Tadhg’s Summer Of Omnipod - Podder Story

9 January, 2026

Type 1 diabetes. It’s draining. It entered our family in 2019 through our then 3-year-old son Tadhg. There was no family history, so it was quite a surprise. We’ve been on this journey for six years and have tried everything, spending countless hours researching how we can make his (and our) lives as simple as possible. We started with multiple daily injections for a year, then switched to a traditional insulin pump for a year before returning to injections because the pump couldn’t fit into his lifestyle of constant activity.

Recently, we made the switch to Omnipod® 5, the first tubeless automated insulin delivery system in Australia that helps protect against highs and lows by adjusting insulin based on his glucose trends and glucose target. It’s been a game-changer.

Life on the Move

Tadhg is an incredibly active 9-year-old. He enjoys playing AFL and basketball, and during the summer he’s involved in surf life saving and body boarding, so we’re at the beach almost every day. For us, a beach and traditional pump didn’t mix well, plug in his infusion set, unplug his infusion set, listen to the never-ending beeping from the unplugged pump, avoid getting sand into the cannula or kinking the tubing, and don’t forget about air bubbles and not letting the pump overheat.

With Omnipod 5, all of these issues vanished*.

Simple Setup, Smart Control

Changing the Pod is easy, and the Omnipod 5 Controller walks you through it step by step. No need to worry about pumps in pockets or waistbands bouncing around as he runs, and no countless injections every day. Bolusing is simple too: we enter his carbs and confirm the suggested dose right from the Omnipod 5 Controller. The system even adjusts his basal insulin automatically every 5 minutes based on his CGM readings, helping keep him in range while he’s out living life.

The simplicity gives everyone freedom, it’s amazing!

Built for Adventure

We’ve had great success with placement on the back of his arms or the back of his hip, and with a kid so active, on land and especially in the surf, we find it doesn’t move. Insulin is automatically delivered regardless of how far he is or what he’s doing, so there’s no need to interrupt a good surf session to replenish his basal as we would with injections. His Diabetes Healthcare team personalised his settings for sport and heat, and the system’s SmartAdjust™ technology automatically adapts to his insulin needs. It’s so intuitive that even my 68-year-old father understood it after one demonstration!

Freedom and Confidence

Tadhg now has more control over his Type 1 than ever before; he does most of the dosing himself, and we just cross-check it. Living an active lifestyle with our son has never been easier for us, and he now feels more normal than he has in the six years since his diagnosis. Omnipod 5 has restored his happiness, which is the most important thing in our world. So, what would I say to anyone thinking about starting on Omnipod 5? Please conduct your own research and consult with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s right for you. For our family, it has altered our lives for the better.

The author was not compensated for this blog.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
*The Pod has a waterproof IP28 rating for up to 7.6 metres for 60 minutes. The Controller and smartphone are not waterproof.

The Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System is a single hormone insulin delivery system intended to deliver U-100 insulin subcutaneously for the management of type 1 diabetes in persons aged 2 and older requiring insulin. Refer to the Omnipod® 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System User Guide and www.omnipod.com/en-au/what-is-omnipod/omnipod-5 for complete safety information including indications, contraindications, warnings, cautions, and instructions.