Omnipod 5 Review

Today I am going to do a whole in depth review of the Omnipod 5 insulin pump. I am going to lay out all of my thoughts about being on an insulin pump and how I have been liking the Omnipod 5.

Why I Chose the Omnipod 5

About a year after my diagnosis, my endocrinologist started to talk about the insulin pump. She suggested I look into it and start to think about going on it. That was extremely overwhelming for me because at that time I still felt like I had just gotten diagnosed. One year in I was just getting comfortable with giving myself shots for every carb I ate and changing my Dexcom every 10 days. I wasn’t quite ready for a change. Change was actually the opposite of what I wanted at that time. I had experienced enough change and I was comfortable with what I was currently doing to manage my T1D.

I basically took the whole year to think about it. After doing some of my own research, I knew I definitely wanted to go on the Omnipod because I liked how it was tubeless. I knew deep down that it would make my life easier and help with the management of my T1D, but I just wasn’t ready yet. At that time, the Omnipod 5 wasn’t available yet, so my endo suggested I wait until the new Omnipod 5 came out. So that’s what I did. I told myself I would go on the pump once the new automated system comes out. My thought process was that I would try it out and if I hate it, I would simply take it off and continue with the pens. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. You have options, so be sure to talk with your doctor/insurance to discuss those options.

For those of you that don’t know, the Omnipod is a tubeless insulin pump. The Omnipod 5 is the newest version of the Omnipod. It links to the Dexcom G6, so it can read your glucose readings from the Dexcom G6 every 5 minutes. The Omnipod pump will then give you insulin or suspend insulin based on the reading.

Why I Chose to Go on the Pump When I Did

I knew I was never going to actually be ready, but I had to set a date for myself. I told myself that once the Omnipod 5 came out, I would start the pump. Even when I finally did make the decision to go on the pump, I still wasn’t 100% ready. I kept pushing off actually ordering the pump and making the appointment for the training. I was so nervous, and change is scary. Leaving your comfort zone is scary.

Omnipod 5 Pros & Cons

I have currently been on the Omnipod 5 for over 4 months and I have been loving it. For me, the pros of being on the Omnipod far outweigh the cons. The system does take a little bit to get used to your body and insulin needs. Once it does, I found it works really well!

Pros:

1. It reads your Dexcom G6 reading every 5 minutes and gives/suspends insulin based on your reading – I love this feature! I have definitely found that I have to give corrections a lot less. If I’m a little high after a meal, I know it will give me insulin to bring me back down to my target glucose number.
2. You don’t have to give yourself multiple injections a day – I find myself having a bit more food freedom because it is so much easier giving myself insulin. I used to always have to go to the bathroom to give myself insulin when I was out to dinners and especially at work. I love that I don’t have to do that anymore. Overall, it makes eating out much easier. Also, I love that I can go out now with less supplies. I typically just go out with my pump controller, and depending on where I go, I bring a backup pod.
3. It’s pretty slim – I was actually the most nervous about this. I was nervous about having to wear another piece of technology on me, but it actually does not bother me at all. It’s a lot slimmer than I thought it would be. It’s bulkier than the Dexcom G6, but not something that I find getting in my way.
4. It’s really easy to change – I was also really nervous about having to change it every 3 days, but it’s something I actually got used to very quickly. It is so easy to change and there is no warmup period like the Dexcom which I love.

Cons:

1. Lack of places to put it – In general, you should give insulin in fatty places like your stomach, back of arm, upper thigh, and lower back/glute. I have found that my stomach and lower back/glute work best for me. I have tried it on my thigh a few times and I really did not like it. It was painful and very uncomfortable.
2. Takes a long time to administer a dose – It gives very small amounts of insulin at a time (like 0.05-0.5U) so if you have to give yourself a big dose it can take a few minutes. I’ll sometimes give myself insulin then sit down to eat but have to wait a little bit to actually eat until all my insulin is on board.
3. Only lasts 3 days – I wish the pods lasted a little bit longer because it can get kind of annoying having to change it every 3 days, but like I said earlier, it’s easy to change and you get used to it very quickly.

Overall, I am really liking the Omnipod 5. I am so happy with my decision to go on a pump. In the last few months, I have already seen an improvement in my blood sugar numbers. I know being on a pump and being on the Omnipod 5 will only benefit me and my health in the long run. Nothing is perfect, especially technology, but I do want to emphasize that I truly think the pros of being on the Omnipod 5 outweigh the cons.

I hope this Omnipod 5 review was helpful to anyone thinking about going on a pump or going on the Omnipod 5. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to reach out to me here or in the comments!

As always, sending love & light!

Xoxo

Gab