After more than eight years of being on a Medtronic pump, I'm now going through the process of switching to Omnipod. As I haven't started on the Pod, yet, this isn't a review, but rather a post to explain my rationale.
Since going on the Dexcom over a year ago, I've become a big fan of CGM. Or, to be more correct, I've become a big fan of the Dex. I had concerns (and still do) about Medtronic's CGM solution (there seem to be more than a few complaints about it) and decided to pursue the Dex. I love it and have no plans to switch.
That being said, carrying two devices sucks and I long for the ability to have only 1 receiver. Both Animas and Omnipod announced plans for Dexcom integration and a year ago, scuttlebutt seemed to indicate the Animas would win the race to market. Two weeks ago, however, Omnipod asked the FDA to approve their device, which means they could conceivably beat Animas to the punch.
Along the way, I'd been somewhat curious about the pod. More than a year ago, I even received a sample pod. Guess what? I never put it on. I looked at it in the box and decided it looked like a big wart. I resigned myself to waiting for Animas.
But in the past year, a few other things have happened:
1) I'm tired of having my belly be a pin cushion. While I love the Dex, having two insertions in my stomach gets a bit annoying. And while I've seen some people putting the Dex in their arm, truth is I've seen a lot more Omnipod users doing that and - in general - pod users seem to move about the body a bit more.
2) Our recent trip to Florida reminded me how much Medtronic annoyed me seven years ago. When the Paradigm pump first came out, it was labeled water-proof. As a frequent swimmer and beach bum, this was THE reason I chose them, only to have them rescind the water-proof rating two years later. Having to disconnect to swim in the gulf - while I was reading about the Omnipod being water-proof - affected my decision.
3) I ordered another Omnipod sample and this time I wore it. While I don't think it's a perfect test - there's no cannula in it - I wore it on the back of my arm for 2 days and barely knew it was there. Very very cool.
4) Omnipod has a promotion called, "Cut the Cord." With this program, you pay $300, and go on the systems without getting insurance to pay for it. (obviously, insurance will pay for the replaceable pods, which - at $300/mo. are comparable to the pump). This promotion, however, gives a guy like me a few interesting wrinkles:
a. Because I keep my old insulin pump, if I HATE the pod, I'm right where I started, only out $300.
b. Because I pay $300 (and not my insurance company), I maintain my current out-of-warranty status, which means I can still have my insurance pay for the winner of the Animas/Omnipod integration race to market when the devices come out.
In short, for $300, I get to try out a way to pump using something besides my stomach with a water-proof device. And I do so, risk-free, knowing my insurance will pick up either the Omnipod/Dex if/when it becomes available or the Animas, if I wish to "re tie" the cord.
And after you realize I'm using flexible spending money to pay the $300, it's really like $240ish. All in all, not a bad gamble for a device responsible for keeping me alive.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Bob Potts Marathon - Photo Proof
There were about 4 pix taken of me during the Bob Potts Marathon. This is the only one that doesn't look like it was taken in the second trimester, however.
It also cracks me up how the bike rider is grinning like a fool. Though I was appreciative of the many bikers on the course offering gels, etc., this one was like my own personal vulture, slowly going past me, pulling over and waiting for me, repeating the same thing over and over.... for 3 hours. Our conversations were always the same:
Him: "Biker on your left."
Me: "Uh, huh."
This picture was also taken right around the 18 mile mark --- right about where my Boston pace started to go bye-bye.
The guy on the right? Yeah, he beat me, as did most of the people I encountered in the second half of the race. I went out conservatively, but still think that of the runners I saw in the 2nd half, I passed about 30% and the rest passed me.
Good times, good times.
Monday, May 17, 2010
On Not Qualifying for Boston (Again)
Yesterday was my 4th marathon - the Bob Potts Marathon in York, PA. In no particular order, here are notes, quotes and revelations:
1) I finished in 3:26:41, 43rd out of 332ish finishers.
2) I was 5th in my AG out of 27.
3) Out of my 4 marathons, this was my 3rd slowest. However, it was 7 minutes faster than my last marathon, which thrilled me to no end. The very fact that I ran a marathon and didn't get slower than my last is something I've never experienced until now.
4) Though I missed Boston by 5:41, nit-pickers should note that because I've gotten older, it was my second closest call to missing Boston to 2007, when I missed it by 2:57. This is another reason to feel good.
5) Unlike the previous 2 marathons, I had a great day w/ blood sugars. I took a page from the Kris Freeman playbook and boosted my basal rates to compensate for race day adrenaline. This is a gamble move - one that's pretty impossible to practice because when you're in practice, you don't have adrenaline. But it worked, and though I was in danger at 1 point of going low, I pretty much held it steady around 130 for most of the race.
6) Why didn't I make it? It's hard to say... I went out slow and was on pace for a 3:18 at the midpoint. The next five miles went pretty well, too, but after that I found myself getting tired and flat. The last 10k of a marathon is always a special ring of hell, but I honestly didn't feel as bad as usual... I just couldn't find the gear I needed to finish strong.
7) I can't say enough good about the course or the race organizers. This is the first time I've finished a marathon saying I want to do that one again.
8) What's next? I'm not 100% sure and I'm going to give myself a little time to decide. I am very beat up, right now, and my first instinct after the race was to tell some people that I aimed to take off the fall, concentrate on breaking 1:30 in the half-marathon, and returning to this same marathon next spring. And I might. But on the other hand, I'm pretty pleased with the build I did and hate to waste the massive base I have currently.
9) Blog-lebrity sightings. I was fortunate enough to recognize Elizabeth on the trail and say hello, but missed saying hi to Laura, MCM Mama or Dana, all of whom finished strong. Way to go!
10) I should mention that my co-worker, Mallory qualified for Boston in her second attempt yesterday. I take pride in that, too, as I'm not sure she would've had I not taught her how to properly program her Garmin. ;)
11) Thank you's.... While the final time wasn't what I wanted, I really feel this build, courtesy of coach Missy, has me back on the right track. The other big thank you goes to my super-wife, who drove me to the course at 5am and then came home to pick up the kiddos so they could see the finish. In addition, when the training became a bit too intense, I moved most of my 5:30am cross-training workouts to evening hours, which cut into family time a bit. I try not to do that because there's a lot about running that makes it a selfish hobby, but uberwife took it all in stride.
And that's that... a 4th marathon in the books. A lot learned and much to be grateful for.
1) I finished in 3:26:41, 43rd out of 332ish finishers.
2) I was 5th in my AG out of 27.
3) Out of my 4 marathons, this was my 3rd slowest. However, it was 7 minutes faster than my last marathon, which thrilled me to no end. The very fact that I ran a marathon and didn't get slower than my last is something I've never experienced until now.
4) Though I missed Boston by 5:41, nit-pickers should note that because I've gotten older, it was my second closest call to missing Boston to 2007, when I missed it by 2:57. This is another reason to feel good.
5) Unlike the previous 2 marathons, I had a great day w/ blood sugars. I took a page from the Kris Freeman playbook and boosted my basal rates to compensate for race day adrenaline. This is a gamble move - one that's pretty impossible to practice because when you're in practice, you don't have adrenaline. But it worked, and though I was in danger at 1 point of going low, I pretty much held it steady around 130 for most of the race.
6) Why didn't I make it? It's hard to say... I went out slow and was on pace for a 3:18 at the midpoint. The next five miles went pretty well, too, but after that I found myself getting tired and flat. The last 10k of a marathon is always a special ring of hell, but I honestly didn't feel as bad as usual... I just couldn't find the gear I needed to finish strong.
7) I can't say enough good about the course or the race organizers. This is the first time I've finished a marathon saying I want to do that one again.
8) What's next? I'm not 100% sure and I'm going to give myself a little time to decide. I am very beat up, right now, and my first instinct after the race was to tell some people that I aimed to take off the fall, concentrate on breaking 1:30 in the half-marathon, and returning to this same marathon next spring. And I might. But on the other hand, I'm pretty pleased with the build I did and hate to waste the massive base I have currently.
9) Blog-lebrity sightings. I was fortunate enough to recognize Elizabeth on the trail and say hello, but missed saying hi to Laura, MCM Mama or Dana, all of whom finished strong. Way to go!
10) I should mention that my co-worker, Mallory qualified for Boston in her second attempt yesterday. I take pride in that, too, as I'm not sure she would've had I not taught her how to properly program her Garmin. ;)
11) Thank you's.... While the final time wasn't what I wanted, I really feel this build, courtesy of coach Missy, has me back on the right track. The other big thank you goes to my super-wife, who drove me to the course at 5am and then came home to pick up the kiddos so they could see the finish. In addition, when the training became a bit too intense, I moved most of my 5:30am cross-training workouts to evening hours, which cut into family time a bit. I try not to do that because there's a lot about running that makes it a selfish hobby, but uberwife took it all in stride.
And that's that... a 4th marathon in the books. A lot learned and much to be grateful for.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Pre-Marathon #4 Post
So apparently this has been Diabetes Blog Week, though you couldn't have told it from this site, since I haven't updated in, uh, a while.
I could tell you that I'm not blogging at all, anymore, but that would be a lie. In fact, I'm a professional blogger of sorts, and that particular blog continues to see 3-5 posts per week. So maybe that's my excuse - posting over here is kind of like asking the mailman to take a walk.
Truth is, I have been busier than I'd like of late, but that's a crap excuse, too. We all get 24 hours in a day. Chances are, you're just as busy as me.
But regardless, I didn't want to let the week go by without posting about my 4th marathon this Sunday. Well that, plus the fact that I'm sliding into race-obsession mode, so focus is a tad hard to come by at present.
So then, background:
My fastest marathon: 3:18:56
My slowest marathon: 3:32...ish
What I need to qualify for Boston: 3:20:59
Training in a nutshell:
For several months, I've been under the tutelage of Missy Foy, the only diabetic to ever qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. This would be akin to having Jeff Gordon teach your kid driver's ed., and I've learned a ton.
Basically, I've been working out six days per week, including 1 speed session and 1 long run including 6-10 hard miles. We've even done some core work.
Pluses:
The volume of the work. Total training time has never been greater.
Intensity of the work. This is the first I've been back to speed work since 2007 and it's gone mostly well.
The long runs. We've done a lot of workouts like last weekend, where I did 18 miles, with 8 in the middle at slightly under goal marathon pace. They weren't all successes, mind you, but the body of work was fairly impressive for me.
Minuses:
It wasn't a flawless build, and I missed time running due to shin problems, though I spent those days on the bike or elliptical. We are going into marathon weekend with my shin about 98%.
Despite the volume of work, I haven't lost any weight and though I look good for a non-marathoner, I'm a solid 5-7 pounds heavier than when I ran 3:18. If you don't think 5 pounds is a lot, I suggest you take a brick for a 3 hour walk.
In summation, I don't know if I'll go sub 3:20 on Sunday at the Bob Potts Marathon. I hope so. The weather forecast is perfect and the course couldn't be any flatter. I do know that I'm fit enough to do it. But I've always said a BQ for me would take a great day, where the weather, course, fitness and blood sugars all line up and stay that way, at least for three hours and nineteen minutes. Hopefully, they will.
I could tell you that I'm not blogging at all, anymore, but that would be a lie. In fact, I'm a professional blogger of sorts, and that particular blog continues to see 3-5 posts per week. So maybe that's my excuse - posting over here is kind of like asking the mailman to take a walk.
Truth is, I have been busier than I'd like of late, but that's a crap excuse, too. We all get 24 hours in a day. Chances are, you're just as busy as me.
But regardless, I didn't want to let the week go by without posting about my 4th marathon this Sunday. Well that, plus the fact that I'm sliding into race-obsession mode, so focus is a tad hard to come by at present.
So then, background:
My fastest marathon: 3:18:56
My slowest marathon: 3:32...ish
What I need to qualify for Boston: 3:20:59
Training in a nutshell:
For several months, I've been under the tutelage of Missy Foy, the only diabetic to ever qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. This would be akin to having Jeff Gordon teach your kid driver's ed., and I've learned a ton.
Basically, I've been working out six days per week, including 1 speed session and 1 long run including 6-10 hard miles. We've even done some core work.
Pluses:
The volume of the work. Total training time has never been greater.
Intensity of the work. This is the first I've been back to speed work since 2007 and it's gone mostly well.
The long runs. We've done a lot of workouts like last weekend, where I did 18 miles, with 8 in the middle at slightly under goal marathon pace. They weren't all successes, mind you, but the body of work was fairly impressive for me.
Minuses:
It wasn't a flawless build, and I missed time running due to shin problems, though I spent those days on the bike or elliptical. We are going into marathon weekend with my shin about 98%.
Despite the volume of work, I haven't lost any weight and though I look good for a non-marathoner, I'm a solid 5-7 pounds heavier than when I ran 3:18. If you don't think 5 pounds is a lot, I suggest you take a brick for a 3 hour walk.
In summation, I don't know if I'll go sub 3:20 on Sunday at the Bob Potts Marathon. I hope so. The weather forecast is perfect and the course couldn't be any flatter. I do know that I'm fit enough to do it. But I've always said a BQ for me would take a great day, where the weather, course, fitness and blood sugars all line up and stay that way, at least for three hours and nineteen minutes. Hopefully, they will.
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