I’m on the omnipod and lately I’ve had some post meal issues, and just overall high sugars…I thought about adding lantus (once a day) then, cutting back on my basal rate…come to find out (thanks to google) this is actually a method in which the term “the untethered method”, was coined by Dr. Steve Edelman,longtime type I researcher and type I himself.
I started this a few days ago and I absolutely love it. My basal rate was set at 1.2 or approx 29units per day, and I bolus at a carb rate of 1:10.
I supplemented 30 units of lantus and dropped my basal rate to .25/hr, while keeping the bolus ratio the same…
So far so good…has anyone else tried this as I would love to hear about the results and what your settings were/are.
Why wouldn't you just increase your basal? I guess my issue would be with the lantus, is once you've injected it there's no way to temp your basal or anything like that. You're just stuck with that dose that you've injected. I am also interested in what others have to say.
The whole point of being "untethered" is that you can disconnect from your pump and only need to be connected to deal with meals. You can go out, be active, go swimming, sleep and do all kinds of things that can be impeded by wearing a pump. If you can get good control with one or two basal injections/day, it is an option.
Here’s how I’m dealing with that issue: I’m simply taking less Lantus than if say I was only on mdi, like approximately 75% of basal comes from lantus and the other 25% I’m able to tweak with the pump…part of my problem it’s that I’m not bolusing in a timely fashion…I say that became I’m a single dad of two toddlers and my fear is going low, passing out. So then what happens is that I go high and then I’m dealing with over correcting and then will go low…it’s been like a yoyo…
So far, so good. I’ll post more as I gain more data points over the next week
The lantus level can be set low enough that suspending the insulin from the pump will be good enough for most situations (ex 50% or 75% of basal from Lantus and the remainder from the pump). 75%/25 is what Edelman recommended. I see the advantages as....
1. Not having to carry all the supplies everywhere because you always have a days worth of background basal in your system and the risk of DKA isn't there. Pump failures are less serious.
2. Being able to disconnect the pump for a rather extended period while you exercise and then connect again when you are done.
So it allows some of the flexibility and safety of MDI while still providing the advantages of a pump.
I think you did a great job explaining it!!! Over the years and having been on the pump for a while, and then becoming a Father....then a single Father, my insulin regime needed to change as my control hasn't been where I know it could be. I love knowing that I have some background insulin and then Ill learn over the next few weeks what my "tweaks" will be with respect to the basal rates (which obviously with a pump, we can fine tune much better than MDI)
Another reason I wanted to do this is that I have a crisper drawer full of Lantus set to expire in a bit and I hate wasting all these supplies. Especially now that I don't have stellar insurance anymore and my out-of-pocket is so much more.
So, now Ill be able to use the Lantus, use LESS Novolog (which I don't have a stockpile of) AND on top of it all; Im getting much better control these past three days.
Ill be curious to hear about anyone else who tries this.
Thanks for all the replies and input. It is much appreciated.
