Today I’m truly excited. Today Medingo’s new Solo MicroPump the tiniest, thinnest, lightest, tubeless pump is almost here. Yes, apparently almost. If you sign up here they will let you know when it will be available in your area.

If you’ve read the closing paragraph in my “50 Diabetes Myths” book (Myth #50, If I wear an insulin pump, my diabetes is really “bad”) you know I wrote, 

When I give a diabetes presentation, people always ask me whether I wear an insulin pump, and the answer is “no.” Primarily it’s because I’m used to injections and don’t mind them, I’m able to keep my A1C in the nondiabetic range through careful attention to my eating, exercise, and general health, and I don’t want to have a piece of equipment attached to me. However, as I have told everyone, and will go on record as saying, when the insulin pump is closer to the size of a credit card, I will be the first one in line to get mine.

In full disclosure, I haven’t seen or tried the pump but I am, for sure, looking at a new generation of insulin pumps that Omnipod began. Two years ago I participated in the focus group for Solo MicroPump and the prototype for it has been sitting here beside my computer since. It has been a symbol of hope for me that the product would actually come to fruition one day.

Like Omnipod, which I wore for a few hours to experience the feel of it but didn’t use because it was too big and clunky for me, the MicroPump is tubeless and is operated by a remote control. The MicroPump consists of two parts, an insulin reservoir and pump base. The reservoir holds 200 units of insulin and the video text says is replaced “when empty.” However the video voiceover says, “according to your insulin manufacturer’s recomendation.” So, I’m not sure what that means. The pump base is replaced every three months. There is automatic cannula insertion like other pumps. But unlike the Omnipod, you can disconnect this pump for short periods of time, you don’t discard it but refill it, saving you space and storage, and even if your remote is not with you, (I just know this will happen to me!) you can bolus by pressing buttons on the side of the pump.   

As for insurance coverage, Medingo says on its Solo MicroPump web site that they are “currently working with insurance companies to gain reimbursement…insurance companies have been very receptive to the product and our Pay-as-You-Pump model.”

So now all that remains in my mind is do I want to try the first generation or wait six or 12 months for the second? If you’re at the AADE conference this week, the Solo MicroPump is being introduced in the exhibition hall.