Comments on: Can an insulin pump kill you?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:10:02 +0000

These things are unfortunate, but I believe they can happen! I was in the emergency room yesterday for what I fear may’ve been a similar failure of my OmniPod. I don’t know that I have conclusive proof, but a pod that I had put on only an hour earlier, presumedly with the 150 units I normally put in a new pod, was empty when I later looked at it, and my wife had turned it off and removed it only about 2 hours after I put it on. Which means, if you assume what is eviudent but unproven, that it put that all into me. The fact that I couldn’t keep myself above 35 mg/dl for many hours, had EMTs come to the house twice, and eventually taking me to the ER, having eaten dozens of grams of carbs since the pod was removed, and still being unable to keep my BG up, just a crazy crazy thing.

Had not my wife been with me, I may not’ve survived it either. Again, I cannot state with 100% certainly that the pod “quietly” (ie, without alarming) tried to kill me, but the evidence does suggest it. A bit scary.

Am I going to go back on the pod? Yup. Plan to. I’ve used more than 100 of them over the last year, and they’re not perfect. But the odds of this happening again are atrociously low. I certainly will be in contact with OmniPod, and I hope they can find something that went wrong so they can install more alarms for whatever happened.

(FWIW, I’m *not* wearing a pod now, just from being freaked out by this happening, only 30-some hours ago. But, I currently do expect to go back to them within a few hours or days.)

By: DMB

DMB — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:59:08 +0000

Steve’s story is so sad. I just got my first pump a few weeks ago…a Medtronics Paragigm. So far I hate it. My blood sugar control is worse than when I was taking multiple injections. I can go from 400 – 35 in a short time. Sure does make you feel lousy. My doctor wants to blame it on incorrect carb counting, scar tissue…anything but pump malfunction. (I also understand Medtronics recently had a recall of infusion sets.) Now that I’ve read about Steve,I am deathly afraid of my pump and will probably go back to injections.

By: La

La — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:28:49 +0000

Mars, you have heard of other malfunctions of the pump. Can you direct me to information and any followup on which pumps and what type of malfunction?

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:55:58 +0000

I just wanted to give my condolences for steven and his family. for myself I have had type 1 diabetes for 17 yrs and my pump has saved my life. my a1c before was between 8-9 and now 3 months after getting my p ump and being pregnant my a1c is now 5.2 wich is amazing. I do have the medtronic mini med and now after reading this I am concerned. especially being a mom and expecting my second I dont want any chances. but I do believe my pump has saved my life.

By: mars

mars — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:49:33 +0000

So folks- I have decided to get a pump three years after Steven died- yes people – due to malfunction of the pump and I hate to tell you he is not the only one to have this happen. So anyone have other suggestions- I have heard to two pumps. If you have a medtronics pump- Sorry – I am not interested. Preferably with a company I am not afraid of and who respects individuals.

By: FatCatAnna

FatCatAnna — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:48:01 +0000

Justin – just curious about the Omnipod. With my pump, if I go thru’ 200 units of insulin in one day (some people have insulin resistance and go thru’ even more) – can you do what I do – where all I have to do is refill my insulin cartridge and still keep using the same infusion set that’s in my body (I change every 3 days religiously after being told not to leave it in longer due to scarring – used to leave it in up to 5 days). I don’t know if with the Omnipod – if you would have to take off to whole unit/infusion set from your body – and put in a whole new pod.
Not sure if you are aware, but there is a new tubeless pump coming into the American market next year (SoloMicropump – it detaches from the infusion base). Unfortunately like many nonAmericans – Canada and probably Australia don’t have Omnipod yet. Guess due to our smaller population / government medical testing – it just takes longer to come into our countries.
Anyway, I’ve got links, etc. to help explain it if you click below – http://www.diabetes1.org/forum/Insulin_Pump_Users/SoloMicropump_Omnipod_has_competition#63830

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:36:04 +0000

ive been a type one diabetic since i was 7. nearly 15 years now. ive been through 3 different pumps, and def. feel where you’re coming from being scared. ive had one malfunction and NOT deliver enough, but never the opposite. im currently on the OmniPod system. its a wireless, tubeless pump attached and controlled by a pda looking thing about the size and look of a cell phone. the only drawback is it only holds maybe 200 units, so changing it ever 3 to 4 days is a pain. its the best thing thats ever happened to me. i have so much freedom away from injections and old pump tubes.

By: Mars

Mars — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:19:10 +0000

Thanks for the information. I was diagnosed in 2003 and I was devastated at first in how it has changed my life. I have had two children and it has been difficult to get back on track after the second. I have been interested in a pump but I don’t want Medtronics and they definitely have the market where I live. I know that Steven’s parents truly appreciate all the support that this blog has given them. It has been a difficult journey.

By: Sooz

Sooz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:34:40 +0000

Hi FatCatAnna,

Good point. In Australia the only CGMSs you can get at this time are the Metronic ones – both the closed loop and the separate one.

I have an Animas 2020, and much as it might involve a little more work, at this point I’d probably want a separate system.

I’m told that Navigator and Dexcom will become available here soon. The Dexcom will probably be released later than the Navigator. Probably not before the end of the first quarter of 2010.

Pumps models have moved on since that happened to Steven, and one hopes that issues like this have been addressed. I wouldn’t swap my pump back to MDI any reason, even with any risk of malfunction.

If you look at it in perspective, I probably have a better chance of having an accident on the roads.

Whatever publicity this has received, I still think the risk in using a pump is minimal, especially compared to the benefits.

For anyone, if it makes them be too anxious having a pump while sleeping then that probably has to be weighed against whether the anxiety is debilitating enough to go back to MDI.

I am sure that in several months, we won’t be thinking about this incident as we are now.

By: FatCatAnna

FatCatAnna — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:03:04 +0000

Mars – you should be able to get to the Diabetes1 forum website by clicking on my name above – it will take you to the forums area at Diabetes1.org or if this doesn’t work for you – just type in ” http://www.diabetes1.org/forum/ ” . Can you tell them I’m not a techy person ? I am learning with time how useful the Internet can be tho’.
BTW, I have already been in contact with Steven’s parents – to try to help them as much as I can.
I understand your difficulty in making the right decision – of whether to go on the pump. It was the same for myself – as I had been injecting 42 years prior to going on a machine like this. The thing that made me chose the pump I had – is when I test drove the Medtronic 522 model – I did not like how easily I could “goof up” with making an incorrect bolus shot. I would have gotten used to it if given the chance to test it out longer (only given 3 months). I then had the opportunity to use another pump – the Animas 2020 – which I felt more safe to uses. It doesn’t allow you to bolus without a few steps – you cannot make a mistake. Also, to stop any bolus that maybe going thru’ you incase you input incorrectly (you are always the brains behind the pump – you set up the programming for it) – you can touch any key on the pump – in order to halt the deliveyr of the pump. I found with the Medtronic pump – it was difficult – maybe they have improved it since – maybe there is someone who will come forth here and fill us in. I just know I felt more comfortable with the Animas 2020 – had the smallest increment of insulin available on the market at the time – as this pump is made for children (I am one at heart ) – and also I found Customer Service to be easier to get hold of when I needed help – as well as being abit more friendly then Medtronic. Again, everyone has different experiences with their pump manufacturer – maybe in my case with Medtronic – I just got a person on a bad day when I called.
Keep on doing your research – ask questions – but you will not be sorry if you do go on a pump – I no longer feel like a diabetic (never really did before – it’s part of me having had it so long – sort of like my Siamese twin I guess).