Podding vs. MDT

It has been a while since I switched over to Looping with Omnipod. I alternated between the two in the beginning because my first shipment of pods came after I had packed for a 5 week trip through a handful of states, and I just didn’t want to do the mental work of reconfiguring everything. So it was really easy to see the contrasts between the two when I was switching almost every 3 days for a few weeks. My experience could be different than what you will go through, so please keep that in mind. These are the things I have noticed with MY body.

I need more insulin on pods; like 20% more. I need even more insulin using pods on my arms; 140% more. I am very sensitive to the sounds of the clicks of the pod when wearing it on my arm (especially in meetings). I have had no issues with kinking in my legs unlike with the 90 degree quick-sets with MDT. I LOVE not having to think about where to put my pump when I am getting changed, getting out of bed, or wearing a dress (which is rare, maybe in part because I grew up with a tubed pump by the time I may have wanted to get into dresses?) Rolling straight out of bed still hasn’t gotten old. I love never forgetting to reconnect after a shower. I dislike practicing yoga with pods, because you can’t just move the pump over when alternating from vinyasa’s over to savasana at the end of class. When the pod is in my back, savasana is not as comfortable as it used to be, and when it’s in my stomach or legs, cobra’s take a little more mindfulness. I dislike that it is more work to change an infusion, it seemed like less work with tubing because you could just change the site but use the same tubing. Whereas with pods, it’s a little more work. I dislike not being able to “share” with JC when we’re out and about (it would have come in handy about 5 times since June). I dislike not being able to visually confirm bolus’s. I do not miss doorknob snags. I love that I am no longer scared of breaking my out of warranty pump.

I do think there is some more variability in the insulin delivery on pods than with MDT. I can’t explain it scientifically. I also can’t confirm that it has nothing to do with the IOB issue between pods vs. MDT. But because my basal’s aren’t THAT low, it shouldn't make much of a difference. I also can’t confirm that the reason my Looping journey hasn’t been as steady since switching over may have more to do with the fact that I have had little to no routine with all the travel and visitors.

Do I think it’s worth it. Yes. It was honestly kind of a hard decision for me to switch because I had never used anything besides Medtronic my entire life (aside from the normal testing of Omnipod before getting our daughter on it). Medtronic will always have a special place in my heart because it brought JC and I into each others lives. But patch pumps are a lifestyle choice in my opinion, and I like it quite a bit right now. Nothing in the Diabetes Management space is perfect until there is a cure, but I do love being untethered. I like not having to find a pocket to stick my pump in or a belt to fasten a clip onto. I like having one less thing to think about, even if it sounds like a nominal thing that should have been second nature to me by now.

That being said, my experience is specifically with Looping with Omnipod. I don’t think I would have liked carrying around a PDM. And I don’t know if I would have realized the nuances in the tubing vs. pods if I wasn’t so in tune with small changes because of Loop. YDMV, and your choice in pump will too.