I recently learned that the Omnipod cannula inserts at less than a 90 angle (45*?). I have been placing pods “right side up” (to me, with the curved side pointing down; then right side down (curve side pointing up) after each rotation, to ostensibly give my tissues a break and utilize a different area of real estate. My six sites are L/R stomach; L/R outer back (just behind the edge of my stomach); and L/R upper butt. Do you all flip the pod at some interval? Or keep it in one standard position (up or down)? Do you think it matters? Thanks! Jessica
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@JessicaD I use a regular pattern of left abdomen (round side left, then round side right), right abdomen (round side left, then round side right), inner left upper arm (round side up, then round side down), back left upper arm (round side up, then round side down). I try to move the pods a bit so as not to cover the insertion site. This gives a 24 day cycle at 3 days a piece, 26+ if you use the 8 hour grace period. I reserve the outer upper left arm for my G7 sensors. This pattern allows for my sleep positions best. I’m sure you’ll find all sorts of different patterns depending on sleep positions, work and play (both kid and adult) activities, and other issues.
I haven’t notices an issue with differing pump orientations working differently. I figure its a pump and the effects of gravity, etc., are minimal.
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We have 8 locations for @Liam-M. We’ve always used top and side thighs.
Left Top cannula down
Right Top cannula down
Left Side cannula down
Right side cannula down
…once all 4 have been done in the down position, we start over with the positions, with cannula facing up.
Left Top cannula Up
Right Top cannula up
Left side cannula up
Right side cannula up.
So every site sees a needle only once every 26.7 days (nearly a month break between each site)
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I concur with what everyone has said about changing the location and the orientation. I have 4-6 different sites (4 sites if Leslie is available to help, and 2 sites when I do it by myself).
I am not as organized as others as far as tracking the way it is pointing, but I just try to remember it and do it differently the next time.
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I don’t think it matters for insulin delivery. What matters is pointing the pod in a direction such that any pressure on the other end of the pod won’t tend to pry the cannula out of the skin. And of course, spreading the infusion sites all around, not reusing any spot sooner than necessary.
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I keep the curved side pointed up, or inward depending whether I’m putting on arms or abs. The main rationale for me is that several times when I’ve done the opposite on the abs, injecting outward toward my side, I’ve had very painful insertions… sometimes really intolerable to the point that I had to immediately remove it
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