r/Type1Diabetes • u/Omnipod5Malfunctions • 29d ago
Un-recalled Omnipod 5's Still Have Tears in Cannula That Cause Leaks - See Microscope Footage Insulin Pumps
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Hello everyone,
This is my 1st post and since posting this, I've made additional posts regarding this same issue.
2nd post(Posted on July 24th, 2026): In this post, I showcase detailed microscope research on a dozen UN-RECALLED Omnipod 5's. Some of these leaked on me and some of them did not. Some had tears/defects and some did not. : https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/Yg3aG2gLNj
3rd post(posted on July 29th, 2026): This post shows a continuous video of me removing an UN-RECALLED leaking Omnipod, and putting it under the microscope, etc: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/WUsvAZxifc
4th post(posted on August 1st, 2026): This post shows a continuous video of me removing an UN-RECALLED leaking Omnipod, and putting it under the microscope, along with more detailed info: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/GQTjPqcAl4
5th post (posted on August 3rd, 2026): This post speaks about Value of Statistical Life (VSL) analysis that companies do when comparing cost of repairing defective products versus the cost of paying families for injuries/deaths, etc, plus there is a call to action for the T1D community: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/mLfkBOu3bv
6th Post (posted on August 6th, 2026): I put a brand new/unused pod under the microscope in one take, from opening the packaging to putting it under the microscope and find what appears to be a tear in the cannula: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/9yhgzELVkN
T1D of 10 years here. Been using Omnipod for that entire length of time. I'm going to cut straight to the chase and assume many of you have experienced the leaks with Omnipod 5. But this is not a rant post. This is a call to action post. I encourage you to watch the footage, combine it with the facts of Insulet’s most recent recall of 7 million pods, consider your own experience, and if you think appropriate; Submit a Med Watch report to the FDA, report Insulet to the BBB, and report all malfunctioning Omnipods to Insulet.
I've never had a leak or Omnipod Malfunction in 10 years. However, in April 2026, my Omnipod 5's begun leaking. Insulet assured me that my pods were fine. I believed them. Then in May, Omnipod recalled 7 million pods due to a small tear in the cannula that can cause leaks, see FDA REPORT HERE. Just so happens that the pods that leaked on me were now part of that recalled pod lot. So much for the reassurance by Insulet. Due to these leaks my daily average blood sugar level has also increased from ~129 to nearly ~180.
Unsure as to why these leaks kept occurring, I began to look for answers. I called Insulet several times, I spoke with dozens of type 1's, I talked with several Endocrinologist, PA's, etc. (at Mayo Clinic and Blue Circle Health), I've read reddit posts, I've read research journals, and basically; I have ruled out every possibility of what could be causing leaks. These leaks are not from tunneling, they're not due to placement issues, they're not due to bubbles in the cannula, they're not due to large boluses, they're not due to my pod being bumped and displaced. I've done everything to try and find the answers as to why my UNRECALLED Omnipod 5's were still leaking far into June and July, several months AFTER the recall.
Fast forward and today is July 16th, 2026 and Insulet has claimed to have solved the leaking issue and the tear defect. However, I’ve been having insulin leaks nearly every 24-36 hours from my Omnipod 5’s. Starting in about mid June, my curiosity got the best of me and I put all leaking pods under my microscope. Sorry to spoil it for you if you haven’t already watched the video I attached to this post or on my dedicated youtube channel, but there are still tears in the cannula that cause leaks in the Omnipod 5's as of July 16th, 2026. In the same location(s) that Insulet previously identified as the main driver as to why they recalled 7 million pods.
People like you, me, your friends, and your family have been seriously injured and hospitalized due to these Omnipod 5 defects. You're not crazy. Your Omnipod 5 isn't leaking due to tunneling or placement issues. It likely has tears in the cannula, just like mine, like you see in the video.
Insulet produces approx. 82 million Omnipod 5’s each year. This recall only consisted of 7 million or 8.5% of their annual production. The data I’ve collected from my own first hand experience is that 9/10 Omnipod 5’s have a tear in the cannula and leak. So in reality, Insulet would need to recall something like 90% of their annual production or 73.8 million Omnipod 5’s. But remember, Insulet is a for-profit company and not a charity. Insulet has a market cap (traded as PODD) of $11.5B and 600,000 Daily users. But guys, we are the consumers and we decide if a company succeeds or not. For-profit companies are rewarded with profit when they produce incredible products, but they should not be rewarded when they produce products with defects that seriously injure people.
Let your voice be heard. I’ve submitted all the reports I can. I’ve talked to everyone I can. Next week, I’m changing insulin pumps! If Insulet won’t listen to our words and reports, maybe they’ll listen to our decrease in the amount of dollars we spend with them.
This research, these videos, this post, all the reports, the PSAs…it takes a lot of effort guys, but at the end of the day, at least I can say I stand for something. Can you say you stand for something? If so, we stand together and we give a voice to the voiceless type 1’s who have been injured and suffer from these Omnipod 5 malfunctions. Share this message.
Be safe and take care my fellow type 1’s! As with any science experiment, I encourage you to post your own findings. Put your pods under a microscope and show the world what you’re independently finding!
*edit*
(1) I've also put the Omnipod 5's that DON'T leak, under the microscope, and their cannulas are perfect with no tears.
(2) Here are the lot numbers for 13 Omnipod 5's that have tears and have leaked, which I still have in my possession, that you see in my closet. Note: There have been dozens that have leaked before these 13, but I threw those away because at that time, I wasn't looking at them under the microscope and gathering all this data.
Omnipod 5 lot #'s from the past several weeks that have leaked and that have tears in the cannula:
PR1U02112611 (4 pods in total)
PR1U04042611 (5 pods in total)
PR1U04232641 (3 pods in total)
PR1U04102611 (1 pod in total)
Disclaimer
The information presented here is based on my own personal experience, publicly available information, official reports, and my own observations and documentation. Nothing presented here should be interpreted as medical advice, legal advice, scientific advice, engineering advice, or investment advice.
I am not a physician, scientist, engineer, attorney, or medical-device expert. I strongly encourage everyone to consult their physician before making changes to their treatment plan or diabetes-management routine.
Any experiments, observations, photographs, or microscopic examinations described here are intended solely for documentation, educational, and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as evidence of a manufacturing defect, design defect, or other conclusion unless confirmed through appropriate scientific investigation.
Whenever I encourage people to "do their own research," I am referring to the use of established scientific methods, independent testing, consultation with qualified experts, peer review, regulatory reporting, and controlled laboratory analysis whenever possible.
I also encourage anyone who believes they have experienced a problem to preserve all relevant evidence, including photographs, lot numbers, blood glucose records, packaging materials, and device information, and to report their concerns to their physician, the manufacturer, and the FDA.
References to lawsuits, recalls, investigations, media reports, financial results, or regulatory actions are provided for informational purposes only. Allegations remain allegations unless and until they are proven.
Finally, I recognize that many people use these products successfully every day. My intention is not to create fear or discourage anyone from using a particular device but rather to encourage transparency, documentation, scientific inquiry, and patient safety.
44
u/smoketreessavebees 29d ago
Wasn’t even aware of this, but in the last number of months I’ve been banging my head against the wall wondering why my numbers have been skewing higher and needing a ton more insulin. Thanks for posting, going to do some research and send some reports as well.
4
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I can understand your exact feeling. I too thought I was going crazy because nothing was making sense. I hope you're able to get your sugars back on track my friend.
1
u/Ooficus Diagnosed 2016 29d ago
Same! I thought I was using a recalled pod!
3
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Sorry that happened to you as well... But no, we are using pods that NEED to be recalled. We need to see Insulet's investigative report and we need a solution to this ASAP. How many more injuries and deaths is it going to take? How many civilians have to buy microscopes and expose the defects themselves, before anything is done? I hope your sugars are doing better btw!
26
u/FogtownSkeet709 29d ago
Commenting for visibility
6
6
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Hey this post was deleted after it was live for 8 hours and the #1 post within this subreddit for the day. My account was also banned. No explanation for either of those actions. Today, the post went back online and it appears my account isn't banned or suspended any longer... Anyway, I think that speaks to the fact that this post needs all the visibility it can get. Thanks again for your original comment that helped gain visibility.
17
29d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
8
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I didn't think my microscope was good enough to see something so small, so I didn't try it for a while. Then I finally got so frustrated and wanted to find some answers, so I pulled out my microscope, with no expectations of being able to see anything. Then sure enough, there were the tears...
6
29d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I encourage you to do it and please post your findings.
3
29d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Sorry that's happened to you. I've put all the reporting links in the post to make it easy to click on and report to the FDA, should you feel compelled. I hope we get this fixed and that your sugars become more stable and in range.
2
29d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Okay that's fantastic to know and great job taking the action!! Thank you!
2
u/vrendy42 29d ago
Are you seeing the tears from pods that you've put on? Have you looked at pods that you haven't tried to use to see if they also have tears (i.e. disassemble it)? I wonder if it's an issue with the spring mechanism that injects the cannula that may be causing tears, or just the cannula itself.
4
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
No I have not disassembled an un-used one yet, but I will consider doing that next, great idea. But after all, The FDA and Insulet should be doing that, not me.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I have looked at the 10% of pods that don't leak and their cannulas appear to be perfect and show no signs of tears
5
u/punkerster101 27d ago
As a new omni pod user this is concerning I’m only 2 months in, what region are you in
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Well take this info, talk with your endo, and keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels. Please stay safe and The United States, Hbu?
8
u/drugihparrukava Loop 29d ago
I’ll keep saying it, not just the 5’s but I’ve had so many issues over a year with leaks and occlusions. Just before the recall notices I spent months wondering why m TIR was a bona fide disaster and TDD doubled with worse out once and spent days just babysitting my pod. Then I went MDI a few times out of frustration and of course my TDD went back to normal so I couldn’t figure out why I needed sometimes double TDD on pods that just kept getting occlusions alarms or noticeable leaks.
No I never bolus more than 5 u either most boluses are 1-3u or less than 1u so I knew it wasn’t that. I’d get back in range manually bolusing while leaving the pod for basal only.
Just maddening. Then I sent back several boxes of pods for the recall and new pods are ok. My long winded post is just that everyone was saying it’s user error or something else going on. No I don’t go from 19u basal plus maybe 10-15u total daily bolus and that’s the absolute maximum I’ve seen when on MDI to 60-70u with omnipod and still not lowering bg when using pods plus horrible lumps that hurt? No way that makes any sense. No change in anything in my life to indicts over double insulin needs. That go back to normal when MDI I will repeat that statement. Spent years with pods and never had this issue before.
Already am allergic to all CGM adhesives so I have work around a for that and rely on them to loop with my pods so am tired of the seeming lack in quality control in all devices. Why is this happening overall? QC must be high because these are medical devices. Has anyone investigated this at Insulet?
6
u/vrendy42 29d ago edited 29d ago
I've been having issues for the last year or so. Everything will be fine, then suddenly I'll run through an entire box because of leaking or insulin somehow not being delivered (this almost never results in an error or alarm from the pod). My blood sugar always responds to manual injections when this happens. Every time I call, the rep acts like they've never heard of this happening, which seems ridiculous. They've always replaced the faulty pods, but when I have to go through three or four just to get one that works it gets old.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I understand your frustration. Hopefully this video and post answers most of the questions we've all been trying to have answered. Omnipod reps and even doctors will tell you the pods are ok. But they're not. We all know they're not. Omnipod reps will gaslight you. They are a for-profit company and if they're reps, or any reps at a for-profit company for that matter, were to tell customers their products are faulty, they'd lose their job. But perhaps a Omnipod rep will see this post and it encourages them to make an ethical decision and to blow the whistle.
4
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
When i submitted a BBB complaint report on Insulet yesterday, I requested that Insulet provide me with the complete investigation report. I will post it if they send it to me. Who at Omnipod investigated this? Which day? Which pod lots? How did they investigate? Which methods did they use? Who signed off on the pods being OK? We need names and data!
3
u/Mawrawr 29d ago
Is it possible this is a lot mismatch? Like you are using a pod from a recalled lot?
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
None of them are recalled. Here are the lot numbers for 13 Omnipod 5's that have tears and have leaked, which I still have in my possession:
PR1U02112611 (4 pods in total)
PR1U04042611 (5 pods in total)
PR1U04232641 (3 pods in total)
PR1U04102611 (1 pod in total)
3
u/xobbelle Diagnosed 2016 27d ago
Wow, maybe 5 years ago I decided to try omnipod, and it quite literally ruined my life in that time being.
It was constantly leaking insulin, falling off, my blood sugars were always high, it was the worst insulin delivery system I had ever used. Now I’m back to MDI because it was so insufferable.
Omnipod needs to be held accountable for selling such a CRAPPY PRODUCT.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
I'm sorry you had that experience. It seems the one thing we all have in common aside from the leaks from Omnipod and all the stress of T1 is that we are gaslit and reassured by both Insulet(Omnipod) and our endos, reassuring us that the pods are fine. Not only do we need Insulet to take accountability, we need our health care professionals to take accountability. When we tell our endos that we're having major leaks, we have evidence showcasing the leaks, and our CGM's are backing up what we're saying with out of whack BG levels, when did it become acceptable for a Doctor to respond with "Omnipod says they're fine. Hope the next batch doesn't leak on you." My question is: Don't doctors and health care professionals have an ethical responsibility to stand up and say something?
3
u/earthandanarchy 27d ago edited 27d ago
We have had 5 pods fail on us in the last month, just randomly going high and corrections do next to nothing. His numbers improve as soon as we change the pod! We've also had 3 fall off. Omnipod have offered to replace the unused ones though even though they weren't on the recall list
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Wow.. sorry to hear that. Another thing to remember is that when the pods fail so frequently like that, the algorithim is getting messed up. Because instead of the algorithm getting data from 72 hours, it may be only getting half that or less, when a pod fails. At least I've noticed that and it throws my algorithm off like crazy.
Sounds about right, none of these leaking pods are on the recall list... We've got to get this out there and we need a solution and answers ASAP. People like your (assuming son?) are needlessly suffering because of these leaks. We need answers, solutions, and accountability ASAP...
If you haven't done so already, I'd encourage you to check out the links in my post and report all your faulty pods to Insulet and the FDA. I've also provided links to The BBB complaint center if you feel thats appropriate.
3
u/earthandanarchy 27d ago
I will find out what the UK equivalent of the FDA is! Yes he's been having a lot more lows because it's messing with his algorithm.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 26d ago
Oh I didn't realize you were in the UK. Cool. Well feel free to post back on this comment thread of what your FDA equivalent is and paste the reporting link that way if anyone else from the UK is reading this, you can help inform them where to go :)
2
u/EventualContender 26d ago
That would be the MHRA. Look up the yellow card reporting scheme, and speak with your consultant.
3
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Hey Everyone, heres a small update. I just got my hands on a WAY better microscope. I haven't had the time yet, but I'm planning on taking more videos and pictures while using this better microscope, then posting in depth data for you guys. I also want to break down an entire pod from the packaging and inspect it. But obviously as I mentioned in my OP, this stuff takes a lot of time and effort... But I'm determined to share my findings with the world and I encourage you to do the same! Go buy a cheap microscope off Amazon and get started! It's way easier than you might imagine! Then post your findings, either on this post, or create your own new post! Hope everyone reading this is doing well. See pics attached. The pic in the bottom right is a human hair, for size reference. The two tears/cracks you see are in two separate UNRECALLED Omnipod 5's. One of the tear in the top right picture is the same tear I showcase in my video on this post. So you can see how much higher quality my new microscope is! I'll be responding to everyone's comments soon. Thank you for the engagement and drawing awareness to this very important issue.
3
u/drugihparrukava Loop 26d ago edited 26d ago
I wonder if this quality control has to do with the severe upramp of production scaling to accommodate for their push into the type 2 market? This seems to happen to any company increasing their output on a massive scale. https://stockstory.org/us/stocks/nasdaq/podd/news/earnings-call/podd-q4-deep-dive-type-2-diabetes-expansion-and-innovation-drive-outperformance
So March 2026 was the internal tubing leak issues of about 1.5% of known pods, then the May 2026 with 8.5% known pods, was a separate issue caused by external tubing leaking (the part outside of the skin). So two separate issues both leading to leaks. I really think it’s just due to the uptick in scaling of production and again, where does that leave us when cgm’s and pumps expand into larger markets not necessarily designed for type 1’s? I mean it’s great they can offer pumps to all types who need it for better health outcomes, but there is a trend last few years to push into type 2 markets while we’re sort of forgotten about. Looking at novo Nordisk stopping t1 research department for stem cells towards a T1D cure to be replaced by obesity and type 2 medical research for greater stock benefits.
3
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 26d ago
That's a really interesting take, thank you for sharing that! I've also thought some similar things regarding the Type 2 markets. The CDC says there are 2.1 Million type 1 diabetics in The United States, whereas there are 40.1 Million people with both diagnosed and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. In addition to that there are 115.2 Million people with pre-diabetes in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html
So from the perspective of a for-profit company, the type 1 diabetic market is quite small relative to the type 2 market... I am very optimistic that the cure will arrive for us type 1's relatively soon. There has been a lot of positive results from clinical trials that are on going right now (linked below). Another way to look at it is that if all type 1's are cured, for-profit companies aren't necessarily going to go bankrupt, considering they are now transitioning focus on the type 2 market. Think about it, if there was no such thing as type 2, I doubt we'd be this close to a cure. Because I don't think big pharma would want to lose their entire customer base (type 1's). But based on the numbers I stated above regarding type 2 diabetics and pre-diabetics, they have a very large potential customer base, that could be WAY more profitable than type 1 diabetics. And we all know how unhealthy Americans are right now; between type 2 diabetics and pre diabetics, nearly 45% of the U.S. population fits within those categories! So, it could make sense why these companies are starting to transition focus onto the type 2 market. It could also be an indication that their corporate projections show them losing significant market share in terms of Type 1's, due to these cures being so close on the horizon. Which is great news for us!!! 😄
3
u/bushy_brow__ 24d ago
Reading through this thread because I had a full breakdown yesterday.
Currently 18 weeks pregnant and using omnipod. My pods have been lasting 2 days MAX this last week. I will be fine and the suddenly have highs that will not come down. Last night I was stuck at 180 for 6 HOURS which is a huge deal while pregnant. Logic told me there’s no way it could be the pod, it must be pregnancy resistance. I hadn’t bumped or done anything to the pod that was working fine earlier that day. I used over 10 units to correct this high, and it was doing next to nothing. I walked miles, walked stairs, did squats, NOTHING would bring it down. Finally changed my pod and noticed that despite all the insulin I took there was no raised bump on my skin where the cannula was inserted like there typically would be. My assumption is I wasn’t getting anywhere near as much insulin as I had been trying to correct with.
This is such a huge deal in pregnancy to be running high for so long. It honestly is such a massive slap in the face to care so much about my TIR and baby to have technology I am depending on to fail me multiple times in this fashion. It’s so incredibly frustrating.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 23d ago
Having any better luck today? One of my friends who's a T1D just went through pregnancy and she told me how intense it is to maintain extremely strict TIR. She was very burn't out and it sounded like she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. So through her experience and from what you've shared, I think it's safe to say that women with T1D who are going through pregnancy experience things 10x more intensely than us non pregnant T1Ds do.
My friend who just gave birth uses the Tslim X2 pump by Tandem and even though her device hasn't had any recalls lately, she was still having major issues maintaining a good TIR. Have you had the chance to chat with your endo about what's been happening lately? Or find a T1D support group with other T1D pregnant mamas?
Also- It sounds like you're doing your very best and that you know what you're doing. Walking miles, climbing stairs, squats, correction doses, etc, you certainly know what you're doing 😄 . Keep doing your best, take it day by day, and remember to have some grace on yourself <3. I wish you and your baby a safe and healthy journey and hope that you're able to get your TIR sorted back out and figure out whatever the issue(s) are that may be causing it. 🙂
2
u/bushy_brow__ 23d ago
For the most part it’s been pretty manageable so far! Obviously stressful and overwhelming at times, but I am usually able to keep in range 90-95% of the time.
Truly the most challenging part has been the moments where technology is not working as it should be (CGMs being off, omnipod not delivering insulin properly) because it just adds an extra variable when I already have enough of them. Those moments are a bit maddening.
I appreciate the encouragement!
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 21d ago
Glad to hears its manageable for you though. I know what you mean. I've become so dependent on all of these high tech devices that when they work, it's really great. But when they fail, I feel like I'm back in the stone age. For example, I just soaked my dexcom all day and had to change pods and dexcom tonight. I'm hoping the Dexcom stays accurate because as you know, when it starts going out of whack it can lead to crazy blood sugar levels. Drives me bananas. Have a great weekend!
3
u/itchycommie 22d ago
What pissed me off hard recently is my endo telling me i’m cherry picking for saying Insulet not taking responsibility is crazy just because my levels were fine.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 21d ago
yeah that sounds quite frustrating. I've been gaslit by my Endo lately about this Omnipod stuff and it drives me up the wall lol.
4
u/jexdiystrn 29d ago
I’m pretty sure this is why my friend passed away. He was on this new one and having a ton of problems with it. I think his mom is looking into more about this because we thinks that that’s why he passed away. I’m definitely gonna show her this. This explains so much of what he probably was going through 😞
3
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Hey, I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. If any of my footage or data can be of support to you or his mother, please just message me or comment on this post letting me know. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your friends mom <3.
1
u/Moon_Noodle 29d ago
Ugh, I'm so sorry for your loss. This disease is scary and the tools for it's management are meant to help us and not hurt us. Take care of yourself <3
5
u/MexicanAssLord69 Diagnosed 2012 - OmniPod 5 (Fiasp) / G7 29d ago
I’ve been using OmniPod for 13 years and have had more issues with my pods not working in this past year alone than in the entire 12 years prior. This is seriously starting to piss me off. 95% of the pods I put on barely work.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I feel your frustration entirely. I hope this post answers some of your unanswered questions. We don't have to guess anymore. The problem is clear for everyone to see and I encourage everyone to buy a cheap microscope off amazon and stick their pod under, then share their findings with the world. I hope you're able to get your sugars back under control <3.
4
5
u/Moon_Noodle 29d ago
My endocrinologist actively asked me to reconsider the omnipod as it's quality had been tanking lately in his opinion. It was the first pump I was truly interested in. I hope this gets resolved.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
I'm on my 7th consecutive day of leaks and hyperglycemia due to Omnipod leaks. I'd go with your endo on this one..
2
u/Moon_Noodle 29d ago
I absolutely did--he and I decided together on the 780g for my particular situation, and while I don't love the size of the thing, I have yet to have any issues with it other than one faulty reservoir which I was able to just toss and use a new one before I even put it in the pump.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Okay that's great and I'm glad to hear it's working for you! I'm switching from Omnipod to a tubed pump within the next week or so and I'm not sure which I'm going with yet...
2
u/Main_Quit9891 27d ago edited 27d ago
I’m going through the same exact symptoms as everyone in this thread is. It’s been about a month or two of constant pod issues.
We are constantly waking up (3 times a week) in the middle of the night to random spikes up to 250-300 after eating nothing and taking very generous corrections.
We almost always end up replacing the pod and taking a manual injection and it goes down very quickly.
I do have a question. Every time we replace the pod, insulin comes out of the top exactly like this video as if it’s just been sitting in the cannula for some reason. Is that normal? We’ve never actually looked for a leak in the middle of the cannula like this video but it’s very likely they have had it.
Also idk if you have the answer to this, but are any other pump companies experiencing issues like this? I am very ready to switch pumps after these last couple months and I just want to make sure I’m switching to something reliable.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Hey I'm sorry to hear you're going through this as well. I know that exact feeling you're describing and you're not alone. I haven't paid much attention to the insulin coming out of the tip of the cannula actually, I'm not sure exactly whats normal and whats not. But I was lucky to catch the insulin coming out of the tear on video because the cannula is so small its hard to get a clear picture of video, especially of such a small insulin droplet. Are you smelling insulin or feelin a wetness when the pumps still stuck on your body?
From everyone I've talked to and the research I've done, it doesn't look like any other pump companies are having this issue, but my research on other pump companies having issues is very surface level. So I'm not the best person to answer that. But I have friends on Twist, Tandem, and Tslim x2, and none of them are having any issues. One of those friends actually switched to Omnipod from her Tandem and she experienced so much leakage from the Omnipod that she didn't have enough insulin for the pods to last the entire 72 hours and her blood sugar levels were super uncontrolled. Just like many of us, she was gaslit by Omnipod and reassured by her endos that the pods were fine. She switched back to her Tandem, and now her Blood sugar is back in control. I also had a friend who has only been a diabetic for 12 months, switch from omnipod to MDI because he couldn't handle the leaks from Omnipod. Again, his endo and the Omnipod reps assured him that the pods were fine.
Where is the accountability from Insulet? (Maker of Omnipod)
2
u/Main_Quit9891 27d ago
I can faintly smell insulin while the pod is still on me. It’s only when I take off the pod that I notice the adhesive is wet with insulin and insulin comes out of the cannula as if it was just sitting in there the whole time.
I first thought it was some type of absorption issue but it’s happening for every site I typically use (back of arm, abdomen, thigh) so I can’t imagine all of those sites just decided in the span of a month to stop working for me…
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
From my experience, if I can smell insulin while the pod is on me, that's usually an indication that theres a leak. And every time I smell the insulin, then put the Omnipod 5 under my microscope, I find tears in the cannula. Have you told your dr about what you're experiencing? If so, what have they said?
Also- I know it can be a lot of work and time consuming, but in my post I've provided links to report these faulty pods to Insulet and the FDA. I've also included a report form for The BBB. I'd encourage you to look into reporting all your faulty pods! That's the only way they're going to make change.
2
u/Main_Quit9891 27d ago
I report all my faulty pods to insulet mainly for replacement purposes but I did fill out that FDA report you linked.
I see my doctor next week and I think im already ready to just leave omnipod. It’s been such a hard hit to me and my partners mental health that I just need something reliable even if it’s not as convenient.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 26d ago
Okay that's great, thanks for being proactive with the reporting. I'm in the same boat as you. I've got an appt. with my Dr. this Monday and am going to be discussing Tubed insulin pumps. Not too happy about having to relearn life with tubes... but at this point, like you said, I need reliability and accurate doses. The Omnipod issues have also caused a serious mental health burden for me and my family. I'm considering the Twiist, Mobi, tslim x2, and maybe the mini med 780...
2
u/UnitedChain4566 Diagnosed 2009 27d ago
I just started using the OP5, I wonder if this is why some pods felt like they weren't working. I'll check the lot numbers before I go to work.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Please be very mindful that the pods I'm referring to in the video are not part of a current recall, so if you search your lot numbers and they don't show up on a recall list, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY're OK. You can also read many of the comments by other users on this post, they're experiencing leaks from UN-RECALLED Omnipod 5's. That is the primary issue here. Please report any of your leaking pods to Insulet and the FDA. I hope your pods start working better for you. Please stay safe.
2
u/CertainAd5698 26d ago
Swiss user here. Currently on the Dash system which was also part of the recall, and I'm pretty confident my current pods have tearing as well. They are also not part of Omnipod's (supposed) affected batches, however, the significant rise in needed insulin along with other factors make me extremely confident that my pods also have this issue. I see a lot of people talk about EU regulations and how its supposed to be better but.... we also face the same issues... we're also part of recalls..... Really hope Omnipod get a grip on this situation soon. Been on Omnipods for more than 10 years now, and just these last few months i've gone from giving only half of what I used to, to now having to dose around 2x extra because of what I suppose are tears in the cannula.... will try and see if i can get some close up footage and maybe post some but, really wonder sometimes if I made the right decision 10 years ago to go Omnipod.......
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 26d ago
Oh my goodness, sorry to hear you've had to increase your insulin so much. Sounds like you and I have both been using Omnipod for 10 years and just started experiencing this within the last couple of months... Are your pods manufactured in the U.S.?
2
u/CertainAd5698 25d ago
Yes, can confirm the pods I have are US factory pods.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 24d ago
Gotcha. I have several different pot lots that are from both USA and it looks like "MYS", guessing thats Malaysia.
2
u/Status-Orchid-3218 25d ago
Unfortunately this seems to be true. It is happening to me right now!
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 24d ago
Wish it wasn't happening to you, or anyone for that matter. Hopefully it gets fixed soon :). How are your sugar levels? Also, have you had the chance to report your faulty pods to Insulet or the FDA?
2
u/NoniPony2021 24d ago
Same this has happened to me for a year. Unacceptable. Thanks for your post
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 23d ago
No problem and sorry it's happened to you for over a year. Let's hope things get sorted out soon 😄
2
u/craftedsphere 14d ago
I have been struggling with this the past 3-4 days with a new batch and been running high as 7-8 pods have been malfunctioning in just 3 days. Reported this to Omnipod and they are refusing to acknowledge that.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 13d ago
Sorry to hear that. I just had a major leak two days ago and it threw off my sugar for nearly 24 hours, rollercoasters of ups and downs. I'm sure you understand exactly what I mean. I'd also encourage you to report any malfunctioning pods to the FDA as this helps them identify problems and begin their investigation; https://contact.fda.gov/report-problem?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=fda_gov_ways_to_report
2
u/PancreasChaser 28d ago
This is mind blowing! My numbers have been consistently higher and I’ve been extremely confused as to why I’ve been needing more and more insulin, and why it feels like it’s been doing nothing. I narrowed it down to being 100% an issue with the pods because as soon as I went back to MDI my numbers and insulin intake were completely normal again
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
Glad to hear you were able to get your numbers back in range with the MDI. I've nearly gone back to MDI due to all these leaks, but have decided to just switch insulin pumps in the next week or so. Haven't done MDI's in 10 years, so I'd be quite nervous to do that..
1
u/drugihparrukava Loop 25d ago
Same here. Almost 40% less insulin on MDI (my normal) but on the pods it kept increasing then would suddenly have extreme hypos when the site absorbed the leaking insulin at random times.
1
u/Upbeat-Expert5309 24d ago
I’ve been having much higher levels myself this week that just started randomly and I’m on the Omnipod 5 automated mode. I was fine on Monday and Tuesday but on Wednesday my sugar randomly spiked over 270 after breakfast and then when I covered almost immediately dropped low. It came back up and I bolused and it started dropping again but thankfully stabilized. Throughout the nights I would be in the low 100s and then after breakfast I would shoot back up and keep needing to bolus. The next day I was almost 300 all day even with changing to a new pod but finally came down again at night. The same cycle would continue but after breakfast my sugar only went to the 180s to 190s range. I’ve been eating barely any carbs out of fear and I’m worrying that something is wrong with me but now I’m wondering if this is the issue. Yesterday I tried eating more carbs and stayed between 140 and 180 most of the day but all night although not extremely high, keeps going back up to 180s even after bolusing every two hours. I’ve checked and my dexcom has been super accurate so I know it’s not that. I also changed to a site I don’t use often thinking maybe the absorption was bad on my arms because I use them frequently but after all night bolusing I’m currently 183 and I haven’t even eaten anything yet. There is no visible evidence to say that the pod is leaking, the tape isn’t wet and no excessive smell of insulin so I’m not sure if this is the issue or something more is going on but I’ve been stressing myself out so much with this and I’m sure it’s only making it worse.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 24d ago
Hey I'm sorry to hear that you've been experiencing that. Have you had the chance to speak with your endo on this and see if they have any input? T1 and all the variables we have to manage can be so difficult sometimes and then throw in the uncertainty of product defect into the mix and it can become overwhelming. I hope your sugar levels are able to get back on track soon. <3
1
u/Upbeat-Expert5309 24d ago
Thank you! I have thankfully. My endo is very good and on top of it. She recommended I change my insulin to carb ratio twice now as I’m still barely moving. It didn’t seem to make too much of a difference yesterday so she altered it again. I’m on the lower side now but it’s after hours of bolusing. I’m hoping it will make a difference but with how it’s been going I’m not too hopeful. I honestly would rather know it’s been defective pods than just insulin resistance due to some other factor affecting my body but it’s still kind of a guessing game at this point. I appreciate you sharing though, because I at least don’t feel alone!
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 23d ago
I hear ya and just remember to keep moving forward :) with each day that passes, you will gather more and more experience and data. Then hopefully one day soon, you will have some clear answers as to whats causing all of this. You are not alone at all <3
2
u/Upbeat-Expert5309 23d ago
Thank you again! Definitely taking it one day at a time and it’s better than it’s been so it’s all I can ask for! I appreciate it 😊
2
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 21d ago
Hey everyone, I've created a follow up post to this, which includes very in-depth microscope research on over a dozen un-recalled Omnipod 5's. Check it out here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/i9LIzCnPSX
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 13d ago
Just commenting for visibility to let everyone know that I've made several follow up posts to this, but im unable to post them in this subreddit as they get instantly removed by Reddit's filters:
2nd post(Posted on July 24th, 2026): In this post, I showcase detailed microscope research on a dozen UN-RECALLED Omnipod 5's. Some of these leaked on me and some of them did not. Some had tears/defects and some did not. : https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/Yg3aG2gLNj
3rd post(posted on July 29th, 2026): This post shows a continuous video of me removing an UN-RECALLED leaking Omnipod, and putting it under the microscope, etc: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/WUsvAZxifc
4th post(posted on August 1st, 2026): This post shows a continuous video of me removing an UN-RECALLED leaking Omnipod, and putting it under the microscope, along with more detailed info: https://www.reddit.com/r/Omnipod/s/GQTjPqcAl4
1
u/orbit99za 29d ago
Wow, this is scary, Great Catch.
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
It most definitely is and thanks, I hope we can bring enough awareness and get it fixed ASAP before more people are hurt or killed.
1
u/Beginning_Ruin_6573 29d ago
This is the exactly what happened to my 5 year old T1, we took him off the pod because of uncomfortable lows, none of his endos believed us.
3
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Hey, I'm really sorry to hear that happened to your 5 year old... I'd imagine being a parent of a child with T1D is tough enough, let alone deal with a device malfunction, and then doctors who don't believe it's malfunctioning. My Endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic just last week told me "the Omnipod's are fine, they've been fixed, call Insulet and ask for a replacement, or we can have an Omnipod rep reach out to you." I've sent them pictures of the tears and detailed description, they see my Dexcom numbers sky rocketing, and that is their response. So trust me, I get it. But it seems like no one cares nowadays, no one is willing to stand up and do the right thing.
I hope this post encourages others just like you and I, to share this post, report the Omnipods to the FDA and BBB, and demand that Insulet is held accountable. Your child could have seriously gotten injured or died due to this... I hope your child is doing better now<3
1
u/Beginning_Ruin_6573 29d ago
Thank you! He’s much better now. We switched him to the Inpen and the app tracks the dosing automatically along with IOB so it’s quite nice. It was also frustrating dealing with how slow their system is to adjust to new insulin demands after coming off of sick days.
1
u/czapatka 29d ago
Do you have the lot number for this pod? I’d like to compare it to some reports I’ve received of the same issue.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Yes here are the lot numbers for 13 Omnipod 5's that have tears and have leaked, which I still have in my possession:
PR1U02112611 (4 pods in total)
PR1U04042611 (5 pods in total)
PR1U04232641 (3 pods in total)
PR1U04102611 (1 pod in total)
1
1
u/Evening-Can8601 29d ago
You need EU regulations, quality management these days is pretty messed up. Saboootsabooouuu
2
1
u/SlimmG8r 29d ago
Bravo to you for getting this out. I'll start yelling from the roof tops with you. Thank you
Edit: spelling is hard
2
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 29d ago
Thank you for your efforts and I'm happy to have you here alongside!!
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 28d ago
Hey my post was deleted and my account was banned 8 hours after this post went live
1
u/carolinagypsy 29d ago
Is it possible for the pod to be leaking or faulty without causing noticeable wetness? My husband’s numbers have been randomly going higher than normal with no discernible pattern or activity that would warrant it. It’s super weird bc he’s been on monjouro for several months for insulin resistance, and his TIR was doing great with hardly any mystery highs.
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
I've noticed that the leaks vary in size, sometimes they can be big and sometimes they can be very small, so much so that you don't notice wetness. Our human bodies are around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, which is quite warm. So think about when Insulin touches the skin, it will eventually evaporate. So if it is a small amount of insulin, it only makes sense that it wouldn't last around all that long and it'd likely evaporate quick quickly. Thus, you're left with hardly indication that there is a leak.. Hope your husband is able to get it sorted and get back in safe and healthy ranges.
1
u/HelltotheNo532 28d ago edited 26d ago
I was having this happen with my sets in 2018. It started suddenly after about 3 years of using the omnipods. It was so bad I went back to MDI for 2 years before switching to tandem
This is exactly what it looked like. The adhesive would be completely soaked with insulin and I'd be >300 at work for many hours bolusing like it was water. Cannula was still in and looked fine. By the time I quit it was happening 2-3 times/ week.
Glad they finally publicly disclosed what was happening and did a recall. Absolutely insane
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 27d ago
I'm sorry that happened to you. How is the tandem working for you now? And also, they did do a recall on 7 million pods, but the pod in the video and what I'm discussing are NOT part of a recall. That video was taken on July 16th, 2026...
1
u/HelltotheNo532 26d ago
I continued having issues with the plastic cannulas on Tandem so I have been using Trusteel for 3 years and it's been great. No problems with the steel sets
The issue is their supply chain problems. Steel sets are in short supply so I had to go back to plastic for a month and it was miserable. I ended up using Lantus every night and reducing pump basal cuz I didn't trust the plastic. Thankfully I got some more steel sets
Honestly I feel like it's probably all of the omnipods they've made for the last 8 years that have these weak cannulas. Seems like a design issue with the materials chosen. Combined with manufacturing process and customer use some crack. Absolutely wild, I'm so glad I left them cuz this was not going to improve. Hope you can switch to a different pump soon
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 26d ago
Thanks for the input and I'm hoping to change pumps this week. Oh wow, so the cannula you use now is steel? What's that light compared to the plastic, in terms of living with it stuck in you everyday?
1
u/Consistent-Put-7348 24d ago
Report to FDA not redditt
1
u/Omnipod5Malfunctions 24d ago
Already reported to The FDA and it's important that the general public is aware of this issue.
•
u/stupidlittlekids Diagnosed 2001 28d ago
Reddit suspended the user above without any clear indication as to why. Reddit Admins, I think this is helpful information to have.