Going the distance with diabetes
Whether you are passionate about sports, food, or family, choosing the right insulin delivery system can be life-changing.
Join us as we say “van harte welkom” to our Belgian PodderTM David and sit down to discuss why he preferred the Omnipod DASH® System with its small, tubeless and waterproof* Pod, as his insulin delivery system.
Discover what he loves most about the Omnipod DASH® System and how he feels it has improved his diabetes management.
Passionate about life
"I’m David, 35 years old, and I love doing triathlons! But that’s not all, I have a passion for languages, I love traveling, particularly to Italy, and I’m an amateur chef in the kitchen. My 2 young daughters make me smile every time I see them! "
How long have you had diabetes and how long have you been a Podder™?
I’ve had diabetes since 1999, so for 22 years now, and I’ve been on the Omnipod DASH® System since October 2020.
What made you switch to Pump Therapy and how did you get started on the Omnipod DASH® System?
As an athlete, I follow athletes on social media and read a lot of books and articles about diabetes technology. I discovered that many of these athletes were using pumps. My endocrinologist had also suggested I try one several times, but I was reluctant to do so because I thought it would be inconvenient for someone who exercises every day, and often several times a day, especially when going for a swim.
When I heard about the release of the Omnipod DASH® System in Belgium, I immediately contacted my hospital and they gave me the opportunity to be one of the first in Belgium to receive it.
What was it like when you first started using the Omnipod DASH® System?
First of all, I was happy it was so easy to set up and apply. It basically felt like a CGM on my body.
It did, however, force me to reconsider my entire diabetes management. My diabetes nurse had configured the PDM with my settings, but I soon found out the basals were not quite right. I did a few carb-free days to set them correctly, and things got better soon. So the first weeks were difficult, but that changed once I got the hang of it.
Once you got used to the Omnipod DASH® System, what was the biggest change from your previous therapy?
Things got better once I had set up my basals correctly. The next challenge was using it for sports activities, which took a bit of trial and error. But now, I feel I have more options to manage my diabetes. With MDI I only had boluses and carbs I could play with. With the Omnipod DASH® System, I can still use boluses and carbs, but I can also adapt my basal insulin delivery for more flexibility. I feel my sugars are flatter now throughout the day, and it gives me the possibility to finetune my control.
What’s your favourite Omnipod DASH® System feature?
I like the fact that you can increase your basal rate as well as decrease it. I’ve been using this a lot lately at the end of a workout to prepare my body for the carbs in my recovery meal.
What differences has the Omnipod DASH® System made to your life, if any?
As a busy parent, I quite often forgot my basal insulin in the evening when I was on MDI. That’s no longer an issue now, and that’s really helping with my diabetes management.
2021 is a very significant year marking 100 years since the discovery of Insulin - do you have any special goals this year?
Well, I hope there will be a return to racing this year, so apart from the smaller races I’m planning to complete two big events: Ironman Switzerland, which involves riding up an Alp, and then I’m also going to do a 7-day back-to-back bike ride from the hospital in Leuven to the Mt Ventoux to support a charity that is dear to me.
Please consult with your healthcare provider to understand if the Omnipod DASH® System would be a suitable treatment for you.
David Van der Vloet, Omnipod® Brand Ambassador
Simplify Diabetes Management with the Omnipod DASH® System
When living with Type 1 diabetes, your motivation might be to run across the alps like David or it might be to simply spend more quality time with friends and family. Whatever gets you going, the Omnipod DASH® System may help you simplify your diabetes management and give you freedom to do the things you are passionate about without the need for multiple daily injections.
Order your very own sample Pod* so you can see for yourself how small and discreet it really is.
PDM is not included.
Please consult with your healthcare provider to understand if the Omnipod DASH® System would be a suitable treatment for you.