OmniPod helps diabetics control insulin

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Diabetes can be a scary & complicated disease, especially if it isn't monitored properly. But a fairly new device called the OmniPod is making life a little easier for some people who have diabetes.

The OmniPod is basically a newer version of an insulin pump but is smaller, less expensive and waterproof.

Karagan Redman got her OmniPod two months ago. Before using the new device, Redman said she had to get 6 to 8 insulin shots every day in order to keep her blood glucose levels normal.

If a diabetic's blood sugar drops too low, it's dangerous and could be deadly.

"I just start to feel really weak and dizzy," Karagan told WSBT "I'm just not myself. I get really pale."

Karagan's mom said being the parent of a diabetic can be scary.

"You want to make sure that her sugars aren't low because she can go into a seizure," explained Kim Redman. "And if they're high you can run into other problems."

But thanks to the OmniPod — a small insulin pump and its remote control device — Karagan is getting an almost continuous flow of insulin into her body. But doctors warn the OmniPod isn't for everyone.

"You still have to do all your blood glucose monitoring manually by poking your finger and checking your blood sugar," said Pediatric Endocrinologist Nancy Johnson. "[And] just like any device, if you don't know how to use it, it won't help the disease."

The actual pod part of the device fits in the palm of an adult's hand. A three-day supply of insulin goes into a vial inside the pod. The device is powered by batteries and can be stuck to the arm, stomach or thigh.

Karagan has chosen to wear the device on her arm. And she's quick to answer questions from her peers.

"I just tell them it's pretty much keeping me alive right now," she said.

Karagan's endocrinologist told WSBT she uses fairly strict criteria to select patients who may be eligible for the OmniPod. According to Dr. Nancy Johnson, patients must have good support at home, they should want the device, they must keep regular appointments and they still must monitor their blood sugars at least four times a day.

According to the OmniPod website, the start-up kit costs $800. Patients put a new pod on their arm every three days, and a month's supply of pods costs about $350.

The Redmans are still waiting to see if insurance will cover Karagan's OmniPod.