Hi! This thread is more targeted toward Omnipod 5 users who have periods/menstruate, especially those who have changing insulin needs. The question is: how do you handle changing pods between different parts of your cycle? For example, if you have higher insulin needs as part of PMS, then a steep reduction during the period, would the pod start giving too much insulin during your reduced-needs time? Or does it adjust for that really quickly, so that I could just have a snack to cover the bit of insulin it would give me right after the change?
Context (kind of long):
I’m having all sorts of problems with Tandem X2 and Dexcom too (I’ve posted lots of other threads, many skin issues with Dexcom, and with Tandem I just can’t keep up with the tremendous amount of troubleshooting and settings adjustments that I think I’d need to make Control IQ work for me). Part of this is due to my lifestyle at the moment–I’m working full time and completing a Master’s degree, at the same time as we finish a home renovation project. Things won’t always be this bad but right now they are and I think I just want to try some other things, see if they fit better with my lifestyle.
I have fairly wild hormones around my period. About a week and a half before it, my insulin starts to work like it’s been cut with water. Slow peak times (about 2 hours before any action), and also it’s much less effective (I feel like I need 2-3 times as much as I normally would). Control IQ stacks very badly during this time since it can’t understand why my reading isn’t coming down. Then, my period starts, and suddenly my insulin works 3x as effectively–20-30 min peak times, need about 1/2 as much as normal. This goes for 3-4ish days. Then I hit the “normal” range of the month, where insulin peaks at about 30 mins-1 hour, and I need the normal amount.
This is all hard to predict, exactly what moment switches need to happen. Also, my period is not exactly regular, even though I am on birth control (Erin, progesterone only as estrogen causes very high blood pressure for me). This means the monthly time shifts. So, working with profiles on Control IQ is exhausting/scary and I honestly haven’t put in the effort, just letting myself deal with highs as they come. I’ve been eyeing Omnipod 5, as I like the idea of machine learning handling things (I’m studying analytics, so I understand the power of that!), also I could use some new infusion sites that could be helpful too. I also like the fact that it projects farther into the future than Tandem does; if it looks ahead 1 hour instead of 30 minutes, I feel like that could be helpful with avoiding stacking.
But, as I laid out above, my needs are not stable. I’m worried that the pods would learn to give me a lot of insulin based on the high need time, and then start auto-delivering it during the lower need time. Hence my question!
Thanks so much for any thoughts on this!