Diabetes Technology Review: New Do-It-Yourself Omnipod Loop - joneslacquess39

I've had type 1 diabetes for over 54 years, have been insulin pumping since 2004 and started "Looping" in 2017 with a homemade, do-information technology-yourself version of a restricted coil system using an older tubed pump.

In my years with T1D, I've used the Animas insulin pumps and Deltec Cozmo that was eventually usurped off the market, and and so I switched to the first generation of the tubeless Omnipod. I base a new pump with the Asante Snap but that too went away, and so I jumped rachis to the second-gen Omnipod. While I loved being tubeless, I longed for an option that would mean I didn't have to always be therein 24/7 purpose of executive manager of all aspects of my insulin delivery.

That led Maine to using the DIY closed-loop system using RileyLink, which was developed and named after D-Dad Pete Schwamb's daughter. Hitherto it was only configurable using an outdated Medtronic pump, and I am one of the hundreds across the world who actually bought one of those on Craigslist for this purpose. With an unnerving bit of programming on a exploited MacBook that I too bought along Craigslist, information technology all connects via a DIY RileyLink communicator to compel the ticker through a Loop App on my iPhone. That Loop App is wont to program the default insulin basal rate into the heart. So it uses bluetooth data from the Dexcom CGM along with my inputs for food to adjust the base rate up Oregon down Oregon to deliver a bolus in case I cause signaled food is on the room.

My D-life changed dramatically on the RileyLink! My A1C stayed below 6% systematically with really few lows and stable blood sugars all through the night. It was miraculous, but I hated using an out-of-warranty pump which has tubing and wasn't waterproof. And I knew the day would come when these amazing common people in the DIY community would find a way to make out Loop with Pods. That day is Hither!

After three years in development with lots of programmers and lots of grit, Pete Schwamb, the developer of the RileyLink DIY closed grommet insulin saving system, announced on April 22, 2019: "I'm happy (and nervous!) to finally release my write in code As a state-supported examination version of Omnipod bear out for DIY Loop."

With this announcement, I was literally zippy excitedly and a bit bit of my ain neural anticipation. And I already knew I was expiration to jump happening gameboard at once.

Touch sensation Content on Omnipod Loop

I've been using Omnipod Loop now for almost 6 years, and I'm in promised land! This is still not the "official" version within the DIY community, but rather a "examination" version where those victimisation it are sharing their thoughts so the developers can take in tweaks and update it as we go.

The first of all thing I noticed was barely remembering what life is like without tubing! I wanted to do pirouettes roughly the theatre. I no longer need to deal with stashing my heart OR PDM in a sac or in my bra, and no to a greater extent lapses for showers and getting dressed. Amazing!

Apparatus was really easy, as the LoopDocs steering is spatula-shaped to read and understand.

The fresh RileyLink app user interface is wonderful, arsenic was the original Coil interface that was so well-designed with entropy that I involve. I've had great connectivity, and I just feel for happy! My numbers are so steady through the night that's it's actually only one number — 90 all night without Loop failures. I appearance people the pod and the splashboard… they smile but take in no idea of how wonderful this is. I felt all emotional all day yesterday! Some notable changes that contributed to that are:

• Atomic number 102 PDM needed! I've always found the Omnipod PDM clunky and broad, and I have to make sure to not draw a blank it whenever I'm leaving the house. But with Omnipod Cringle, the iPhone app controls the Pod entirely — from the daily dosing functions, filling the source, starting the insertion, and maintaining a calendar and countdown for when the Pod's set up to expire. I'm told that the Pods only connect to one device at a time, so that means it's either my iPhone app or the PDM; once you start using one of them, that's what you are victimisation for the full 72-hour cycle of each Pod.

• On the transferrable app, the updated Omnipod Loop interface now includes a little picture of a Fuel pod and a telephone dial that shows how overmuch time is left on the Seedpod. When IT's delivering a bolus, it shows the saving so I know how much has been dosed.

• I
  fundament use either the Omnipod Oregon my retired Medtronic ticker. Spell I never thought I'd ever wishing to go back to the Medtronic, I have found one reason: I was regular for an MRI at the same time I am due for a Pod change. So instead of wasting a Pod, I switched back to my Medtronic 723 pump and changed the background of my Loop to
  Medtronic, entered the serial number, and I was up and squirting. It was conscionable that abundant,
  with all my settings unimpaired. Information technology's decent to have this option.

The Omnipod Loop App Interface

The app interface gives Maine a majuscule deal of data on the home screen, at a glance:

• A status circle that shows Green when the Loop is active, or Red operating theatre Yellow when thither is an casual lapse of bluetooth
  connection. To handgrip this, I often close down and reopen the app, reboot my phone, or simply wait. The circle also shows how many minutes since my CGM
  parting updated.
• My blood glucose and a trend pointer.
• A graph of my stemma sugars asset a projected run along into the
  incoming 3 hours.
• A graph of my active insulin happening board (IOB).
• Number of "existent carbs" to account for entered food carbs.
• My afoot basal grade and whether the Loop has increased
  or decreased my basal rate to bring my blood clams back to the target.
• The current bolus correction (plus or subtraction when information technology is
  correcting).
• A miniscule Cod icon that indicates when insulin in the pod reaches 50 units or less. Below that a time appears indicating the last communication received from the Pod.
• Countdown surround
  icon screening how long until the next Pod change is obligatory.
• Bolus delivery when it's in progress, similar to
  what you see on a regular heart, but you don't induce to looking at to a sec place
  for this information.
• The Omnipod Loop, as well as the original Loop, connect to
  Apple Wellness, which allows Loop to write and read data.

Omnipod Loop and Apple Watch

Away copulative to an Apple Watch, I can view all my Loop information data on my watch as well as enter repast carbs and dominate the Pod to deliver the recommended bolus and enter information about exercise. The Watch face has deuce screens:

• Data Screen out: a condensed variant of the Loop home screen, with the Loop circle (Green, Red or Yellow), my up-to-the-minute BG and my projected BG, a swordlike BG graph and my IOB.
• Fulfi Block out: with the Loop rope, BG and projected BG, plus all that I need to bolus and enter exercise information.

Since Loop grew out of the DIY #WeAreNotWaiting community, IT links to the data-sharing Nightscout app which allows Maine to generate a variety of reports, which I'll bring round my endo appointments (he loves these reports!).

Living with Omnipod Loop

I've also been finding mountain of untried places for the Seedpod which would not have been manageable on a tubing pump. My current Pod is attached to my shoulder blade, which is astonishing with great absorption and nearly ne'er at risk for getting bumped off.

My blood sugars seem to be many stable, although I'm non entirely foreordained why. I do get it on that since I don't have to remove my pump to lavish operating room use the Jacuzzi or arrest attired, I don't have those continual lapses in insulin rescue for 10-30 minutes.

I've never decorated my pump or pods. But I'm so jubilant with this little pod, I've been following a grouping along Facebook called Pimp My Seedpod — the next Pod will have many artwork!

Downsides to Using Omnipod Loop?

Soh Army for the Liberation of Rwanda, I've exclusive detected a few negatives to using this new DIY system:

• Loop
  updates require that I do a little bit of programming on a Mac, which I am
  still trying to public figure out. It takes
  time and produces a trifle anxiousness until it altogether launches onto my iPhone
  with success.
• I
  have to keep tag along of and tear more devices. I have large USB multi-port plugs at my bedside and at my desk, with lots
  of cords, plus a set of charging cords in my car on with a power camber.
• I'm
  just getting used to the need to change pods on a very renunciant time
  schedule of every 3 years.
• I
  might need to use my PDM if I ever suffer my iPhone, which is really unlikely.
• The
  Loop-the-loop app and the Apple Watch Loop app come non connect to Fitbit or other seaworthiness
  trackers… that would be nice.

I've been asked lots of questions about WHY I make out this DIY applied science and wherefore not just utilise the traditional, authorized devices. Am I concerned because they're not officially approved by regulators? And what do my healthcare providers think over? What happens if information technology fails? All valid questions and concerns.

When I started on the original RileyLink Loop in January 2017, nothing like this existed. My approach was to translate a lot some how information technology worked you said it fountainhead mass were doing happening these devices. I asked a lot of questions. What I heard more than than anything other was the public security of heed so that I can sleep without business organization operating theater being awakened by CGM alerts. So I guess I am a "late" early adopter of technology. I've lived with this disease soh long, I just want the best that is available to cope my diabetes American Samoa best as conceivable.

Was I scared? No, but maybe a little uneasy. It was just easy sufficient that I calmed down quickly.

What do my doctors opine? They seem fascinated and amazed. Of course, they really don't deprivation to atomic number 4 overly-involved as IT is not FDA-approved. Only they do revalue the reports and the great blood sugar charts with miserable standard deviation (particularly overnight) and the right A1C readings with very few highs and lows. They just look at the data and smiling and say, "Thoroughly job! I can't make any improvements here!"

To be clear, this is all on me. IT's an N of 1 study, as it were, and there's no one to view as responsible if something goes wrong. I am OK thereupon.

Personally, I simply arrange non think the corporate-developed devices like Medtronic's Minimed 670G or the Tandem Primary-Intelligence quotient (and future Control-IQ) are good for me. I don't think algorithms are the top-quality and near adjustable in their first generation. I like to be able-bodied to primed my own target rates and restraint how elongated my Loop shuts off. That is just me. I do know of several RileyLink loopers who have made the shift to mainstream closed loop insulin delivery systems and are cheerful with the relaxation of use up, miss of necessary updating, having insurance insurance coverage, using a current in-warranty pump.

But for me, until the algorithms are more customizable and I feel that they are genuinely the outdo for each individual, I'll stick with Omnipod Loop.

Other DIY Loopers Part Comments

You can get a sense of how others in the Diabetes Community feel about this sportsmanlike by browse Facebook and other social media sites. A couple of comments that stood out:

• "I am truly giddy with
  joy I tactile property free. So so grateful."

• "Information technology has been rock
  steady for me… I was on Omnipod before I started looping almost 2 geezerhood now…
  I forget how much I bed Omnipod… as I have stated umpteen multiplication on here and
  anyone that will take heed to ME… Dr's, friends, business concern associates… and
  people I run into happening the Street… that this is life-changing."

• "Biggest surprise
  awesome factor has been the watch app, frankly. I showed both the phone app
  and the watch app to a non-sick coworker and they were affected overall
  but BLOWN Forth by the watch app. It is so useful and pretty. IT's then square
  to dab the target change buttons and watch the target short letter jump on the app."

• "Leftist
  the Fuel pod to go to t:slim for the CGM integration. Left that to Eyelet! The only
  thing I ever despised about it was the damn long-a** cord. I missed my Pod SO SO
  much. I'm a happy chick right now."

Does This Work with Newfound Omnipod Daunt Product?

Nary, it doesn't.

Sure, I think the new DASH platform is very exciting news and it gives T1s a greater range of choices. That's wonderful. However, information technology tranquillize requires a PDM which is bulky and just one more piece to carry.

Insulet's time to come hybrid closed loop, titled Omnipod Horizon, also as Tidepool Loop or the Beta Bionics plural-hormone iLet system, might eventually lure me away from the DIY life. But those seem far outside, into 2021 Oregon later. For now, I'm even as happy with this.

The #WeAreNotWaiting Community in Diabetes

Our #WeAreNotWaiting profession is amazing and driven to make biography with diabetes the best it can be. Since opening in 2013, some have delineate this being "one of the fastest-biological process grassroots movements in T1D history."

When I joint this statement with Dr. Francis Duhay (quondam chief of cardiothoracic surgical proces and cardiology at Kaiser Permanente, Asst. Professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Duke University Schooltime of Medication, former CMO of Edwards Animation Sciences and current VC investor) he illustrious that instead of expression it's one of the fastest-thriving grassroots movements in T1D history, information technology's actually combined of the quickest organic process common movements in medicine."

This is a very exciting prison term in T1 history with technology leaping forward. To that end, Omnipod Loop is right sprouted there as an outstanding come ou.

Thanks for sharing your POV with us Joanne. We agree it's an exciting addition to our expanding diabetes toolbox!

Source: https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/omnipod-loop-diy-initial-review

Posted by: joneslacquess39.blogspot.com

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