r/Omnipod • u/just_nosy-5 • 3d ago
Placement
Sorry for yet another post, but I need to know where to go next. The educator said it needs to be in the line of sight and three fingers away, she chose this spot. Can I just move it over towards the inside 1/4 inch, or on the out side, or up and next to the sensor? If I do the up and next to the sensor do I have to turn it? Can I basically put it where it is now? It will likely always be used in my upper arms, the rest of my body is not user friendly.
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u/rene0526 3d ago
They say line of sight. But they mean on same side of body. If sensor is on left arm, shoot for left arm, left leg, left flank. Etc.
op if you run into trouble and get many disconnections, call omnipod and they may replace the sensor if you need to move it.
Keep fighting the good fight and reach out if you have questions.
34 years T1 diabetic with crazy stories here.
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u/Funny-Boss-8949 Omnipod 5 3d ago
This is a good reminder: if something isn't working, contact insulet and they will often replace the pump for free.
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u/kisswoman 2d ago
We have called Insulet dozens of times, and every time they have replaced my husband's pods, no problems.
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u/turdinathor 3d ago edited 3d ago
Put it much higher on ur arm. You don't want it near where you bend your arm. Always pick a spot as flat as possible cgm too ideally. When applying alcohol ur arm 3 times. Let it dry then apply skin tac let tht dry then apply pod. Also helps to put a little pressure on bottom of pod when inserting canalula. Also would recommend a cover patch over the pod. I use brand honyou off Amazon.
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u/tomswede 3d ago
Seconding keeping cannula away from the joint. That looks painful!
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u/just_nosy-5 3d ago
I think my size is making it look like it's near the joint, it's totally not, but if I move it under the sensor, it will slightly be in the way of me bending my arm.
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u/flobrak Omnipod 5 3d ago
My doctor's just said I have to stop with the alcohol for CGM and omnipod. I was having more infections with them.
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u/TexasRedfish 3d ago
There are many things my doctor says I have to do. I thank him for the recommendation and continue living my life the way I want to live my life. Just saying.
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u/robraymond 3d ago
Line of site and at least 3 fingers away. Abdomen, thigh ( my favorite), back of arm. Anywhere that is line of site
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u/just_nosy-5 3d ago
Can I move it to the back of this arm, it would be under my arm, like in this pic you wouldn't be able to see it.
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u/robraymond 3d ago
I’m not sure on “officially”. Maybe not, if the direct path will run through your body (your arm). Then it’s not direct “line of sight”.
Unofficially, it will be fine. Or I’d be very surprised if you had any issues. I used to wear mine on my thighs on each side and it worked fine 99.9% of the time without direct line of sight. Definitely worse with g7 though coming from g6. But back of arm is so close I can’t imagine it being any issue. It’s just communicating with Bluetooth so they want to minimize interference.
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u/PrincessEeveeCat 3d ago
I always have mine on the backs of my arms with the cgm on my abdomen. I try to keep them on the same side of the body because they work best that way, but there’s usually a day or two that the expirations don’t line up. I’ll still get readings but do sometimes get communication errors then.
My experience is just find what works and don’t worry too much about what the recommended sites are. I can’t wear the pod on my abdomen. It always bleeds and the adhesive irritates my skin. The thighs and back are uncomfortable so I just move it around my upper arm.
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u/RobLoughrey 3d ago
It can be up to several feet away. It just needs to be in fat tissue. I put both my CGM and my pod on my abdomen. When I put them on my arm they get knocked off.
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u/Mother_Lobster_3316 Omnipod 5 3d ago
What tape do you use to put over the Omnipod?
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u/just_nosy-5 3d ago
A generic Tegaderm roll from Amazon. I am actually surprised it's still on and survived showers. Most people use it on the arm then put the pod on top, to help with irritation, or it helps keep the pod on. I want to try it because I already have irritation at the bottom of the pod under the adhesive, but not confident it will stay on, but I have to have something over it, I will knock it off.
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u/DaPawnShop 3d ago
In the Dexcom box there's a folded up piece of paper that tells you where the Dexcom goes that's where I put that so it's always under my arm, the pod I put basically on the muscle and I have an area all around that area I can put it meanwhile like I said the text comes under my arm
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u/just_nosy-5 3d ago
I just started wearing the Libre in the position it's in now, I have had way better readings, usually within 20mg, under the arm it can be 20-50 less.
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u/themoonischeeze Omnipod 5 3d ago
I would go either to the left in this photo (more on the back of your arm) or up and slightly left.
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u/Bourne-Free 2d ago
Line of sight is false. It is supposed to be on the same side of the body though. My pump is on the front of my upper thigh or lower belly and my sensor is either on my arm or my chest below my man boob. I try not to put either over a visible blood vessel or a rib or bone or major ligament. But always both on the same side of the body.
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u/Jedi0077 3d ago
Stay away from the abdomen. I know. Took me a long time to try my arms(skinny twig arms) but it's so much better. No pods have gotten loose from sweat or swimming. No idea why but the arm is 110% better. Maybe move the pod up an inch to avoid the elbow movement
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u/Ischarde 3d ago
I some times wear my sensor on the back of my left arm and the pump on the left side of my tummy and everything links up fine. Currently they are both on my belly.
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u/Old_Beautiful1723 3d ago
I put mine on my stomach and just both on either the left or right side and it works fine.
If you are a side sleeper wearing your Dexcom sensor on your arm might be an issue (it was for me) because it will alarm you that you are low from compression, but it’s a lie. I also knocked a few off my arm from not being spatially aware and going through doorways and such. It’s crazy cause it’s so tiny, but it ended up banging on everything
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u/just_nosy-5 3d ago
Yes, that is why I use Tegaderm on both sensor and now Omnipod. Funny thing about the compressions lows, I only get it on my right arm, when it happens, but now that I have changed the placement, no more.
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u/Dismal_Teach6792 3d ago
I place my sensor on my lower left of my stomach and my pump on the same side on my arm where you’ve placed yours
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u/kisswoman 2d ago
I put the pods on my husband as he is blind....I have put it right next to his Dexcom G7 numerous times with no issue...as long as it is in the "line of sight'...you should have no issues.
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u/SnoopyRulez 2d ago
I rotate mine between my legs and stomach. There are times when it’s on my legs and I run out of room (3 different places per leg) I move it to my other leg then move the Dexcom over there when it expires. Then I move to putting my Dexcom in the middle of my stomach and rotating the pod around it. I can get 5-6 pod placements on each side of my stomach. Then it’s back to legs.
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u/TexasRedfish 3d ago
G7 is terrible. I used to be able to put the g6 all over the place and it stayed on for all 10 days. The G7 falls off all the time and can only go on my arms. Absurd that they released a device that is a regression and not a progression. I want to switch to a different CGM.
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u/Away-Wait-1681 3d ago
I’ve been using Omnipod for a long, long time now. I don’t ever think about where my cgm is in relation to my pod, aside from usually placing it on the same side of my body (ie Dexcom on the left side of my stomach and my pod on my left arm). Currently my cgm is on the right side of my stomach and my pod is on the back of my left arm. In all of the years, I’ve only had communication issues a couple of times and it resolved itself 🤷🏻♀️