Hi, posting here as I’ve been really struggling with my Ominpod 5 leaving my BMs too high. I’ve been on the Omnipod 5 for 6+ months now so the algorithm should know me and be aiming for a BM of 6. But I keep finding that over night or during the day and post-meal it just sits at 10 or 11. I’m finding it so difficult just watching it sit there (letting the algorithm do its thing) and run high.
When I spoke to my doctor they said the algorithms behind the Omnipod 5 are ‘gentle’ and very cautious to prevent you from going low (apparently other CGMs are a bit more strict in pushing it down). It’s starting to feel like that means my BM sits just a little too high to play it safe but that’s really not what I want.
Does anybody know what can help it settle a bit lower? I don’t know how you can change the algorithm to ‘relearn’ my body or to be willing to send my BM lower.
I found Insulet wrote a pretty good explainer for doctors back when the Omnipod5 was first released. It was published in the US so have a mg/dL to mmol chart handy. I like that it defines which settings don’t affect the algorithm.
If your meal bolus doesn’t have the desired effect all the Omnipod 5 is going to do is ramp up your basal. Its up to you to know if you need a correction bolus or work off the extra BG and next time modify your bolus, meal and activity to stay in range.
Regarding more aggressive pumps a good resource is TCOYD.org. Both doctors, who have T1D, tried a Medtronic 780G and really liked it but I think Dr. Edelman went back to the Omnipod. They have an event coming up on November 2, you can ask them about it yourself if you are still thinking about switching after others share their opinions.
Thanks for sharing the article looks really interesting - I’ll start working my way through. Hopefully there’s something on be able to set a stricter algorithm, even if the Omnipod thinks that’s a little more risky with sending you low.
Hi @ciexandamiro and welcome to the forum. I was having issues with lows a while ago and my trainer recommended I look at some of my background settings such as target glucose (under Bolus settings), and glucose goal range.
On a side note, there is a Juicebox podcast that I found helpful as a supplement to the training I took before starting on Omnipod5 and I found it very helpful.
One option is to adjust your target glucose range in the app to a lower number, which might encourage the system to be more proactive. You might also try pre-bolusing before meals to help manage post-meal spikes more effectively. If you’re comfortable, giving a small manual correction bolus can help bring those stubborn highs down faster, though it’s important to do so carefully to avoid going too low.
Adjusting your basal insulin settings temporarily could also help signal the system to adapt better. Sometimes, connecting with others in the community can provide additional tips on how they manage similar situations. It’s a process, but fine-tuning the settings can make a difference over time.
@ciexandamiro Welcome Nick to the Breakthrough T1D Community Forum!
I have not used the Omnipod 5, yet I know several people who achieve wonderful results with its assistance, so my response is more general. The Omnipod, like all AIDs provide assistance to the hser, it does not take over the thinking - that still is your job. You, with professional assistance, must furnish the settings, such as basal rates for multiple timed periods, Insulin to Carbohydrate ratios [I:Cr] for various times of the day, and Insulin Sensitivity Factor [ISF] that your pump will use to make adjustments. Each of the three factors I’ve mentioned can be off by a little and your Omnipod 5 will make adjustments to help you maintain the daily average of your BGL [Body Glucose Level be about the desired level of 7.0 mmol/L which will provide you with a 90-day HbA1c of 6.0%.
My personal preference when setting up infusion pump settings is to begin with basal ates and to validate those rates by skipping a meal and see if I stay at or close to a BG reading of 7.0 for an extended period. If you run too low, eat as necessary and reduce slightly the basal rate for the previous two hours. If you run higher than you wish to be, increase the basal rate for the ptevious hour and keep it higher for a while. Your meal time bolus should be sufficient to bring your reading back to within 2.7 mmol/L 4 hours after eating.
Good luck with your adjustments - it will be a lot of trial and error.
