The OmniPod Insulin Pump has an adhesive patch that adheres to the body and is expected to last 3 full days. Daily life (baths, swimming, heat, etc.) and your personal skin can cause the pod’s adhesive to fail. Add extra adhesive or utilize accessories to help keep the pod securely in place for 3 days.
Extra Adhesive / Accessories / Sunscreen
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Add Extra Adhesive
Overpatches – add an extra adhesive patch over OmniPod’s initial adhesive patch. Overpatches are typically precut to fit the pod (and available in various colors and designs).
Shield – Add a shield before applying an overpatch to your Pod to allow for easy removal of the overpatch. The shield protects the pod’s initial adhesive patch when applying/removing an overpatch. When the overpatch starts to peel at the edges, simply remove the extra overpatch without disturbing the pod’s initial adhesive patch.
Liquid Adhesive – Adding an adhesive barrier with liquid adhesive before applying a pod provides skin protection and extra adhesive to the pod’s initial adhesive patch. A second layer of liquid adhesive on top of the pod’s patch provides even more sticking power. Further, apply liquid adhesive to the edges of an adhesive patch that starts to peel-up from daily wear-and-tear. Purchase in economical bottle or in travel wipe size.
Accessories
Arm Bands – Arm bands can worn over a pod’s initial patch or be used in addition to overpatches. Adding an arm band over a pod initial adhesive patch can help during water activities (be sure to keep the arm band on until the adhesive patch dries to help keep the adhesive patch and cannula in place.
Compression Band – wear a compression band over a pod to protect a pod from being ripped off your body and during water activities (wear in water and then wear the compression band until the band dries to help keep the adhesive and cannula in place).
Adhesive Bandage Wrap (a.k.a. Vet Wrap) – comes in various colors and sizes to wrap over the pod. Vet wrap works like a compression band but is much easier to remove and dries faster. Also, allows for custom sizing of the wrap to cover pods on arms, legs and stomach. Tip – vet wrap can shrink when going from dry-wet-dry again. It is important to check the tightness of the wrap throughout the day on young kids.
Sunscreen
When applying sunscreen stay clear of the pod’s adhesive patches (sunscreen can make the adhesive malleable and device will just slide off). Also, avoid spray sunscreen because it causes pods to crack/leak. Consider using a sunscreen stick or solar buddy to apply sunscreen safely around adhesive patches and pods.
