The do-it-yourself automated insulin dosing system, Loop, now works with Omnipod. Listen to the Juicebox Podcast with longtime Omnipod T1D parent Scott Benner as he interviews Katie DiSimone, LoopDocs author and also a T1D parent.
Automated insulin dosing continues its revolutionary emergence.
Thanks for posting the link, @Terry4. I am excited about OmniPod Looping! First, for me, I have to get a new iPhone, as mine is about six years old without any usable space available.
Anyway, I listened to the first eight minutes of the podcast and was taken aback. Scott introduced his sponsors and then his guest, Katie. He had Katie explain Loop and she did a great job. Rather than build on her explanation, he went right back to talking about one of his sponsors and an event that was happening and what the winner would get from said event.
I understand sponsorships. I just wish he could have timed the ad placement better.
Exciting times are upon us with OmniPod Loop!
This podcast is primarily about the DIY Omnipod Loop. When Tidepool is successful getting the Tidepool Loop approved by the FDA, then that paves the way for the Tidepool Loop using the Omnipod. That eventual system will greatly simplify things for the end user as it will just involve a download from the App Store and eliminate the need for a RileyLink.
I don’t like most advertisements either but Scott Benner has provided a great deal of valuable diabetes content for us and for that I am grateful. When I get impatient with the ads, I just fast forward past them.
I look forward to his comments once he gets Loop running for his daughter. I expect Loop to remove some of the parent/child communication burden and enhance the quality of both of their lives. He’s often commented about his daughter’s diabetes adversely impacting his sleep. Sleeping through the night is one of the benefits that most Loop users cite when they’re asked about its benefits.
Terry, you Loop, right? Upsides and downsides for someone considering - if the Tandem 2 closed loop doesn’t work out 
Want something that frees me up. I currently spend a lot of time on my diabetes self-care. As you know, life changes constantly and this idea that a rate or algorithm will adjust to keep you in the normal range may be very optimistic. Maybe its the long-term diabetic cynic in me coming out. I am hopeful that we will have much improved options over the next 5 years.
Question: when you Loop, do you ever have to touch the pump once it’s set up? For example, with the OmniPod, my understanding is that you use your phone for everything and never touch the PDM. Does this include for pod changes?
This development has shot OmniPod to the top of my list for consideration as my next pump. My only concern is that I’m not sure I can wear the pods for three days. (And also the environmental concern…but if I can have an ACCESSIBLE AND CLOSED-LOOP pump, that would be amazing enough that I’ll just have to suck it up for now.)
I am so tempted to pay out of pocket for some pods and give this a try. But like @Jen I think I would struggle with 3 day wear on the pods. Many people love pods and others have bad results with them. And of course until my Tandem pump goes out of warranty, it is not as though I could get insurance coverage for them. Plus on Medicare they are provided through Part D pharmacy benefits. I would go from no out-of-pocket costs for pump supplies and insulin under Part B, to paying copays for the pods and insulin under Part D.
But I sure would like to try this…
Let me start by saying that Loop is not perfect and good control still requires paying attention. Loop must still deal with the reality that injecting insulin subcutaneously is nowhere nearly as elegant as a healthy pancreas. You still need to optimize your basal rates, insulin sensitivity factors, and carb ratios.
What Loop can do, when settings are well set is to take you safely through the night. I often wake up in the 70-99 mg/dL (3.9-5.5 mmol/L). That greatly increases the chance of experiencing an in-range day. You’ll still need to adhere to appropriate pre-bolus times if you want good post meal control.
What I can confidently say, however, is that Loop has given me the best glucose control in 35 years with much less effort than my pre-Loop days.
In general, I don’t need to directly operate my pump. I can bolus and instigate correction boluses from my iPhone. I do need to use the pump to load insulin cartridges and prime the pump.
I don’t have much Omnipod experience, so I’m unsure to what extent you’ll need to use the PDM. There’s currently a lot of Loop/Omnipod discussion on the Looped Facebook group. Maybe checking out that forum could better answer your accessibility interest.
@Laddie, I think it’s tough at this point to make a favorable economic case to switch to Omnipod with Loop when you’ll need to pay more for insulin, test strips, pump supplies, and CGM supplies. Maybe a limited trial run, however, would make sense so that you can acquire some first-hand experience. If you find a large enough quality of life boost, you may conclude the extra money worth it.
That’s correct. iPhone with DIY Loop app replaces all functions of PDM, including pod changes. In fact, once a pod is paired with Loop, that pod cannot by controlled by PDM. Of course, users are advised to keep PDM as a backup, just in case.
Today’s DiabetesMine features the DIY Omnipod Loop.
I have been on the omnipod now for 2 months, previous medtronic veo user with some MDI breaks. I am so excited about loop but scared to try it. I am not super computer smart… anyone in Alberta trying this? I need a tutor!
You’re quite right, @Terry4. He has and I am grateful too 
For those interested in more DIY Loop Omnipod details, here’s a list of frequently asked questions.
I’ve heard of people getting prescription for two-day wearing. Omnipod is also very good about replacing pods you can’t wear for the full three days, so if you had to change out after even one day, it wouldn’t be money down the drain.
This doesn’t, of course, alter any provincial pump grant you may receive, and you might have to clear it with any workplace insurance, so it may increase out-of-pocket expenses, but those would count toward income tax deductions anyway.
Also in Canada you can return used pods for medical recycling, which may alleviate your environmental concerns.
I started Looping on 4/24 and am very impressed with this system. Being able to step away from the minutiae of blood sugar management and let Loop make the adjustments is extremely liberating. My friend Theresa has been Looping with an old Medtronic since 2017 and was one of the first people to start using the Omnipod Loop on New Years Eve 2018. She has been a wealth of information for me.
This is nice to read, @Clare_T_Fishman. When I first started Looping, I was mesmerized watching it in action. It really does materially improve quality of life. Once your initial fascination subsides, the system continues to dispassionately make a rational insulin dosing decision every five minutes, 288 times every day. Computers really are better at this grind.
Congrats on getting your Omnipod DIY Loop up and running! Welcome to the future of diabetes care.
Have you signed up for the Jaeb observational Loop study? New users (within about 2 weeks of starting to Loop) are an especially sought after cohort. The ongoing reporting by the study participants is minimal. It will help provide the basis for Tidepool to secure FDA approval for Tidepool Loop.
Hi Terry, yes I signed up for the JAEB study. I know how important it is to give back to the community and if my data helps I am happy to do my part. I visited the new global world headquarters of Insulet last week for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The plant is amazing. They’ll be manufacturing pods there 24 hours a day. But I hope they keep making the eros pods at least until Looped cracks the new bluetooth pods. Loop is at least 5 years ahead of anything in the planning stages so I am stocking up on them now.
I don’t know about everyone else but I find it appalling that the manufacturers continue to build additional devices. I want to pod… even closed loop… but the fact I would need to carry around extra devices is crazy. In essence, I’m still tethered. In today’s state of technology most carry smartphone (I know not everyone does) and they are so powerful! I question why they need to take on the cost of building a device vs. building an app. To that with an app manufactures, can push notifications (updates, new functions, recalls) and update capabilities and bugs on the fly and MOST importantly improve the user experience. The user experience with this stuff is awful. Loop certainly sounds promising but this stuff should come from Omni, Medtronic, Dexcom… etc. If Apple or Google ever decided to take this on (rumour is they are looking at it) these companies would be in trouble. Sorry for the rant but our disease is due for some disruption and this post struck a nerve. We should be demanding better. For what its worth Im a type 1 (former pumper) Libre user.
So I read Terry’s FAQ link but haven’t had time to listen/read the other two links shared. I’m a bit lost - this Loop works with Omnipod & an iphone alone? Or is there a cgm that’s just not mentioned here?
Honestly for me its not worth getting an iphone. Omnipod is my preferred diabetes management style right now but I have too many other issues that make my diabetes just so hard to manage. And actually I prefer to carry a separate device for my diabetes management. Phones are too ubiquitous these days and manufacturers have no incentive to turn them into “approved” medical devices yet. Maybe that will change one day. shrug
I’m actually pretty jealous of those of you who’ve had the time & energy to figure such things out and stick with it for so long.
You’ll need the older Eros version pods (not the new Dash pods), an iPhone, a RileyLink, and a Dexcom CGM (G4 + Share, G5, or G6).
That’s a personal decision, of course, but you can’t currently Omnipod Loop without one. Do it yourself Looping is not for everyone but can be done by non-techy people who are motivated and willing to follow written directions. Android options are sure to follow.
Here’s one recent story of how a dad set up Omnipod Loop for his 11-year old T1D daughter.