Location, Location, Location

 

There are a few suggested locations to wear the OmniPod; back of the arm, abdomen, thigh, bottom of the back and buttock.  So far we’ve only been able to use Arden’s abdomen and thighs.  Her arm isn’t wide enough to support the pod and well she doesn’t have a butt yet.  

We haven’t had any real issues with placement and I’ve begun a rotation schedule that should allow the sites to rejuvenate in between uses; left abdomen, left thigh, right thigh, right abdomen, repeat.  This schedule will allow each site a nine day break before it gets used again.  Additionally, I’m doing a smaller circular rotation at each site to avoid the cannula entering at the same place over and over.  I think this will work out well until Arden gets bigger and other “real estate” becomes available.

We’ve had two delivery failures so far, one was a bent cannula (because the pod wasn’t on a fatty enough site) and the other is a bit of a mystery to me.  I’m not sure if the second issue was because the cannula was to close to the muscle or if the pump just failed.  Every day is a learning experience and we are definitely making great progress.

Next thing we need to do is some fasting based testing of Arden’s BG... These test are tough because they include Arden not eating for hours and hours at a stretch but the results are very helpful in adjusting the pump.  More on that soon...

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The following are archived comments from this post. You can post new comments below.

A Arden's Day Reader

Hello-

I would just like to say that people do read your blog entries and I am always checking back for new blog entries. Thank you for this website, it is a great tool for learning about diabetes and how it effects daily life. So once again Thank You.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - 08:37 PM

Scott

Thank you for posting and of course for reading!  Getting feedback like yours makes this all worthwhile!

45 Day Trial Period has Ended

It has been 45 days since we received Arden’s first shipmentof OmniPods and things are going fantastic!  Arden has her quarterly endo appointment on Monday the 23rd and even though she has only been needle free for a little over a month I am expecting to see a decrease in her hemoglobin A1C level...  Seeing a decrease in that number is maybe the most exciting thing that I can imagine; second only to a cure being found.  Check out Daddy’s blog the morning of the 24th to find out her results.

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The following are archived comments from this post. You can post new comments below.

Scott

Arden had a great visit today.  Her blood pressure and heart rate were both perfect.  She grew over two inches and gained more then two pounds!  She gained those two pounds over the last few weeks which indicates that we have better control of her BG since she started the OmniPod.  Her A1C level held steady from the last test, her doc expects that we will see it decrease at the next visit.

Monday, March 23, 2009 - 09:31 PM

Much, Much Better

Arden and I went to the aquarium yesterday and having the Omnipod made the day better!  These outing have been trying in the past.  Between extended car travel and often less then healthy foods at the venues, Arden has suffered with higher then normal or safe blood glucose levels so that we could get through the day without a low blood glucose incident.  These high levels effect her mood and make her feel sluggish and sick.

Yesterday I am happy to report that no such high or low levels were experienced, I was much more relaxed and able to enjoy myself and Arden and I had a wonderful time at the aquarium, perhaps the first such time in many years... and I’m thanking the OmniPod for it.  Until a cure is found, research and technology is clearly going to be Arden’s saving grace.

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The following are archived comments from this post. You can post new comments below.

Mark

Hey Scott,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note.  I really enjoy your and Arden’s blog.  It is nice to see things work out once in awhile.  Best of luck with the Omnipod.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:07 AM

First problem

Not so much a problem as a mistake... I missed for the lack of a better term.  When I replaced Arden’s Pod last night I placed it too high on her abdomen.  The area I choose wasn't fatty enough so the insulin wasn’t being absorbed properly.  This led to high blood glucose readings.  After I figured out what happened and replaced the Pod with a new, properly placed one all is well again.

Lesson learned.

UPDATE: It turns out that the cannula got kinked, I called the manufacturer today to find out more about why that happened and was told that the cannula most likely hit muscle on it’s way in and bent.  Until Arden gets bigger we will have to be more vigilant about exactly where the pump is placed. 

Things are going well

So far things are going very well with Arden’s new insulin pump.  I’m still fine tuning some settings and she is still insulin resistant in the morning but mostly we are progressing nicely! 

I’m thrilled to say that Arden’s BG has been very stable overnight, which is a huge relief for us.  I’m also extremely happy to tell you that Arden has worn eight OmniPods so far which means that she has been stuck eight times these last 24 or so days instead of 168 times!  Her fingers are still getting poked as frequently as before but I may have an idea about how to stop that too - stay tuned ;)