Is Omnipod Dash Good for Diabetes?

Posted on January 25, 2022 at 09AM

Is Omnipod Dash Good for Diabetes?

If you’re diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 insulin requiring diabetes, then you’ll need to take insulin regularly, including with meals, to make up for the limited hormone. Traditional insulin therapy is often tangled to the body via tubing, and sometimes requires multiple daily injections. Not only does this therapy cause interruptions to your daily life, it can be very expensive.

If you’re tired of traditional tubed insulin pumps, there’s an option that allows you to receive insulin without any interruption or multiple daily injections, and that is Omnipod Dash.

Made by the Boston area manufacturer Insulet Corporation, Omnipod Dash is an effective insulin management system that allows you to monitor your glucose level and receive the right amount of insulin that your body requires in a seamless and convenient manner.

Using the Omnipod System

Using the Omnipod diabetes management system is quite easy and intuitive. You wear a tubeless Pod containing insulin. The Pod is attached to anywhere on your and be worn for up to 3 days or 72 hours before replacing it. The insulin Pod is controlled by a smartphone-like known as the Personal Diabetes Manager, or PDM.

What Are The Benefits of Using Omnipod Dash?

  • Omnipod Dash is a tubeless insulin pump, which means you don’t have to worry about carrying plastic tubing or receiving multiple daily injections as is the case with traditional insulin therapy.
  • The Omnipod can be worn discreetly under clothing to prevent other people from seeing it
  • The tiny needle and cannula that delivers the insulin right into your skin is hidden from your sight, and is generally painless.
  • The therapy uses a Bluetooth-enabled controller dubbed as Personal Diabetes Manager or PDM which has a sensitive touchscreen and an easy-to-navigate design.
  • The PDM comes with built-in dosage calculations allowing you to easily track your food intake without stressing yourself over mealtime math.
  • The insulin Pods are waterproof, which means you can shower, bathe, and swim (up to 25 feet for 60 minutes) with it without fear of damage.
  • The solution has a “Find my PDM” feature that allows you to track and locate your handheld controller when it’s missing.

What are the Omnipod DASH features?

Managing diabetes doesn’t have to be difficult work. The Omnipod DASH comes with a lot of helpful features to give you a seamless experience while using the insulin management system. Here’s the full range of features you can find in the latest model of DASH:

Touchscreen PDM

The solution comes with a PDM, very much like an Android phone that runs the Omnipod system and is incompatible with other apps or cellular phone use. The PDM comes with Wi-Fi connectivity option which allows you to control the device remotely.

Pods

One of the most important features of DASH is the pods. The pods hold up to 200 units of insulin and are designed to last for 3 days. Please note that the new Pods are not compatible with the previous models.

The Pods has built-in Bluetooth connectivity feature that allows for easy communication with PDM. After 72 hours are up, the Pods goes off, signaling the need to dispose of the current Pod and switch to a new Pod session.

An average diabetes patient is required to use 10 Pods in a month. When purchasing Omnipod Dash, make sure that the word DASH is written on the box. If not, you’re likely purchasing older models that’s no compatible with the current DASH platform.

Math-proof calculation

DASH comes with a food database, meaning you can now remove yourself from the task of manually tracking your food intake. The system has integrated bolus calculators powered by CalorieKing® and with over 80, 000 food items, all in English.

Rechargeable battery

You don’t want to worry about keeping your insulin management system working when you are away from home. Omnipod DASH uses lithium-on batteries that allows you to charge when the system is going down.

Waterproof component

While the PDM is not waterproof, you can rely on your Pods to offer water resistance for up to 25 feet for one hour.

Built-in Dosage Calculation

Much like any traditional insulin pumps on the market, Omnipod Dash has a number of preset settings and rates for mealtime bolus as well as background basal rates. One incredible feature in DASH is the inclusion of a 0/hour basal rate setting for those who want to temporarily stop their insulin delivery, whether it be for sensitivity, exercise or other reasons.

Good for all ages

The system is FDA approved for use by both children and adults with diabetes, making it suitable for all ages.

No CGM integration

DASH is not restricted to specific use with any blood glucose meter (BGM) or continuous glucose monitors (CGM). Although the system doesn’t have integrated functionality with CGM, users are allowed to manually input their BG reading from a BGM or CGM device of their choice.

Mobile apps

The manufacturer launched two mobile apps to complete DASH for seamless iOS-based tracking and monitoring of glucose results, IoB, and dosing records along with an interface for viewing CGM data right on the smartphone including Omnipod data.

Omnipod DISPLAY app

The display app allows you to discreetly track and monitor your data directly on your smartphone, without having to pull out the PDM. This app has a “Find my PDM” feature allowing you to track where you place it.

Omnipod VIEW app

The Omnipod VIEW app allows your spouse, parent or caregiver to easily monitor your glucose levels on a continuous basis.

The iOS Today View widget

This feature allows you and your care team to see your data from the PDM and CGM on a smartphone with a simple one screen swipe.

How Much Does Omnipod Cost?

The cost of using an Omnipod will largely vary based on an individual’s insurance coverage and where they are buying their supplies.

The best part is Omnipod Pods and PDMs are accessible and available at local pharmacies across the country with a prescription. There are also third party supply companies that can ship these diabetes supplies to your home at a fee.

An average patient with insurance coverage pays below $50 every month. If you’re not covered, you can get a box of 5 Pods at popular pharmacy stores from &270 while prices may be as low as &120 on Amazon.

The manufacturer quoting a market data says that Pods bought at the popular pharmacy chains stores can save most of their customers an average 27 percent in monthly copays, compared with people who don’t use the pharmacy channel but have their supplies covered by insurance.

The same data reveals that monthly average copay for the Omnipod DASH for people using 10 Pods per month was $39 in addition to a co-insurance payment of 20 percent. As you may have known, the coverage of private insurance providers varies, so do well to check your own plan.

It’s noteworthy that the insulin management system is also covered by Part D (Medicare drug coverage). As a matter of fact, Omnipod DASH is the only insulin therapy currently covered by Medicare coverage plan for people with type 2 insulin requiring diabetes.

How Can You Know If You’re Covered for Omnipod DASH?

You can find out if your insurance covers Omnipod DASH by visiting omnipod.com/get-started and completing the no-obligation online benefits check. The self-service tool will initiate the process of verifying coverage and benefits for Omnipod DASH. If you’re eligible, the company will place your order for DASH immediately and contact you when your DASH PDM is ready to ship to your location.

Not covered? No problem!

If your current insurance plan does not cover Omnipod DASH, the company can work with your healthcare provider to initiate an appeal to your insurance company on your behalf. Meanwhile, if insurance coverage is unavailable, a cash pay option exists for all customers.

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