I’ve been on Omnipod for a while and was intrigued by the ilet when it first came out. Since there is no commitment with Omnipod I could have switched - but iLet wasn’t covered by my insurance.
I started on Medicare this year and to my surprise I found that it covers the ilet! My coverage has been verified and I can start once I have a c-peptide test and my doctor writes the rx and provides the necessary documentation. I can try it for 90 days and return it no questions asked if I don’t like it or it doesn’t work for me.
For those who are - or were - on the iLet, would you share your opinions? There was a post asking for some back in 2023 but the most recent comments are from that same year.
I’ve watched some videos and like the Omnipod the iLet learns your body over time and you may (probably will?) run higher than normal for a while. That said, as I recall for the first few days you are not supposed to snack at all between meals, so if you experienced lows, how did you handle them?
When I used a tubed pump I confess I left them in for more than 3 days. Can you do that with the iLet, or - like Omnipod - do you have to start fresh?
How readable is the screen “in the wild”? In the few videos I did watch it was very hard to see when people displayed it but that may have been a function of the way it was recorded.
I will say up front that I’ve worn tubed pumps before and that’s not a problem for me. And on a continuum between
“I’m a control freak and want to do things for myself” and
“I can use all the help I can get”
… I know the Islet is geared more towards the latter.
Hi Dorie I don’t have an ilet but I’ve read the user manual. what I can tell you regarding your questions I got from the manual. The ilet holds 180 units maximum. So you can run it till it ends it doesn’t matter how many days.
The ilet will stop working if you don’t have a working CGM. The pump allows 72 hours (after it programs your typical basal or 48 hours max if it has not) of “run mode” where it asks you for a finger stick to keep operating. Tha screen can also be your phone using the ilet app so even if the pump display stinks you can use your phone.
The pump offers activity mode, pause and stop. And you can disconnect You cannot program your own basal rates and you can’t program your own I:c but you can lie to it with respect to meal “size” This is definitely a “please do it for me” pump
The few people I know who use ilet really like it. There’s no better judge than you. Good luck!!
Thanks @joe ! I average 40 units/day and every extra day counts. Thanks for reminding me about using my phone as the controller, and the “cheats.” If I switch it will be in the new year so don’t hold your breath but do cross your fingers . Thanks again!
Hi all. I had my iLet training yesterday morning and am up and running. I was getting multiple low alerts on Omnipod despite adjustments to my settings. I got one yesterday, and another around 2:00 this morning, and that’s it! ILet has specific guidelines on how to treat lows (it’s not the 15/15 rule) - and when. I won’t share the details because it is designed for their algorithm, but it involves significantly less than what I was having to use before. I was skeptical but it worked both times. Starting off great and it will take a week or so for things to settle in. Will keep you posted.
s]I wish you well, Dorie @wadawabbit with your new device and hope that it “fits” you better than your previous pumps.
When you say low “alerts” from OmniPod, were they false warnings or was your glucose actually low? I scrapped the 15/15 rule [which was around in the 1940s] decades ago and now with the available technology have customized my glucose corrections to avoid spikes - mostly based on the type of carb.
Hi @Dennis ! Always nice to hear from you. I was having actual lows unfortunately despite trying various solutions and it’s been taking longer to recover from them than it used to. Was just trying frustrated with the whole business so when this became an option I decided to try it. Yes, I too ditched 15/15 - just threw that in for reference. You might take a look at the iLet. As I recall your happy with your device but your analytical mind would enjoy digging into how this one works.
Dorie @wadawabbit , I’m staying warm here in Florida by wearing my northern gear whenever I go out; we have strong possibility here of snow flurries on Sunday, but not the 4-6 inches that fell in northern Florida last weekend.
I did look at the iLet 2 years ago when I was getting a new pump and listed it as a “finalist”; since then, when called in for consultation, I have recommended it for other patients for whom I believe it has worked well. I’m waiting to hear your thoughts after you have been using it regularly for a few months.
I’m enjoying not having to pre-bolus!
One thing to know about alerts: I’ve given a couple for low glucose (but much less frequently than with Omnipod) - but they sound continuously until you acknowledge them. My pump is only 23” away (shorter tubing) but you can never find something and shut it down fast enough if you’re trying to watch a movie or are in a public setting. You can adjust the volume. Thankfully they are much less frequent.
I have cats so don’t want to just leave my pump on the table to charge so I’m keeping it close to me while it powers up and I’m holding it in place to keep it secure. It actually doesn’t take too long but I wish there were an adapter similar to the one for the Mobi.
I looked at the charger for iLet and my first impression is it reminds me of an 8-track player … let me know if you need a helper or fixture for it Dorie, I am sure we can come up with something
. Thanks again!
… let me know if you need a helper or fixture for it Dorie, I am sure we can come up with something