestyle Libre.

The exact dimensions are 1.53″ wide x 2.05″ long x 0.57″ high or 3.9 x 5.2 x 1.45cm. It weighs only 25g without insulin, so when I say it’s lightweight, you know what I mean.

Omnipod

I placed the pod on my lower back. I usually sleep on my stomach, so this seemed like the best spot to place it. So far it has not gotten in the way at all. The only time I even noticed it was when I put my yoga pants on this morning and they got caught under the pod. It didn’t hurt or pull, so that’s great, it just adjusted my pants and I was good to go.

My husband and co-workers didn’t even notice the pod until I pointed it out to them. I have been able to sit comfortably in the car and at my desk. I love how the pod it waterproof so I didn’t even have to think about it when I got up to take my shower this morning.

 

So Far, So Good…

I haven’t used the Omnipod yet, as this is just a demo kit. I have a feeling I will be happy with it though. I did a lot of research before deciding to return the Medtronic MiniMed, and from what I’ve heard the Omnipod is one-of-a-kind. It’s also the best way to feel somewhat normal again. Whatever that means. I can’t wait to start using the Omnipod and I will be sure to give an update once I buy the Omnipod system and start using it.

 

Do you use an insulin pump? Which one do you use and why? What do you love and hate about the pump you use?
Let us know in the comments below.

 

 

DISCLAIMER:
I am not a medical professional and should not be taken as such. I am only speaking from personal experience. Talk to your doctor about any health concerns you may have regarding your diabetes.

TypeW1N

Buy Freestyle Libre Sensor Stickers, Omnipod stickers, Dexcom sticker, and more from Type W1N. There are over 35 designs to choose from for men, women, and children!

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Awesome Accessories for T1 Diabetics

Awesome Accessories for T1 Diabetics

Nov 2, 2017 | 0 comments

Awesome Accessories for T1 Diabetics

Being diabetic comes with many devices: glucose monitors, finger prickers, insulin pump, needles, CGMs, the need to always have a snack with you in case of a low blood sugar. The list goes on. If you are anything like me, you like to have the smallest purse possible when you leave the house. This means, I carry my insulin pens out of the case. It also means, broke needle tips in my purse. I should mention, I usually lose the pen caps pretty quickly after I open a new one. So normally I attach the needle to my pen so that the tip wont become dirty. Needless to say, diabetics need accessories to keep our machines organized and safe.

 

 

 

Oraganizers Available to Buy Online

 

That being said, I have done some research and have found a few sites that sell diabetic accessories, for pretty reasonable prices! The first few links I will show you are organizers: wallets sized, purses, backpacks, etc. These are great for travel or for all-day excursions. They allow you to keep your insulin, needles, blood testers, and snacks all in one place. There are two sites I recommend to find these awesome accessories: typew1n.com and medtronic. There are other sites where you can buy diabetic accessories, but these two are the most popular and most trusting. If you know of any other great stores for diabetes supply carriers and organizers, let us know in the comments below!

 

 

 

Personalize Your Pumps and CGMs

 

You wear your sensors for 14 days (if you use the Freestyle Libre). You might as well pretty them up! There are a few awesome shops that sell stickers for your pumps, scanners and sensors. These are my favourites:

 

Type W1N

GrifGrips

 

Not only are these accessories awesome for adults, they are great for kids. They help children feel more confident while wearing an insulin pump or CGM by camouflaging the medical machine look to a kid-friendly sticker.

 

 

 

Let us know what you think about these great accessories by leaving us a comment.

 

Do you buy accessories for your diabetes supplies? What site or shop do you use?

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER:

 

I am not a medical professional and should not be taken as such. I am only speaking from personal experience. Talk to your doctor about any health concerns you may have regarding your diabetes.

 

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Want to dress up your CGM, insulin pump, or need other diabetic accessories? We love Type W1N. There are so many designs to choose from for men, women, and children!

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Freestyle Libre – My First Month

Freestyle Libre – My First Month

Oct 25, 2017 | 0 comments

Freestyle Libre – My First Month

I have now been using my Freestyle Libre, for a little less than 1 month. I have a lot of insight as to what I like and what I dislike. As well as some great features I figured out.

 

My First Month

When it was time to switch up the sensors, I got a little nervous. The sensor is extremely sticky. Which is great when it comes to staying on your arm, but when it’s time to remove it, ouch! It’s like waxing, super easy to put on the wax, but when you have to pull it off, you may need someone’s help. My fiancé was the lucky person I selected to pull off my sensor. I made him watch videos with me so we knew the best way to do it. To be honest, watching the videos made me even more weary, it took one guy 7minutes (!!) to remove his sensor! In all honesty, I’m a bit of a baby when it comes to pulling off anything sticky (band-aids, wax [see above], etc.). By the time the sensor was off I realized I was being a bit dramatic, okay very dramatic. Let’s just say putting the sensor on is painless and taking it off is a little bit harder.

When I used my first sensor, I showered everyday. I walked the dog at a decent pace, but I didn’t get overly sweaty or bathe with it on. With my newer sensor, I did a bunch of heavy yard work with my fiancé and also went to a Nordic Spa with my sister. Although I tried my best to keep it out of the water, it was definitely wet for about half the day. Good news: it still works perfectly (I have one day left). The (not so) bad news: I needed to buy K-tape to keep the sensor from falling off.

 

What I love about having a CGM

Being able to check my blood sugars as much as I want or need is awesome. I feel a little less obsessive about checking every 2 minutes now. Although, I do like to try to check my sugars at least every hour. When I’m out for walks, it is great to be able to pull out the scanner, scan my arm and have a result within a second. The arrows (↗, ↑, ↓, →, ↘) are great as well. Especially when you get home from a walk and need to make supper. If I’m 4.5↘, this means my glucose is falling slowly, so I may want to have a small snack.

Freestyle Libre
Original image

Here’s what these arrows actually mean

Your glucose is:
↗  slowly increasing
↑     rapidly increasing
→   changing slowly
↘   falling slowly
↓    falling rapidly

 

Download the Software

I suggest downloading the Freestyle Libre software for your computer. This way you can store your readings, modify your target glucose range, the notes and the reminders. It’s a great way to overview your blood sugars over the past week or month. You can print your results or share them with your health care professional. There is also a printable meal plan that you can use and other great extras.

 

 

DISCLAIMER:
I am not a medical professional and should not be taken as such. I am only speaking from personal experience. Talk to your doctor about any health concerns you may have regarding your diabetes.

TypeW1N

Buy Freestyle Libre Sensor Stickers from Type W1N. There are over 35 designs to choose from for men, women, and children!

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Freestyle Libre CGM –The First Two Weeks

Freestyle Libre CGM –The First Two Weeks

Oct 19, 2017 | 0 comments

Living With T1 Diabetes

T1D Novopen

It has been a little less than 2 weeks (12 days to be exact), since I started using my Freestyle Libre CGM. Long story short: I love it!

 

Pros

 

The main reason I love my Abbott Freestyle Libre is the fact that I have only had to check my blood using a finger prick about 1-2 times per day. Normally, when I’m LO on the CGM, to see how low I really am (I haven’t gone below 2.1) and to check my blood sugar before bed for peace of mind.

The Sensor is pretty small when compared with the Dexcom. In fact, most people have no idea I have a needle stuck in my arm all day long. The sensor is also surprisingly comfortable. Other than the time my nephew tried pulling it out of my arm, I don’t notice it at all.

I love the fact that I can check my sugars as much as I want to, especially while I’m out walking my dog. It is super convenient when I go for dinner with friends. Instead of pulling out my glucose monitor and having old test strips fall over the floor, I just scan my arm.

It is also very interesting to see what your blood sugars are at while you are sleeping. Not that surprisingly, this is when my blood sugars are at the highest. I have fallen asleep before and woke up in the hospital, so for me, I prefer to be on the higher side throughout the night. It’s best to always have your blood sugars level, but as my doctor says, “When in doubt have a juice box. Better to wake up a little high than to not wake up at all.” Although, now that I can see what my blood sugars are doing I can be a little more confident with my evening snacks. I can cut my snacks down to only 15g instead of 24-30g.

The battery life on the monitor lasts a long time. I’m not even half way through my battery and I’m on day 12 of using it!

 

Cons

To be honest, there aren’t many. For me the only cons, aren’t really cons at all. A little obsessive, when checking my sugars now, is an understatement. I try to correct anything over 7.7mmol/L. I never really worried about high blood sugars in the morning, but now I never want to see anything over 7.9mmol/L at anytime during the day.

I’m also obsessed about my average glucose, which is why I’m trying to level out my overnight sugars, again, not a terrible habit.

You can’t set thresholds, but you can set alarms. Meaning, if your blood sugar is dropping the CGM won’t let you know. Once you scan your sensor, you can set alarm to re-check your sugars in 15 minutes.

I have noticed that the readings on the CGM differ to those on my OneTouch. Which, by the way, is completely normal. At first it bothered me, but in reality, they only differ by about 0.3-0.5mmol/L. When I’m low, I just double check with my glucose monitor.

Another con, is the fact that it is on your arm, so when you’re holding little ones, they’re curious. Like I mentioned before, my nephew tried pulling it off my arm. So just be careful and aware. I’m sure if I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, he wouldn’t have even noticed it.

Bra straps! When pulling up (or down) your bra straps (ladies), lift it over the sensor, otherwise you might pull it. Mine hasn’t fallen off, but it has been pulled at a few times.

Freestyle Libre CGM

Final Thoughts

All in all, I love this CGM. The Freestyle Libre is super easy to use. It is an awesome tool for those who are trying to level out their blood sugars. I have had pretty good A1Cs but I think my next one will be my best yet. I will start to use my BG app, to calculate carbohydrates again, so that I can get even better glucose numbers!

Stay tuned, I will be writing a follow-up post after 4 weeks using the Freestyle Libre!

 

 

DISCLAIMER:
I am not a medical professional and should not be taken as such. I am only speaking from personal experience. Talk to your doctor about any health concerns you may have regarding your diabetes.

TypeW1N

Buy Freestyle Libre Sensor Stickers, insulin pump stickers, Dexcom stickers, and other diabetic accessories from Type W1N. There are so many designs to choose from for men, women, and children!

What you should
read next

Sign-Up for our quarterly Newsletter!

When you sign-up for our blog’s newsletter we will send you
our trending posts, ideas and freebies.
We will also send you our tips and tricks of the quarter.

Follow me