New OmniPod Training Site has been UPDATED

Insulet has launched MyOmnipodTraining.com, a site for new and current OmniPod users. The site has a video (bottom of this page) that speaks about the new smaller pods, a FAQ section, tutorials and a rich resource section that houses a bunch of information including this CareGiver Guide.

Just added to the Resource section of the site today, June 4, links to the New OmniPod Interactive Training Module online and PDF version.

Also just added, this New OmniPod Training Video: The New OmniPod System: Quick Start Training

I don't have any official knowledge, but I'd bet my car that this is it... It's coming people!

Super Bolus, I Fear You No More

I just couldn't take it anymore. I'd count the carbs perfectly, pre-bolus at exactly the right time and still there are certain foods that require another bolus an hour later. On the surface you would think that I wasn't administering enough insulin but that couldn't be because every once and a while the bolus would work - but not usually.

Example: Movie theater

Arden is a nacho and popcorn lover at a movie, and we see our fair share of movies. Most times, I measure, count carbs and bolus only to watch her DexCom G4 point it's arrows to the sky before the second act is over. Then I spend the rest of the afternoon dropping random measurements of insulin on the number in an effort to get things back to a desired level without going too low. Sounds like a bad Price Is Right game, doesn't it?

Then it just hit me a few weeks ago, we have a CGM, why am I erring on the side of caution and chasing highs when I could be living on the edge of glory with Arden's DexCom G4. Suddenly, I felt stupid. All of this time I was playing scared when I know that's how you get hurt. Time to put my head down and run through a few wood be tacklers. (Sorry, my metaphors are all over the place today)

So I looked at that food on Arden's lap, counted carbs and then added every drop of extra insulin that I ended up given her at the last movie. My new thought, "What's the worst that could happen... she starts to get low, the DexCom catches it and we throw back a fast juice box and catch the fall".

That's exactly what happened

We watched Star Trek, Arden munched on her snacks and about an hour into the movie Arden's DexCom line had never wavered, her BG was 118 and steady. This was either going to be the perfect amount of insulin or too much. About fifteen minutes later, "Beep, Beep, Beep", 92 one arrow straight down. No big deal I thought - then I leaned over and said, "Here Arden, drink this juice". Twenty minutes later the CGM line was steady at 88, Arden was able to graze her remaining popcorn without worrying about bolusing and her BG never fluctuated, even hours after the movie had ended.

All of these fancy diabetes gadgets and I was using them to chase numbers instead of staving them off. I know that this sounds scary to many of you and I know that it takes time to find your comfort level, but please believe that on the day that you gain that level of comfort... this is all going to seem so much easier. Sadly, you can't rush that day to come, but it's so worth getting to and it makes me incredibly happy to know that you will all be there one day with me - kicking type I diabetes in it's annoying ass.

Arden's Hands are Growing

Yesterday morning I entered Arden's room about an hour before her alarm was scheduled to sound. Her DexCom G4 was asking to be calibrated and so I put a test strip into the OmniPod PDM, turned the MultiClix to a new lance and took my daughter's hand in mine.

As I was choosing a finger to strike a hole into, I noticed that her hand felt heavier then it did the last time that I held it to test. I was certain that it hadn't grown bigger since the day before, but yet it felt unmistakably heavier. I sat on her bedside as the machine did it's job and found myself feeling lucky that I have these moments with my sleeping girl. Not too many people get to do this I thought. I get to hold Arden's hand almost every evening after she has fallen to sleep and those moments give me a different perspective on her growth and allow me precious time to gaze at her growing face.

So if you are in need of a silver lining today, maybe this thought could be one for you. We get to hold our kid's hands while they sleep. 

What Diabetes Blog Week Means to Me

Last night after Arden's softball game she and I took a walk to the water ice truck to get Arden a cold treat. At the same time, Cole was two towns away getting ready to play in a baseball game. Arden and I were rushing a little bit so that we wouldn't miss too much of Cole's game. As we made our way back to my car I stranger stopped me. She reached out her hand sheepishly and said, "Hi, you don't know me but I know you" and then she introduced herself. She continued, "I read your book and I wanted to tell you...". The rest of what the stranger said was wonderful to hear. She loved the book and made some touching comments about my writing. 

About an hour later Arden asked if she could get something from the snack stand, we were now a considerable way from home and on a different baseball field, watching Cole play. When Arden returned from the stand she gave me my change and told me, "The woman at the stand asked me if my name was Arden, when I said yes she said that she loves your blog and reads it every morning". Arden went on to tell me that the nice woman (Hi if you're reading!) explained that her son was playing on the other team and that he had type I.

A woman in the stands must have overheard Arden because as we were bolusing for her pretzel, the woman began to tell me that she also wears the OmniPod. We spoke for some time about insulin pumps, type I and Arden's DexCom G4.

What does any of this have to do with Diabetes Blog Week?

Arden's Day will be six years old this summer, and my being published is in large part due to the fact that I write this blog. When I began blogging I never imagined that I'd be giving a woman insulin pump advice at a ball game, or that the concession mom in a town I've never visited before would make a point of stopping in here to see what was going on. I certainly never expected to be the author of a book. But yet, here I am and I have Diabetes Blog Week to thank. 

A number of years ago, the first time that I wrote for DBW, I was under whelmed by the pieces that I produced. They seemed boring to me and repetitive. I hated that I didn't have a voice of my own. It felt like I was just dictating my experiences - the writing lacked personality, my personality. I almost let that feeling deter me from blogging, almost - but I really wanted to participate in blog week. It was then that I found the style that I have written in since. Today, I write the way that I speak, I follow the pentameter of my voice and tell stories that originate from the deepest and most private depths of my heart.

I really did almost stop writing this blog one day many years ago. Diabetes Blog Week kept me going.

This past week has been crazy around here. I've been learning how to budget my writing time better because I've accepted some freelance work (That I can't tell you about just yet - sorry), I'm trying to support my book release and there is talk of me making an appearance on TV. Busy, busy... in a good way but not in a way that allowed me to blog this week - which made me sad. I thought every day about DBW and felt terrible when I realized that I wouldn't have time to participate this year.

I hope that you have a great weekend, that you were able to check out lots of diabetes blogs this week and that something that you read or wrote for it... changes your life.

Insulet Reports 1Q 2013 Results: New Pod Statement

"We are pleased with the initial launch of the new, smaller and lighter OmniPod in the U.S.," said Duane DeSisto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Insulet.  "Our customers and healthcare professionals have been sharing their positive feedback about the reduced size, ease of use and change to the insulin on board calculation.  Demand for the new OmniPod has been tremendous with referrals and initial shipments up by more than 40% over the last two months as compared to the prior year.  In the coming weeks, we expect to begin converting the existing customer base to the new OmniPod and continue to expect the transition to be completed by the end of the third quarter."

The rest of the report is here.

Update on 2013-05-07 14:59 by Scott Benner

The following is from the May 6, 2013 Insulet Earnings Call. The quote was brought to my attention by the TuDiabetes User, Erik. I then listened to the call to verify the quote as accurate. It can be found 05:47 into the call.

"With this significant uptick in demand, we did make the decision to delay the transition of existing customers for approximately 90 days in order to build additional OmniPod supply. While the manufacturing process continues to improve, we had an unexpected component issue that resulted in lower than planned production in the latter part of Q1. While this component issue was quickly identified, and remedied in conjunction with both Flextronics and the supplier, we determined it most prudent to build inventory and insure that both manufacturing lines were operating efficiently before we commence the transition of over 45 thousand customers to the new OmniPod. At this point, we expect that conversion will start in the next few weeks, and remain confident that nearly all customer will be transitioned by the end of the third quarter."