Insulin Pumps

One thing you have to watch with pumps is if the monitor gives an incorrect reading it'll administer an overdose. Then fight any glucose gel or IV they try to give you.

I was diagnosed last year. Did injections for the first couple of months, then got on a pump. Omnipod is tubeless and is the one that I use. It's by far the most convenient. Waterproof, disposable (you fill a pod with insulin and replace it every 3 days), and control everything from your phone. The algorithm isn't as good as Tandem from what I've heard, but I still manage 90-95% in range with Omnipod.

Happy to answer any questions you have.

yes - you set up a carb:insulin ratio and then just manually enter the amount of carbs consumed. If you use a CGM, they work together to adjust on the fly the amount of insulin being delivered. With my insurance, I pay $70 for 10 Omnipods - which is a month's worth.

Yep. When you get started, your endocrinologist will give you your ratios to set up the app. The Omnipod people will schedule a training with you on Zoom to teach you everything but it's really simple. You fill it with insulin, stick it on your skin, and press start. It pops a cannula in and you're set for 3 days. You enter carbs and it automatically calculates how much insulin to give you. Omnipod is the "weakest" of the pumps at correcting your high blood sugar if you accidentally underestimate your carbs, but it's still good enough.

I pay $0 for my Omnipods on BCBS. At the beginning of the year they were trying to charge me out of pocket until I hit my deductible (I'm on an HSA) but I signed up for the Disease Management Program and the costs went to 0. If you have to do that, you essentially get a call from a nurse every few months and give updates on your A1c and lifestyle. Super simple.

It may be worth checking with your insurance because it gets a little weird with Omnipod being disposable pods vs durable medical equipment like a Tandem pump. I've never had a problem but I've read where it takes some jumping through hoops depending on your insurance. If they don't cover Omnipod, Tandem is rumored to be coming out with a tubeless Mobi pump later this year

Yeah Omnipod sounds right for you then. I exercise a lot and made it clear to my endo that I don't plan on stopping. I could go run a marathon wearing my Omnipod right now and forget I'm wearing it. Like Rohan said, it's the closest thing to an artificial pancreas that you can get right now.

I don't think I did a contract. You refill them like prescriptions so there's no equipment you have to reuse like with a Tandem pump.

I do remember my doctor saying that insurance likes to get horsey if you try to switch pumps, but I've stuck with Omnipod the whole time so I have no experience with that.