Omnipod DASH Tubeless Insulin Pump: Hands-on Review

The Omnipod has been around since 2005 as the only patch pump in the United States, and the third generation DASH offers several features and design aspects that weren’t previously offered.

Touchscreen PDM. DASH comes with a PDM that is a “locked down” Android phone. That means it runs the Omnipod system only and doesn’t allow for other apps or cellular phone use. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and the software can be remotely updated over the air. It’s roughly the same size as the previous PDM (1 centimeter thick and weighing 6.17 ounces) but has a 4-inch color touchscreen.

Pods. The DASH system uses Pods that hold up to 200 units of insulin, and are designed for 72-hour use. Note that these are new Pods, and are not compatible with the previous Omnipod “Eros” models. The new DASH Pods have the same form factor — 1.53″ wide by 2.05″ long and .57″ high, weighing 30 grams without insulin — but these have Bluetooth Low Energy wireless capability built in, allowing for communication with the touchscreen PDM. After those 3 days are up, the Pod shuts down, so you need to dispose of it and begin a new Pod session. You can purchase the Pods boxes of five. Make sure that the word DASH is included on the box, because if not they are likely older models that won’t work with the current DASH platform.

Food database. The PDM sports a food database from Calorie King that includes more than 80,000 food items, and you can manually enter post-meal blood sugar results and other diabetes data as well as personalizing meal entries for quick access.

No built-in meter. In what was considered a downside for longtime Omnipod users, the DASH PDM eliminated the integrated fingerstick glucose meter that had been built into earlier models. Instead, it uses the BLE communication to talk directly with the Contour Next ONE meter from Ascensia Diabetes, and one of these meters comes packaged with the system. DASH stores up to 800 readings/90 days of data.

Rechargeable battery. Omnipod DASH takes lithium-ion batteries that require recharging, a change from the earlier model that used the more common AAA batteries. Lithium-ion batteries can be more difficult to find in stores when in need of quick replacements, so some users grumbled about this change.

Waterproof. Insulet markets the DASH Pods as being waterproof, up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The handheld PDM is not waterproof, though.

Variety of dosage rates. Like traditional insulin pumps available, the DASH has a number of programmable settings and rates for mealtime bolus doses and background basal rates. One feature is that DASH includes a 0 units per hour basal rate setting for those who want to suspend their insulin delivery, whether it be for exercise or sensitivity reasons.

All ages. The Omnipod DASH is FDA approved for use in both children and adults with diabetes, of all ages.

No CGM integration. While there isn’t any direct integration of CGM data with Omnipod DASH, there are two mobile apps and a widget tool to help users more easily view their Dexcom CGM data alongside their DASH data on their smartphones.

Mobile apps. Insulet launched two mobile apps to accompany DASH, for easy iOS-based monitoring of glucose results, dosing records, Insulin on Board (IOB), etc., along with a widget for viewing continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data right on the smartphone alongside your Omnipod data.

• Omnipod DISPLAY app: allows users to discreetly monitor their data directly on their smartphones, with no need to pull out the PDM. This app includes a “Find My PDM” feature allowing users to track its whereabouts.
• Omnipod VIEW app: enables parents and caregivers (up to 12 people) to easily monitor their loved ones’ glucose levels on a continuous basis.
• The iOS Today View widget: lets users and their care teams see their own data or a loved one’s shared data from both the PDM and their CGM on a smartphone with just one screen swipe.

No phone control. To be clear, the apps described above are for data VIEWING ONLY; you cannot control the Omnipod DASH system from your smartphone. To date, the FDA is not allowing mobile medication dosing from a smartphone. So, using the PDM is the only way to dose insulin from the Omnipod. There are no buttons on the Pods themselves to allow for insulin dosing if you don’t have the PDM. However, Insulet is seeking permission for direct-from-phone dosing capability in their next-generation Omnipod 5 system, submitted to regulators in 2021. The company anticipates FDA approval by late 2021 or early 2022.

The price tag for will likely vary based on your insurance coverage and where you buy your supplies.

Omnipod PDMs and Pods are available at local pharmacies with a prescription, along with third-party supply companies that ship diabetes supplies to your home.

At popular pharmacy chain stores, a box of 5 Pods can range from $270 to $369, while prices may be as low as $118 on Amazon. The Omnipod DASH starter kits, which include a PDM, are more $1,000 out of pocket, but can be less expensive without as many Pods included.

Insulet says its own internal research shows that Pods bought at the pharmacy save most of their customers an average of 27 percent in monthly copays, compared to those who do not use the pharmacy channel but have their supplies covered through insurance, where they’re categorized as Durable Medical Equipment (DME).

That same data shows the monthly average copay for Omnipod DASH for people using 10 Pods per month was $39 plus a co-insurance payment of 20 percent. Of course, coverage by private insurers varies, so you’ll need to check your own plan.

The Omnipod DASH is also covered by Medicare Part D, and it’s the only insulin pump currently covered by Medicare for those with type 2 diabetes who use insulin.

DiabetesMine talked at length with two users of the DASH system, who volunteered to share their first impressions shortly after the launch in 2019.

Kerri Parker

We connected with Kerri Parker from Los Angeles, California, through a Podder group on Facebook. When we spoke, she had only been using DASH for about a week, but had used the previous Omnipod system for about a year before that.

DM: What drew you to Omnipod and the DASH system?

KP: I was partially sold on the upgrade because of the Omnipod DISPLAY app that lets you see your pump stats on your smartphone.

How has it impacted your diabetes management?

Overall, Omnipod — both DASH and the old system — helped to drop my A1C significantly from 6.3 percent to 5.2 percent. I have become a little obsessive about constantly keeping my blood sugars in range. The PDM is in my hand at least once an hour to either check my stats, deliver insulin, or program a Temp Bolus. The DASH PDM easily fits in a pocket now to make this super-convenient.

Is it hard to learn?

No, learning the new system is a breeze. The DASH allows for finer tuning of insulin adjustments. The integration with Calorie King is a super-convenient addition, and the smartphone widgets are worth the upgrade. Honestly, the hardest thing you’ll have to do with the DASH is figure out how to get insurance to cover it, and your Omnipod rep should do most or all of the legwork there.

What are your personal pros and cons?

Pros

• The touchscreen is a plus. It’s simple to learn. I went through all the online tutorials to make sure I learned the ins and outs in about an hour.
• Programming was a cinch. It’s much faster to type in all your settings and edits on the new PDM than the old one.
• My fingers don’t hurt anymore from pressing PDM buttons.
• It’s very easy to check your IOB (Insulin on Board) and see that you have a temp basal rate running. But it does take an extra swipe compared to the old system to see what rate your Temp Basal is.
• The Bluetooth is surprisingly solid. I’ve had Bluetooth connection issues with my Dexcom CGM, so I assumed the DASH would be similar, but so far not a single glitch in connectivity.
• The Pod expiration time/date is much more conveniently displayed.
• Calorie King integration is awesome! I’ve used it a handful of times just to play around.

Cons

• Despite the touchscreen, this PDM feels like it was designed a decade ago. There are a few buttons and holes on the device that are obsolete, like Omnipod asked Samsung to find the cheapest phone they already had on the assembly line and convert it to a PDM.
• The interface isn’t as intuitive as you’d think. I’m pretty tech savvy and even I fumble with the PDM to find the button to turn it on.
• The casing comes off really easily, which is maybe not a great thing for longevity. Also, the protective cover that comes with the system doesn’t feel very snug.
• The battery poops out quickly. I would have thought that Omnipod would consider the battery a top priority. When I called them to order a second battery for emergencies, they said there is no such thing.
• With the DASH it takes seven gestures to get to the bolus button — more if you don’t realize the PDM is upside-down: 1 button to light the screen, 1 swipe, and a 4-digit passcode, then enter. The old system was four gestures. I put tape on my PDM so I can quickly recognize which way is up when I want to quickly turn it on.
• The bolus calculator takes a few more seconds to complete than you’d hope for. Every time you enter your glucose number, a status bar pops up and blocks the bolus button for 6 seconds. It took me a week to figure out you can swipe the status bar away, but still it’s an added gesture that takes extra time and effort.
• The brightness settings are buried in the menu system. I need to turn down the brightness for bedtime and turn up the brightness for daytime. It takes 10 gestures or clicks to get to the brightness function. The old system gave the user access to the brightness button as soon as the PDM was turned on.

Sondra Mangan

Our team met Sondra Mangan in an Omnipod group on Facebook. Diagnosed in 2006, the Tacoma, Washington, woman started using the Dexcom CGM a year after diagnosis and the original Omnipod in 2008. She began using the DASH system after its limited release in March 2019.

DM: Did you experience any issues getting started with DASH?

SM: No. The DASH Starter Kit that Insulet ships out contains lots of helpful materials — plus as part of their “DASH Ahead” program, you need to complete the online training found in the company’s customer portal Podder Central. It is great! Seriously, the trickiest part was getting the PDM battery installed in the device.

What did you initially like about DASH?

First, Insulet did an amazing job of integrating printed and online training. I highly recommend that everyone go through both before getting started.

On seeing it, I immediately loved the small look of the new DASH PDM. The new case has enough room for me to carry a FreeStyle meter, lancet and container of strips in the zippered pouch. I’m using up my FreeStyle Lite strips first, because I needed to do a Prior Authorization appeal to get my insurance to cover the Contour strips I would need to use the meter that comes with the DASH.

What do you like best about this system?

It is very easy to enter your glucose numbers into the DASH bolus calculator, whether from a Dexcom CGM or from a fingerstick meter. If you are using the Contour meter, you just press a button and the current number is transferred to the PDM.

I also love the preset temp basal list function. If I get an alert at night, I can just look at my Dexcom, pick up the PDM and pick from the list to meet my needs at the time. I’ve created several different temp basals like 100 percent reduction for 1 hour, 2 hours, or 50 percent reduction for a given time period. I have found that now I can get an alert, check, and set DASH in just a few moments and get right back to sleep.

What could be improved?

One thing that bugs me is that the ‘HI’ message (showing that your glucose is dangerously high) has been moved to a threshold of over 599 mg/dL — really! If they reduced the HI to a max of 400, I think that would be better. Also, not being able to copy a basal program is really annoying. I’m pretty sure that in one of the press releases, Insulet’s President and COO even mentioned that the system could do that, but it cannot.

What tips would you give to new DASH users?

Do the online training course, and read the manuals. There are small things that work differently and it will be better to know in advance. My settings transferred right over and I haven’t needed to change from the last PDM — but check for yourself to make sure you are still getting the insulin you need.

Make sure to write down your basal settings; there is currently no way to copy the basal programs like you could on the previous PDMs. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with Insulet Customer Support verifying this.

Also, I’ve found that when I’ve been away from my DASH PDM it drops the Bluetooth connection, and I need to “tell it” I’m back. I do this by hitting the bolus button, and it connects to the Pod almost immediately. I’ve seen some folks complain that they put the PDM right next to the Pod and it doesn’t connect. My workaround seems to fix this.

What else do you think people should know about DASH?

There are a few things: It is not a horrible experience carrying a separate meter. There are cases and screen savers available for the Samsung Nuu Mobile A1 phone, which is the model used by DASH.

But if lost, folks will think it’s just a cell phone. I actually write “Medical Device” and my phone number on the PDM screen saver in case it’s lost or stolen.

The alert sounds are very different than the older system — you might even miss them if you don’t pay attention. With DASH, it’s also much easier to ignore the 90-minute after-Pod-change FDA-required alert, as it’s a soft chime.

Charging is quick. I can go 2 days between charging and plug in while I’m in the shower, and by the time I’m dressed it’s at 100 percent. Uploading data to Glooko is just a little different, but works fine.

While there are some neat new features, if your insurance isn’t covering DASH or if your copay would be a financial burden, then staying with existing Eros Pods for a while longer will be fine. After all, DASH is a building block for Insulet’s future Omnipod 5 system.

As noted, Omnipod DASH is the first and only tubeless pump available in the United States. The two leading brands of traditional, tubed insulin pumps are Medtronic Minimed, and the Tandem t:slim X2. There have been other brands of insulin pumps in the past, but those have been either discontinued altogether, or are not available any longer in the United States.

Each insulin pump has its own form factor and features that can appealing to some people and less appealing to others. Visit our DiabetesMine Insulin Pump Guide for more details that may help you decide what’s right for you.

As the only insulin pump in the United States that does not connect to your body via tubing, the Omnipod DASH is unique in what it offers to people with diabetes.

The little white Pods can be worn more discreetly and less intrusively, which may be especially appealing to active children and adults who hate the idea of having a medical device tethered to them all the time.

Given the DASH has Bluetooth-connectivity, it sets the stage for a near-future Omnipod system that you’ll be able to use and control directly from your smartphone.