# Another Omnipod PDM failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Tips, Tech & Gear\ **Tags:** omnipod, pump\ **Created:** [December 1, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756 "2017-12-01T17:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/1 "2017-12-01T17:51:24Z")
It seems that I don’t get more than a year from these even though it is warranty is for 4 years. I’m betting this is by design so that there aren’t too many extra PDM’s floating around. This really sucks when you don’t have a backup and cannot get a backup. ![20171130_064553](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/7/77d20a64f12a6ba4e6d1a2826af966b5c4d85591.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/2 "2017-12-01T18:04:51Z")
Wow I didn’t even know this was a thing! Thanks for sharing and sorry this has happened to you. So far ours is hanging tough since Sep 2016 :: knocks on wood :: They replace and overnight the new one to you hopefully? ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/3 "2017-12-01T18:28:00Z")
Yes, but a very long overnight when you have a 5 year old not accustomed to routine injections anymore… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/4 "2017-12-01T18:32:18Z")
Yeah, my thoughts exactly…now that we’re on the POD, I hope I even REMEMBER how to do MDI. 😨 Hope you get the replacement soon! ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/5 "2017-12-07T21:47:41Z")
24 posts were split to a new topic: [Pump insulin: vials or pen cartridges?](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/pump-insulin-vials-or-pen-cartridges/2791) ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/6 "2017-12-01T18:51:54Z")
Given that the PDMs are probably worth a hundred bucks, I would like to purchase a spare in case I have a failure. I have a spare meter, spare pens, spare pods, but only one PDM. BUT - they want to charge $6300! and overnight shipping is not an option when you are hiking in the mountains or traveling in another country. It would be nice if Insulet shipped 2 x PDMs for the $6300 CDN my insurance company had to pay. Grrr… As a side note, my back-up is an insulin pen with cartridges that I carry with me along with my meter. Yes - I am weird and do not use the PDM meter (or the PDM bolus calculator). I just order insulin in cartridges and use the cartridges to fill the pods. If I ever have a pod problem when I am on the go, I use a cartridge that I carry with me. The cartridge I carry will be the next cartridge I use to fill a POD. As a bonus it is at room temperature when I need it. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/f/fb7719571185b350561c055216dc86e6bcb3fd86.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/7 "2017-12-01T18:58:31Z")
> [@Aaron](#): > > Given that the PDMs are probably worth a hundred bucks, I would like to purchase a spare in case I have a failure. I have a spare meter, spare pens, spare pods, but only one PDM. BUT - they want to charge $6300! and overnight shipping is not an option when you are hiking in the mountains or traveling in another country. > > It would be nice if Insulet shipped 2 x PDMs for the $6300 CDN my insurance company had to pay. > > Grrr… @Aaron, It has been shown by 2 brilliant minds in Canada and the U.S. that the Canadian and U.S. Pods work interchangeably with each other on Canadian and U.S PDM’s… [canadian-u-s-omnipod-swap-test](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/canadian-u-s-omnipod-swap-test/2442) Now if only you could find a person in the U.S. who has your shipping address, and has a propensity to flaunt convention and would be willing to ship you a U.S PDM that he buys specifically for you for from Insulet for $300… If only you had the ability to contact such a person via PM on this site… If only… ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/8 "2017-12-01T19:00:04Z")
😆 ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/32 "2017-12-07T21:37:17Z")
OMG…this literally just happened to us just now. ☹ We’re on the phone with Tech Spt now. I was attempting to check Liam’s BG’s, I lost control of the PDM and it dropped (only a foot or two to the ground)…and I kind of caught it with my foot on the way down which softened the blow. When I picked it back up, it was in the process of resetting, then I received this exact error with a long alert. Looks like they’re wanting us to do a reset on it atm. We’ll see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/33 "2017-12-07T21:44:03Z")
So we were able to reset our PDM with a paperclip! We had to do the following: 1. Insert paperclip for 2 seconds (in the battery compartment area.) 2. Dispose of the current POD 3. Reset the date/time/etc., on the PDM. 4. Apply a new POD And…for whatever reason, they said the bolus calcs in the PDM would not work for 4 - 6 hours so we’ll see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/34 "2017-12-07T21:47:29Z")
> [@ClaudnDaye](#): > > I lost control of the PDM and it dropped Do you guys have a gelskin on it? That can help protect it a bit. ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/35 "2017-12-07T23:18:35Z")
Yeah, we do. ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/36 "2017-12-08T13:11:01Z")
I do as well–although mine wasn’t dropped. It happened in the middle of the night while we were sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![katiereeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e79b87/32.png) [@katiereeder](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/katiereeder)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/37 "2017-12-09T01:21:59Z")
We also have had the PDM give the scream of death/scary error message and done the paper clip reset, a couple of times in 2 years. It has worked and we’ve never had to actually get the overnight replacement but it is unnerving. I keep an old pen (and backup script for cartridges) and lantus (which is expired but still on fridge and would work in a pinch). For backpacking we take old fashioned syringes and novolog. ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 9:31am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/38 "2018-10-08T09:31:39Z")
I google searched for “reset failed Omnipod PDM” and came across this old thread as the first search result. The paperclip trick on the PDM worked for me and I am now back in business with the PDM except for not being about to use the bolus calculator for 3 hours and 15 minutes. Background - I woke up and did a bolus and walked away from the PDM. The bolus started but I guess the PDM did not get an acknowledge back. When I walked back in range of the PDM the pod went into scream of death mode and the PDM was stuck on an alarm screen. I tired pulling the PDM batteries but it did not do anything as the PDM alarm kept going. To reset I opened the battery compartment on the PDM and stuck a paperclip in the little hole below the batteries and managed to reset the PDM. New pod is now on so I can go back to sleep 💤 ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/39 "2018-10-08T14:28:31Z")
Heh. Pretty nice the Google search gave you FUD right away. God forbid you’d have to use results from another forum 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/40 "2020-01-05T04:44:23Z")
Wow. Another PDM error about 1 year 2 months later and google took my to this thread. This one happened about 1 hour after a PDM better change and I went to bolus. I left the pod on all day but i can’t tell anymore if I am getting any basal so I will do the paperclip reset and chamge the pod. Will call tech support about a new PDM too. ---
**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/41 "2020-01-06T13:33:42Z")
> [@Aaron](#): > > Another PDM error about 1 year 2 months later Is this anywhere near the expected lifespan of the internal battery? The only PDM failure I’ve ever had was because of the dying battery, after about a year and a half. Guess that makes me due for a failure this spring. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/42 "2020-01-06T17:21:13Z")
> [@Beacher](#): > > The only PDM failure I’ve ever had was because of the dying battery, after about a year and a half. The internal battery on my PDM is no longer any good. It is not a problem for me, I just replace the batteries every few weeks when I am doing a pod change. It requires a clock reset, but that is the only issue. I think that is preferable to having to get a new PDM and reprogramming everything, and losing all the history. ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756/43 "2020-01-10T17:30:11Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > I just replace the batteries every few weeks when I am doing a pod change. This is my problem - I forget and run the batteries right out and then end up changing with an active pod. If I was better at changing the batteries when I change my pod I would not have any of these problems and would not have to worry about a dead internal battery. [Next page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/another-omnipod-pdm-failure/2756.md?page=2)