Pros & Cons of the Insulet OmniPod Dash Insulin Pump
Our Review
Unique Advantages: Pros
- Reduced up-front costs
- Can program through clothing from a few feet away
- Discrete pump size
- No tubing (minimizes wasted insulin, no tangling/snagging, less awkward, no siphon effects)
- No disconnecting/reconnecting means no missed/lost insulin
- Simple, automated cannula insertion (minimizes discomfort, reduces “human errors”, creates more site options)
- Forced pod change reduces chances of lipodystrophy & absorption problems
- Pump is fully watertight
- Temp basals and boluses can be customized/preset
- Links w/integrated meter via Bluetooth
- Large color screen w/text and graphing capability
- Only 2 parts; simple for travel
Potential Drawbacks: CONS
- No integrated CGM
- Cannot enter boluses or make setting changes without programmer
- Programmer must be charged daily
- “Unlock” required when using programmer
- Only one cannula orientation/length
- Max reservoir volume 200u; minimum fill amount 80u
- Pod stops working after 72 hours (plus grace period)
- Handheld will not calculate bolus if BG < 50
- Dislodged/clogged cannula or pod error requires complete pod replacement
- Pod does not have vibrate option
- IOB not displayed in bolus calculation
- Must suspend when changing basal settings
- Temp basal limited to 12 hours max.
- Not covered by all third-party payors
- Loss (or malfunction) of programmer renders pod non-programmable (delivers basal only)
I don’t like the Omnipod because it made my belly hurt and leak out insulin and my body couldn’t didn’t work like it should. couldn’t sleep with it because it feels like something
sticking me, I try to tell my Dr and she didn’t believe me plus it was making me sick i ask her to change me back to medince to take she put me in that I don’t follow but I know my body
i was born with a heart defect and a low immune system disorder so my body can’t handle much i ought to know it my body
I have been using Omnipod systems for years with no major issues. However, their customer service has become TERRIBLE. WAIT TIMES ON THE PHONE EXCEED AN HOUR AND CALLBACKS CAN TAKE 2 DAYS! What the heck? Are they spending ALL their money on executive bonuses? The Omnipod 5 system has some error bugs that you need to report, and they seem to be intentionally making it hard to do this. Any inside info to share about how to communicate with them before you die of old age?
Unfortunately Omnipod did not beef up their customer support to meet the needs of this product launch so their resources have been stretched too thin. Unfortunately we don’t have any inside secrets, we wait in the same same customer care queue as everyone else :(
The problem that I have with the Dash is that there is no way to silence the pod. It beeps long and loud and if you don’t have the PDM near (because it is always charging) then there is no way to stop it. It’s particularly problematic when you’re in an environment that requires silence or relative quiet or when you’re sleeping. The volume on the PDM also goes to max for these alerts. In all it causes me to not want to use it because of the unpredictability of the alerts and the lack of control that the user has over them. Also the database for food used to calculate carbs is a joke and is very limited.
HI Fred,
it is definitely not typical for the system to beep all the time when the pdm is not nearby. I recommend reaching otu to insulet, you may be in need of a replacement.
Dear Alicia, my grandfather omnipod suddenly stopped several times and a notification if : “cannot find pod” and ” change pod” . Without any reason. It was well fixed..i think it was a technical errors!.. so why this case had happened anout 4 times and we lost this pod although it was still filled with insulin. How can we replace them from America.
Sorry to hear about that struggle Mina,
in this case you’d need to reach out to Insulet Omnipod about replacement.
Was so excited to use the Omnipod as my first pump device. I have had nothing but issues since the second pod insertion. The method of insertion is so awkward as it is nearly impossible to get a good application without folding some of the adhesive onto itself. So, I have to dispose of the pod and lose the 200 units on board. Happened numerous times. The designers should look at the Dexcomm application system and try and come up with a similar system to assure proper adhesion. It could also be solved by extending the adhesive so that it will not fold over. Trying to put on a protective sheath on the unit with one hand is an impossibility.
I am never able to see the alleged “pink” circle indicating that the canula has been inserted. I find it painful to insert the cannula but the inability to confirm proper insertion is way too much to deal with. THis week my BG has been around 325 and regardless of Bolus adjustment, it has not moved back down to my normal numbers. I am convinced that the Cannula comes out and I am not getting any injected insulin.
I am only getting around 48 hours before it needs to be changed because the reservoir is only 200 units and I am not able to get anywhere close to 3 days even with the addition of a bolus shot or two a day. I have to say it is garbage, but for me it is a waste………….
My Endocrinologist is switching me to another device and I am willing to deal with the tube in order to have a reliable system. Shame on Omnipod for knowingly produces a piece of junk like this. Any one interested in starting a class action suit in the USA????
Could have been a great product had someone thought through the issues.
HI Jerry,
if you’re ever concerned you’re not getting insulin be sure to check for ketones!
The elusive pink bar and that silly window are pretty useless for adults as we can’t see it on ourselves (caregivers can see it on a kiddo is they look really closely) Meanwhile it sounds like you’re using about 100 units/ day. i’d recommend asking your prescriber about switching to U-200 insulin. This is basically double strength insulin so you can use a smaller volume to make pumping a lot easier, and we find people get better absorption of insulin when it’s a smaller volume.
Absolutely hate the Omnipod Dash. Hate it. Will quit when I use all of my extra pods.
Worst thing ever.
Wow Sheryl,
Sorry to hear that the system was not a good fit. Hopefully you’re able to get a new pump system covered to make the swap.
What exactly do you hate about it? I am considering getting one. It would be nice to have details instead of blanket statement saying you hate it.
Sorry to say, but this Omnipod Dash is Trash with capital T. I live in the Netherlands, and used the former Omnipod for years with GREAT success. Old PDM and old pods where great, and actually could be taken seriously. But when the ensurance contract ended a new era started, and so I was confronted with the new Dash. Should be better I thought, but what a mistake. The PDM is a piece of junk lower than a childs-play tool Furby, and indeed is a great source of stress. Everything about it is wrong, everything. From not visible/usable in sunlight, to constantly worrying about way to fast draining battery, to very crap communication between pdm and pods (it’s stupidly slow, dumb and way too async), and the extremely crap user interface in a cheap app on a Android 50ct phone device, called the new “pdm” (and no,
you cannot use your own mobilephone as replacement). Last but not least in NL we cannot use a finger-blood-test with it, what could be done with the older one with embedded freestyle reader, and so you carry another device with you, besides the already way too large devicebag and recharger unit. The user interface is horror. You get bored with loads of worthless information, popups, messages an navigation moves, and every other context has “oh so funny” a different selector. Swiping, rotating, arrows, you name it. And it’s all touchscreen, you cannot feel buttons, and you seriously have to check whatever the crapbox accepts, because all the time it just over- or undershoots on these things. And oh yeah, some things are horribly bad to read because of very small texts, while others are there in your face, while not important at all. All these junky issues just didn’t exist in the old pod+PDM. Everything was professional on that one. After years of feeling safe and got my life back, it’s now going back in time before the old Pod, and it’s all stress and disaster. Sorry to say but it is. This greedy el-cheapo company should take itself serious and fix the damn thing with lightspeed. In addition to my story I can tell that every complain other people wrote below/above on this topic I also experienced. Have a nice life people, dump the Omnipod Trash.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience Jeroen, These are all legitimate issues that the company clearly did not take into consideration, and SHOULD have!
One possible light on the horizon is that the Omnipod 5 is going to allow users with Android phones to use their own phone and app to control their pods, so that will replace the Dash, at least here in the states. However Iphone users are still stuck with the Dash.
Omnipod customer service is not oriented (or trained) to help a user — they go check the boxes per their instruction manual
unfortunately due to intense corporate legal restrictions this is true of much of the pump customer service we get across the board.
I was diagnosed with T1D in 1975, and have had many different pumps since then – all relatively similar & effective. The Omnipod system is different, and not in a good way. I find the PODs difficult to apply correctly (the tape often folds over on itself and then cannot be applied to the skin). This also results in a significant loss of insulin when the POD must be discarded. And when I CAN get the POD applied correctly, the tape frequently begins to lose adhesion before the three day limit is reached. This occurs even when rigorously following the skin prep instructions.
Furthermore, the requirement to enter a PIN every time you need to use the PDM is redundant and time consuming. There is no chance of accidental insulin delivery or suspension of delivery since there are already enough keys that need to be pushed in order to accomplish these tasks. The addition of a PIN should be an option, not a requirement to use the product. I can also attest to the poor customer service offered when these difficulties arise.
These are the primary reasons I will be going back to using my old Medtronic pump.
It appears that OmniPod is not the greatest gift ever. Too many complaints about so many different situations. And it appears that OmniPod has horrible customer service. I am on a low does insulin, 3X a day. Once I started to read that you need to fill the pod with atleast 85 units, I said no way. Why do the pods expire after 3 days? Too make money, lots of money. I am not wasting my time with this routine, because it would not work for me.. Changing pods every 3 days does not make sense. Its such a waste of time, and insulin.
Hi MIchael pods actually expire after 3 days because using any infusion site for more than 3 days results in scarring of the fat layer. Since this blocks insulin absorption we can’t use a pod or any other infusion set for more than 3 days.
Low dose insulin users would be better served with a tubed pump that has more precise dosing and setting options, as well as less wasted insulin. There is no one pump that is best, there are different options for different needs.
When you reduce basal temporarily, it says you are getting an amount less that .05 increment. Is that correct? Can it dose a .03?
Hi Jason,
no the smallest dose the Omnipod can deliver is 0.05 units
if given as basal the pump gives one single 0.05 unit dose per hour, so temp basaling below that is not possible.
I was thinking of switching my Medtronic with an Omnipod Dash but given all these negative comments I am no longer sure I want to do that
Is there any way that I could try it for a month to see if it would work for me?
Hi Fran, pump use is highly individual. So you should base your decision on your own needs. insulet has a demo pod set you can get that gives you the feeling of wearing a pod on your skin. Also most pump companies have a 30 day return policy, but I’m not sure about Omnipod. The up side is that the PDM is free and your only up front cost is the price of a box of pods. So even if you can’t get that initial investment back, it’s minimal and they would be able to release you from your warranty to allow insurance to bill for another pump. Some peopoe absolutely LOVE their Omnipod. It’s very personal and individual.
Hi Fran ~ I recently became an Omnipoid user after 20 years of being a Medtronic user and it was the best decision I ever made. I have so much freedom and can shower with disconnecting so my insulin delivery is never interupted. No more having to find a place in my bra/pocket for the pump no more wearing sportsbra’s to bed and no more avoiding swimming for long periods because I have my POD on continuing to deliver my insulin. You should really reconsider!
Thanks for sharing your encouraging experience Rexanne
I have only been using a pump for about a year and only Ominpod. I absolutely hate it. The random occlusions that happen mustiple times a month at the worst time. The alarm sound when it happens or runs out of insulin and how sometimes nothing you can do turns it off. Insult customer service is HORRENDOUS. This month alone I had 4 occlusions happen and I’m also waiting on my resupply to come. Guess what, weeks later nothing and now I hav won pods left. There response was sorry.
That’s a really rough start to pumping. We’d be glad to work with you to improve the functionality of what you’re working with or to help you find a technology that’s a better fit for you. You can call for a remote consultation at 610-642-6055
I have developed a true HATE for Omnipod. I’ve been a T1D for 40 years, have used many different pumps. I changed to the Omnipod around 8 years ago, ant the past 2 years have been beyond horrible. I loved it when I first started using it. I had great BG readings, A1C of 6.5, great control & flexibility. However…that cannot be said now. I have BG readings literally all over the place for no reason. I often change the pod early, to a different site…totally different body location. New insulin…every trial & error you can do. Sometimes it helps more often it doesn’t. I’ve been so frustrated the past 3 months with calls to my doctor & Omnipod & no resolution. I have given up on the pump all together & am back to injections. My BG is markedly improved. Not perfect, but amazingly better. I would really like some support & answers from Insulet, however when I talk to tech support, it is always “a problem I’ve caused “. They say it can’t be their product because it tests itself and will only deliver insulin when it passes these tests. Seriously.
hi Stacy, First, SORRY for the delayed response, a tech glitch made some new messages not show as new!
as for your issues with Omnipod, that is ROUGH. a Pump start is a big step and having customer support back up is really important! There may have been some issues in your use, settings of the opd, or other concerns at play. IF you’d be interested in giving Omnipod, or another pump a try (The good thing about omnipod is the low up front cost, and insurance may even spring for another pump before the PDM warranty is up, depending on your coverage) We would love to work with you to help smooth that transition and help you achieve your goals.
I have have been a podder for 6 years and I love it. I previously used a minimed pump and couldn’t stand the tubing to the point I found my AIC was going up because I would take the pump off so much (dt the tubing and having to be attached to the pump). The Omni pod has provided me with so much freedom and options for sites. I wore it through two pregnancies, where my site options were limited to arms, legs and back. I wouldn’t have bee as successful through those months if I had been attached to a tubed pump (strictly my opinion). I love that the meter is in the PDM! less equipment to haul around. I recently started using the LIbre CGM and even though it doesn’t communicate with my pump I don’t think its to complicated to insert the numbers into the PDM. The only suggestion I would make to Omnipod is to make the pod have different cannula lengths and angles. I have gained weight as I get old and the 45 degree angle of the cannula doesn’t quite work as well- I tend to have some leaking with larger boluses. Other than that I LOVE MY OMNIPOD!
Glad you’ve found the right fit your your needs! So glad we have options, sure wish we had more!
I love my Medtronic pump. I have doe so well with it that I’m afraid to switch after reading these comments. I think I will continue to just enjoy my pump. Thanks for sharing your experience.
My 12 year old daughter has had T1D for 6 1/2 years. Last fall we switched from the Animas to the Omnipod. It hasn’t been a good experience at all. In these 8-9 months, we have had 4 different PDMs. The PDM is not friendly, difficult to maneuver and obviously, the technology is faulty. We thought tubeless would be better, but over the course of nearly 6 years, we needed to change the Animas only once. I do not recommend it. .
Sorry to hear about the struggles you’ve had Cualdia. Podding is not for everyone, we’d be happy to help you trouble shoot some of the issues you’re having, or help you find the right technology to meet the needs of your family.
My pod alarm has gone off at work, in the car when I am in traffic and cannot pull over, in ceremonies, in the store, at the movie theater, and everywhere. It cannot be shut off even temporarily. Sometimes it goes off for no reason – it is not empty of insulin and the three-day period is not up. It just decides it is done and there is nothing that can be done about it. Even worse, the high-pieced squeal that happens when it deadlines keeps going and going and going. I have to beat it to death with a hammer to shut it up. One time I killed it with the hammer, put it in the trash and found it going off again after a few hours. If I am at any place other than home, I do not feel I can take it off and ditch it because someone may think it is a bomb. Why are all these alarms necessary? I have been a diabetic for 30 years, and used a traditional pump for 15 years, and NEVER NEEDED AN ALARM. I managed to give myself insulin and change my pump site without an alarm. Another annoyance is changing the pod, and then having another alarm go off after two-hours reminding me I need to take my reading. I could have taken my reading a dozen times in the two-hour period, but it will still sound an alarm at the two-hour mark. Why have no improvements been made in the Omnipod? Is a great technology to be tubeless, but it is from the dark ages in every other respect. The screen cannot be read in sunlight. Trying to give yourself a bolus in the outdoors is impossible. The PDM is huge. It takes up way to much room in a wallet or purse or pocket. Why has nothing been done! I am going back to the traditional insulin pump. Having tubing is not as bad as the ridiculous alarms and pods that won’t shut up until they are beaten with a hammer (sometimes a hammer isn’t enough). I have called the 1-800 number numerous times to complain about the above and are always told they have never heard that complaint before. They have heard it from me numerous times and they have heard it from the hundreds of other reviews with these same complaints.
We agree that there are few things as annoying as a “screamer” pod. However there is a shut off for the sound.
On the under side of the pod, along the flat edge opposite the canula, if you peal back the adhesive a bit, there is a small hole. You can stick paperclip, or small inkpen in that hole to silence the alarm tone.
Doesn’t change the fact that the alarm went off, but it will at least reduce the occurrence of screaming trash cans.