They're sleek, for a medical device. They're stylish, for a medical device. They bring the diabetics who take insulin freedom from injections and obtrusive pump tubing. You can check your blood glucose and wirelessly control your pump from one PDA-like doohickey. (Yes, that's a technical term there.)
And they are, at this point, utterly pointless for me to consider. Patch pumps might be all the rage, thanks to famous customers like Nick Jonas, but this dorky diabetic is presently not a fan. Now, don't get me wrong. Everyone's insulin needs are different, and coming up with pumps that hold tiny amounts of insulin that dose miniscule, super-accurate amounts is certainly a very important medical device development. However, patch pumps leave diabetics like me out in the dust, unless we want to refill every single day.
I take what some people consider to be a lot of insulin. My low basal rate during the day is 2.8 u/hr. Now, granted there's not a lot of change during the course of 24 hours from that rate, but some people are just completely flabbergasted to find out what my daily intake is, as if that's a bad thing. I just call it what I need to stay alive and healthy. If you want to criticize me for how much insulin I'm taking, I'm sorry, but you're kind of a dick. Believe me, I wish I could take a couple measly units to cover a meal. I'd save money on insulin!
So I was utterly thrilled at the promise of something I saw over at DiabetesMine last week: the Picosulin Pump/Patch! At last, somebody is considering a patch pump which will be discreet, stylish (for a medical device) and will hold 3ml of insulin at a time! What a completely brill idea! I love the fact that somebody is working on a device which will give me options. Ever since Smiths Medical announced that they were bowing out from the diabetes business, I've been heartbroken, because when I get my next pump, I won't have choices. The only pump company that makes a 3ml pump that's worth a hoot, in my opinion, is Minimed. And I've had Minimed before. I wasn't unhappy, but their pump didn't offer the customization I really needed. Their bolus cap was too low for me.
I would love to see further development by Picosulin. In fact, if you visit their website, they have a survey you can take to tell them what you want in a pump. Everything I just told you, I also told them. (Maybe in a few less words, but the idea is the same.)
Maybe one day, there will be a patch pump that could work well for me. Then I can be just as hip as one of the Jo-Bros.
Have you ordered a sample Mendingo Solo pump? There are some key differences between this one and Omnipod. One of the more important differences is that the Solo pump lets you detach and reattach, without wasting insulin or supplies, making refilling a possibility that Omnipod does not presently allow (at least that's how I understand it). You can visit them @ http://www.solo4you.com/ for more information, but I think this one might address a number of the issues you have expressed with the pump patches, plus you can bolus without the remote, great for those of us who tend to leave our cell phones at work or misplace remote controls!!
ReplyDeleteGood to know there are more options out there. I don't know though, I am so used to my tubing. Ha.
ReplyDeleteI too use a wholeheckovalot of insulin daily so a patch seems weaksauce for me. I did see that on The Mine and would consider it.
ReplyDeleteI have a 722 and i often hit that EXCEEDED BOLUS to which I laugh and just bolus again as soon as it's done.
I tried wearing one of those dummy patches for the Omnipod one and it was awful. It was so big and clunky. I thought I'd give it a try because I thought it might give me more options for sites, but when I tried it I found that it would likely give me LESS sites because it was so bulky. There's no way I could put it on my butt or my leg. And I certainly didn't like the idea of having to change my site almost every day or every other day just because it didn't hold enough insulin.
ReplyDeleteHannah-
ReplyDeleteyou are cool! I'm excited for all the new patch pumps entering the pump market. I love the Omnipod. I know something will be able to supply your insulin needs without tubing.
Hannah-
ReplyDeleteyou are cool! I'm excited for all the new patch pumps entering the pump market. I love the Omnipod. I know something will be able to supply your insulin needs without tubing.