As a child with Type 1 diabetes, Arden Benner of Robbinsville, New Jersey, has gotten used to needle sticks and injections.
Scott Benner, her father, says, "21 injections every 3 days, plus her finger sticks. So she was probably getting stuck about 50 times every 3 days."
But it's still no fun for an active 6-year-old.
Lately, instead of getting injections, Arden has been using a new type of insulin pump called an Omnipod.
It doesn't connect to the body with tubes, like conventional pumps.
Dr. Bankin Bhatt, of St. Luke's Hospital, says, "It's the only insulin pump that is tubeless, which means you don't have to connect it with tubes to the body to help deliver the insulin."
Patients fill the pod with insulin, stick it on the skin, then press "start" on the handheld controller.
Using radiofrequency waves, it prompts the pod to insert a small canula, or catheter, which releases the insulin.
"Therefore, you're delivering the insulin without really having to do much except to pu the insulin into the pod," says Dr. Bhatt.
A single pod lasts 3 days, and it's watertight.
Scott Benner says, "You don't have to disconnect it to go swimming. You don't have to disconnect it to get in the shower."
Arden's diabetes is under control, and now she & her dad are helping raise awareness about the disease to help other kids - through a blog.
"It really does seem to help people," he says.
Arden still tests her blood sugar frequently.
And the omnipod has a built-in device to read her test strips, and download the information to her doctor's computer.
For more information about the new device, visit www.myomnipod.com. To follow Arden's blog, go to www.ardensday.com.
