Paytan’s Podder® Journey
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in March 2018, 10-year-old Paytan has faced a number of obstacles. Her Omnipod DASH® Insulin Management System has helped her manage her diabetes and overcome these barriers that once seemed insurmountable.
“The Omnipod DASH has changed my life by giving me freedom from multiple daily injections. Now when I input my carbs and blood glucose levels into my Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM), the math is done for me and I don’t have to inject because the bolus is delivered from the Pod.”
Other than multiple daily injections when she was first diagnosed, Paytan has only ever used the tubeless Omnipod DASH, the same insulin delivery system her mom depends on too.
I Challenge Diabetes (ICD) has been a big support to the whole family. “I have attended ICD virtual camps since the beginning in 2020, and two ICD in-person sports camps,” Paytan explains. “ICD has given me strength and taught me diligence when it comes to taking my insulin. I have made lots of friends with the other kids with diabetes and our counsellors.”
“Paytan always has a blast (at ICD Camp) and loves being able to hang with kids just like her,'' says Paytan’s mom, Sharyl. Peer mentors have shown Paytan that diabetes is something we manage and live with but won’t stop us from doing our best. Paytan puts that philosophy into practice every day, especially when it comes to her passion - cheerleading!
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Sharyl, also a T1D, has been living with diabetes since 1991. “When I was diagnosed, I didn’t take it well and rebelled for many years.”
So what changed? The catalyst to better self-care for Sharyl was “my kids, my Omnipod® and Dexcom (Continuous Glucose Monitor)*. “I have only ever used the Omnipod and I would not do well with tubing,” Sharyl says. “I would probably still be doing insulin injections if it wasn’t for the Pod.”
Being able to easily manage her diabetes at night without the need for insulin injections or finger pokes was amazing for Sharyl. The whole family was relieved when Paytan could also get started on the Omnipod too.
Sharyl describes her experience with Paytan’s diabetes as “eye opening and stressful.”
In an effort to relieve some of the stresses of living with T1D, I Challenge Diabetes created the Diabuddies School Program. Insulet, the makers of the Omnipod, is a proud sponsor of this program. The initiative ensures that students with T1D are safe, empowered and accepted within their school community. We have educated over 16,000 students and 800+ staff members about proper T1D management by going into over 80 schools across Canada.
We are committed to increasing awareness about T1D across Canada and demonstrate that even with a chronic disease, a healthy, successful life can be achieved with the right support.