Hi fellow diabetics,

I am 33yrs old, and was diagnosed with LADA a year ago. I am looking at getting a pump so I can continue to live my life somewhat normally. I have had some serious issues with hypoglycemia while exercising, and as I understand it, the pump will help keep things more in-check and allow a little more freedom for spontaneous workouts. So here's the thing, I am trying to decide between an Omnipod or one of the more traditional pumps. I like to snowboard, raft, mountain bike etc. so I need a durable waterproof pump that will work in adverse weather conditions. My concern with the Omnipod is location placement; protection from falls on the bike, and hard hits during snowboarding, whether or not the GM will work in adverse weather temperatures. Advise, tips, concerns etc. from any one with this device that partakes in these activities would be greatly appreciated. As goes with anyone with the more traditional style pump...placement, how to protect it during said activities, problems with temperature etc. Also, I haven't found a GM that doesn't error out when it gets too hot or too cold; like I said, I love to snowboard, play in the desert, and water (dry box doesn't work due to the humidity and heat)---any ideas??

Thanks everyone,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Welcome to the forums. There are many solutions to pick from, but they will be specialized according to individual activities. Aquapack for water, Frio packs for hot weather, wearing the pump next to your body under insulated clothing in cold weather, and there are probably polyurethane foam padded pouches for impacts like mountain bike crashes. The factors that might limit pump effectiveness are, you probably won't be able to hear or feel pump alarms to address the cause, and you will need to carry a BG meter and supplies along with the pump. You may have to take time-outs to "play doctor", and that will be irritating and/or impossible while shooting rapids, single-track bike runs, snow boarding, etc.

After healing from 16 bone fractures, sold my bike, Paintball guns, snow board, caving harnesses, yet I still yell at my pum to shut up when it interrupts woodworking, car repairs, or anything else I am concentrating on.

Based on your subject matter, if you like thriller movies, rent or buy "Frozen". Good luck in picking the best pump for your lifestyle.

Welcome to the forum, Andrew! I started using a Minimed pump within a year of my diagnosis at age 36, almost 20 years ago, and I now have a MiniMed Revel with CGMS. My activities include body surfing (I live in San Diego), skating, and hiking in the mountains and deserts as well as regular gym workouts. Cold weather doesn't seem to bother my pump, which wouldn't ever get close to freezing (unless I do) because I keep it close to my body. Body surfing is so aerobic that I can go without insulin for a while so I just take my pump off when I'm in the ocean and store it in a cooler. I know others on the forum swear by a water-tight plastic bag (Aquapac) for water activities. I think keeping my pump inside my wetsuit would probably work, too, but I haven't tried that yet. I've never lost an infusion set from sweat or collisions although I did have one get too salty to reattach once, so I always bring a spare. I've never damaged my pump either-they're pretty tough. Someone else might have advice about the Omnipod, which I've never used. For me, the trade-offs of dealing with the pump and being able to go all out physically without hypos make the pump well worth it. I don't feel my pump has ever prevented me from doing anything I wanted to do.

Marty

to our forum, Andrew!

The Animas pump is waterproof; the Minimed pump is not, but there is a comfortable waterproof plastic case made by Aquapac that works well.

The Omnipod is waterproof (it's attached directly to your body) but the PDA that you need to program the omnipod is not waterproof.

There are many more users of tubed pumps than the Omnipod.

The advice we always give is for you to contact the companies, get their literature and even a demo where you can handle and see the pump before you make your decision.

We also recommend that anyone thinking about a pump or that have recently started pumping get a copy of John Walsh's book, "Pumping Insulin, 4th ed.". It will answer a lot of questions about how you can use the pump features to control your insulin dose while exercising. (It will also answer most if not all of your questions about pumping in general).

Linda B.

Thank you soooo much!

Thanks for the info Marty. I would love to have a CGMS, but my insurance is set up for major medical; I definitely did not anticipate having a major problem at 30.....SUCK! So the monthly cost of CGM would be pretty steep ~up towards $400/month until I hit my $5000 deductible. But that's good to know you don't have an issue with the CGM in the heat.

Andrew

Good info, I will have to check out the Frio pack and look into the padded pouches. I'm a little concerned about how durable the Omnipod is since you can't put a protective case around it. I need to contact them to find out what temperature range the GM works at. Which pump are you using? Sorry to hear about the fractures, but I'm assuming at least you were able to bike, snowboard etc. up until that point with your pump? I will also have to check out 'Frozen'.

Thanks,
Andrew

I will bet that you will decide on a different pump from the Omnipod, because I believe that it will be in a lot more jeopardy of damage, and just in-the-way, in your outdoor activities. My fractures are a collection that started in 1992, and the last ones occurred in 2008 in a car crash, not Diabetes related. Some are the result of hypoglycemic episodes, but not very many.

I use a Medtronic 523 without the CGM. I was worried about the light, delicate appearance of the little thing, and was concerned about breaking it accidentally in various outdoor activities. I bought several types of pouches and cases, and ended up just carrying it in the pocket of my jeans. In six months of reliable use, not a scratch or crack.

I biked, hiked, played Paintball, and many other outdoor activities until 1999 brought me a shattered leg and a bone infection, both courtesy of bad decisions of doctors. Once I could use the leg again, I was warned by a much better doctor that if I broke that leg again, I would lose it. That brought about the sale of my outdoor sports equipment, and now I just hike.

"Frozen" is a first rate horror story that does not involve monsters or murderous psychopaths. Just nature and some skiers and snow boarders. The realism of the characters' circumstances will appeal to you.

Good luck in your pump research!

I am 32 and very active (gym everyday, surf, snowboard, wrestling with my small kids etc.) and i love my Onmipod. People who don't wear the pod hate on it becasue they have never used it, but I can tell you not having a tube attached to your body is key to an active lifestyle on the pump unless you want to disconnect all the time. Sit down with the sales rep from omnipod and medtronic or whoever and see what you like best.

I also have a dexcom CGM and I would say this is more important for someone active like you then even the pump. I've had my CGM for 4 months and could not live without it at this point, it is incredible.

Good Luck