T1D Living
Insulin is expensive. Like reeeeeeally expensive. And when my pods expire I can have anywhere from 5-25 units left in it. Add that up over the course of 1 week and I’d be throwing away 75 units!
75 UNITS LADIES AND GENTS.
That’s crazy.
Which is why I pull insulin out of omnipod.
Here’s how I do it
Step 1: Take your OLD deactivated pod and flip it on it’s back
Step 2: Open a NEW pod package and take out the needle syringe
Step 3: With your OLD deactivated pod on its back, stick the NEW needle syringe in the OLD deactivated pod’s hole. This is the same hole where you originally filled it.
Step 4: With the needle in the hole, lift up the pod and angle it so that the pod is directly above the needle. Using gravity to help draw all the insulin out.
Step 5: Pull back on the syringe to extract as much insulin as you can.
Want to see it done in action? Check out this video of me emptying my pod reservoir.
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Thank you.
You’re welcome 🙂
Rachel,
My daughter is about to start using the Omnipod Dash. She’s 10 and does not use very much insulin. The min fill is 85 units. My biggest concern was wasting what was not used. . Thanks so much for posting this up. You rock.
Cheers,
Ramon
She is going to LOVE omnipod! Glad I could help!!
Thank you!! I just did not like throwing so much insulin away!!
Mel
You’re welcome, Mel! Throwing away one of the most expensive liquids in the world is no bueno! Happy to help!
Thanks!!! Totally going to try this I am pitching so much insulin!!!
do it girl! Save that life juice!
This is one of the most helpful posts and videos I’ve seen. Thank you so much for this useful information! I was able to use the insulin I had just put into my pod before I changed the batteries in my PDM. I forgot that it would deactivate that pod resulting in the possible loss of all of that precious insulin! I appreciate you!
Thank you! and you’re welcome! Also, I would reach out to Omnipod…if your PDM deactivates your pod when you change the batteries that means the PDM is failing and Omnipod will replace your it for free <3
THANKS FOR THIS! I HAVE YET TO HAVE A POD NOT GET KNOCKED LOOSE! VERY DISAPPOINTED I CAN’T USE THESE AS DESIGNED. SO MUCH FOR 2020!
That is super aggravating! I hope Omnipod can get it all sorted out for you. 2020 needs to leave.
This is a life saver! Thank you for sharing! Quick question, once you have removed it from the old pod, do you add it to the new pod right away or do you add more of the new insulin to the syringe first?
You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful! I’ve always removed insulin from the old pod then filled up the rest of the syringe with new insulin – then I put it in the new pod.
I had to do this tonight cause the adhesive stuck together on my pod and it became useless, it was a full pod. This article saved at least 150 units of insulin from being wasted. THANKS!
That’s happened to me before too! Glad this helped!!
I can’t thank you enough for sharing! I was foolishly throwing away pods after just one day of use. My son is so active and they get knocked out. No more wasted insulin! Thank you!
Can a pod be reactivated? I had a pod deactivate as soon as I filled it, it was in the middle of priming and the perpetual siren of doom sounded. Omnipod sent me a replacement but due to cost encumbrances I can’t get a full set from the pharmacy til after the 1st. I can manage a string for a few days but I’d rather not. Can the pod be salvaged?
Unfortunately not, at least not that I’m aware of. If you can get your endo to say that a pod lasts you 2 days, instead of 3, then insurance will allow you to fill more. That way you always have some for back up!
Hey there so I just started on the pod.. and really love it although was sick about throwing away insulin. I was going to figure out a way to get it out and glad to have found these helpful instructions! We need to save every drop!
Thanks
Thank you so much, I’m only using 50 units out of the 100. My dr told me I couldn’t salvage the insulin cause it ‘expires’ after 3 days.. so not true.
Hi! How do you then put that insulin in the new pod? Do you put it back in the vial and then extract the amount you need from the vial for the new pod? That is the method I’ve been doing, but I think its messing up my vial and causing an overload of pressure because a bunch keeps squirting out when I take out the syringe.