The following is an email I had to send to my Diabetes team. I have redacted personally identifiable information so that anyone who needs it can use it as a template should they find themselves in a similar situation
Hi <NAME>, My Diabetes Nurse has advised me that emailing <ADDRESS> was the correct course of action. I have also spoken directly with Insulet on 0800 011 6132 and ratified the advice given. Insulate confirmed that whilst they can provide shipping updates and help in one off/non-routine enquiries or provide pod replacements (in the event of unexpected failure), any request for changes on an ongoing basis should be directed to my care team at the hospital; i.e. yourself/<ADDRESS>. I have confirmed with Insulet that my next shipment is due on 17th September*. This will be for 3 boxes as standard. Since staring on Omnipod 5 on June 27th, I've used 20 pods; today is August 14th, which is a span of 49 days. On average, each pod has been lasting me around 2.45 days (49 days divided by 20 pods). Having used 20 out of the initial 30, I currently have 10 pods remaining. Given my average use of 2.45 days per pod, from today, August 14th, to September 17th being a span of 34 days. If I use a pod every 2.45 days, in 34 days I will use approximately 14 pods. This does not allow for any failures. This leaves me short by 4 pods. *Insulet actually base their shipments on 80 days so as to ensure users are not left short due to courier delays. If we apply 90 days to the calculations above, I am actually short by an additional 4 pods on top of the 4 above (so 8 in total). What I need from someone at the hospital, as advised by Insulet, and my Diabetes Specialist (plus some general guidance I have found online), is to amend my order to be for 4 boxes every 90 days. I anticipate this will be sufficient to cover my normal needs, however, I may have to increase this to 5 (or even the maximum 6 that insulet advise) if I am regularly having a shortfall. I will get in touch should this need arise, as well as continuing to have regular discussions with rest of the clinical team. If you need me to escalate this enquiry please do let me know to whom that should be addressed. This does not take in to account my requirement for spare pods when I am on holiday in Greece at the end of September for the following reasons; I expect that the change in heat will affect my insulin use - its possible that the maximum capacity of 200 units will be insufficient for 3 days, and thus I will need to change the pod more often. I anticipate the pods may not stick as well because of the increase in how much I will sweat in a hot country. I purchase overpatches and other methods to ensure the pods stay on for the full 3 days, out of my own pocket at not insignificant personal expense, however even these are not guaranteed to prevent the pods falling off. I do the same for my Dexcom. We have no way of predicting how the heat will affect my average needs of 2.45 days per pod. The plastic on the pods is known to be affected by sunscreen. I will naturally take measures to prevent sunscreen coming in to contact with the plastic, however taking measures to prevent skin cancer is more important to my long term health (and the associated financial impact on the NHS). I like swimming and expect to spend a large percentage of my holiday in water which is known to affect the adhesion of the pods. It is not only good for my physical health, which is critical in patients with Diabetes, it helps my mental health on which Diabetes is having a significant impact on since my diagnosis last year. Physical activity helps control my blood sugar. It will cool me down thus helping stabilise my blood sugar. Therefore, alongside anecdotal advice from the Omnipod community, you can see as outlined above that for a 14 day holiday I should pack 14 pods - allowing one pod per day as a worse case scenario. I'd also like to remind you that the NHS has a commitment to patient choice as a fundamental principle of healthcare. This means that patients have the right to choose their healthcare provider, treatment, and care options based on their preferences and needs, within the limitations of what is clinically appropriate and available. Whilst some of my request could be argued to be personal choice, my needs clearly show that the current number of pods I am being provided with is insufficient and therefore needs amending. The government is committed to giving patients greater choice and control over how they receive their healthcare. This commitment is reflected in the NHS Constitution for England. The constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. I feel that having to write this email and advocate for my needs is oppressive; I do not want any of this. I am in a position whereby I am dependent on medical intervention to keep me alive. I am simply stating that what I am being provided with is insufficient and therefore requires alteration. Being passed from pillar to post is not only frustrating and a huge waste of my time, but has a massive detrimental impact on finite NHS resources as it takes time away from administrative and clinical staff that could be better spent. By purchasing overpatches I save the NHS money, but I primarily do it because changing a pod hurts. It tears at my skin everytime I peel one off and the needle that inserts the cannula is quite large! Again, I really would rather I didn't have to do any of this. Please see list of actions required by a representative of the hospital below; if there is an alternative person with whom I should be in contact, please let me know. Otherwise, could you please confirm when these have been done. Please feel free to call me or email me at any time. Update order to 4 boxes every 90 days Request additional shipment of 2 boxes to cover my holiday needs and to cover the shortfall of 4 pods before my next shipment. Kind Regards, <NAME>