I decided to purchase the Omnipod Dash trial pack of 10 pods for $30 AUD to see what all the hype was about. It turns out the hype is warranted, as this is an incredible little system. I’m very excited to use the device under a multitude of conditions and I hope that my experience can be informative. My main testing criteria will be connectivity, recovery in the unlikely event a Pod is damaged, robustness during various activity, water resistance and general day-to-day activity including time with my two year old daughter.
Benefits
The pump system operates much the same as any other pump system available, with the main difference being that the pump and cannula are all part of the same physical unit. This is a huge advantage for sports, but can be noticeable while changing clothes, going to the toilet or during sexy time. The unit is so small its presence is barely noticeable.
Sugar Management stats (So far)
I am very pleased (and surprised to be honest) that I am using 28% less insulin on the Pods with improved (+9.3%) blood sugar control (Time in Range 3.9-7.8 mmol/l). I noticed far fewer super micro boluses (SMBs) being administered than before, but maybe that is due to me letting AAPS do more of the work in managing my sugars through unannounced meals (UAM).
Note: I am not adding in all the carbs I am eating as I am using announced meals in AAPS.
patterns for the duration of the experiment.
patterns for the week prior to the experiment.
Android APS Setup
Setup of the Pod system in Android APS (AAPS) Boost Master 3.6.4 was surprisingly easy and intuitive. I just followed the Prompts after going to the configuration builder and selecting Dash as the pump.Its a very similar process for Eros pods, with the added requirement to pair the OrangeLink / RileyLink device.
Installed Pod
Errors
I had an error starting the pod, but after hitting retry multiple times the pod activated and all was working as expected
Exercise
Exercise has been a lot more enjoyable without all the wires and having to worry about pump placement or damage. If I mountain bike and fall off (which happens every now and again) I lose one pod, and not an entire pump. Having more pocket space and less to carry is an added benefit.
Whats next?
I plan to test the pod while resistance training, mountain biking, running and the most intense sport I play, wrangling my two year old. If she cant destroy them, they are indestructible 🙂
Dick The Diabetic's APS Adventures 