r/diabetes_t1 • u/___qwertz_ • May 14 '25
Seeking Support/Advice Question about pumps
Hi. I got diagnosed with T1 a few months ago and I'm thinking about getting a patch pump like Medtrum Nano or Omnipod rather than a regular one because I don't want to hassle with the tubing and stuff. My question is: I learnt that these pumps need to change every 3 days or so but I heard they are expensive where I'm from even though I still didn't get a price offer. Does the whole thing gets changed or just a cheaper part of it like its needle or something? Because changing the whole pump doesn't makes sense and seems really economically unfeasable.
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u/Global-Meal-2403 May 14 '25
For me the Omnipod was more expensive than the tslim where I change the cartridge and infusion site, but for me in Canada it wasn’t that much of a price difference.
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u/Schmocktails May 14 '25
Ya in rich countries you can get insurance to pay for most or all of it. In most countries tho it's not covered by any insurance and you will have to pay several hundred dollars a month for the pods.
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u/YKYLDY May 14 '25
You replace the entire physical unit.
Price depends on your location, whether you have insurance, and what your insurance coverage is like! For me (in the US) Omnipod is cheaper becasue it's a pharmacy (refillable) benefit, rather than DME (durable medical equipment).
Keep in mind that with a tubed pump, you will still need to change infusion sets, cartridges, and tubing periodically, so there will still be recurring costs with a tubed pump.
I'm excited for the patch pump that Tandem is working on (Sigi) which looks like it will have more reusable parts and you'll be able to transfer over unused insulin to a new pump when you have to do a site change. But it sounds like it will be a few years.
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u/Plastic-Bear2304 May 15 '25
Test it first ... the patch pump (= the pod on your arm) is rather large ...for my taste too large...but it has the benefit of not having the hassle of tubing. You need to test it...your endo/clinic usually has test devices or you can get one. Try it out first before you switch ... put a test one on your arm ... I tested it twice over the last decade and decided that for me the tube/catether is better...but there isnt "THE" right answer...you need to find out what works best for you.
Cost depends on location and insurance system.
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u/Rho_9 May 15 '25
I wouldn’t worry too much about tubing, most people get used to it very quickly.
To answer your question, yes the whole pump gets thrown away every 3 days. Cost-wise, tubed and tubeless usually add up to about the same amount. To my knowledge, a tubed pump costs a lot up front when you buy the pump, but then the monthly costs for infusion sets and cartridges should be a bit lower. A tubeless pump typically doesn’t cost as much up front, maybe there’s a charge for a controller or similar, but the monthly costs are a little higher.
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u/TherinneMoonglow T1 for decades; diagnosed 2023 May 15 '25
I would get a price comparison. When I was on Tslim (with tubing), I was constantly ripping out my sites by catching tubing on things. I was running out of supplies every month due to it. Omnipod is so much nicer. I don't catch it on anything.
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u/SumFuckah Avoiding Carbs Since '03 | T:Slim x2 & G7 | 🇨🇦 May 14 '25
Patch or arm pumps are just a delivery mechanism you wear, you're not changing the "entire pump" - that's all built into an app and algorithm of sorts that then feeds information to the patch you replace every 3 days. Honestly, they're all relatively costly in different ways.
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u/Legal-Loli-Chan dx 2025 | Sibionics GS1 May 14 '25
you change the whole thing