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Seeking Your Insights on Closed Loop Systems and CGMs

Bluemarinejosephine

Bluemarinejosephine

Active Member
Dear Everyone,

I hope this message finds you all well.

I’d love to ask for your thoughts and advice on a few matters.

I’m currently a pump user on the Omnipod Dash and use the Freestyle Libre 2 for glucose monitoring. Over the past 30 days, my time in range has been around 92%, though I’ve had about 6% mild hypoglycemia. Recently, I’ve been approved for a closed loop system with the Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G7.

For those of you who are using or have tried a closed loop system—are you happy with it? I confess I feel a bit hesitant to surrender complete control to the device, as I find reassurance in managing things myself. That said, I do recognise the freedom a closed loop could offer, especially since I still struggle with exercising without the looming risk of frightening hypoglycemic episodes. I dearly miss the active lifestyle I enjoyed when I was on multiple daily injections, where I felt freer to exercise without fear.

My second question is for those who’ve used both the Freestyle Libre and the Dexcom: do you find the Dexcom more accurate? Are there particular features you love? Would you recommend making the switch?

I’d be truly grateful for any insights you’re willing to share.

Warmest thanks and kind regards,
Josephine
 
Bluemarinejosephine said:
Dear Everyone,

I hope this message finds you all well.

I’d love to ask for your thoughts and advice on a few matters.

I’m currently a pump user on the Omnipod Dash and use the Freestyle Libre 2 for glucose monitoring. Over the past 30 days, my time in range has been around 92%, though I’ve had about 6% mild hypoglycemia. Recently, I’ve been approved for a closed loop system with the Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G7.

For those of you who are using or have tried a closed loop system—are you happy with it? I confess I feel a bit hesitant to surrender complete control to the device, as I find reassurance in managing things myself. That said, I do recognise the freedom a closed loop could offer, especially since I still struggle with exercising without the looming risk of frightening hypoglycemic episodes. I dearly miss the active lifestyle I enjoyed when I was on multiple daily injections, where I felt freer to exercise without fear.

My second question is for those who’ve used both the Freestyle Libre and the Dexcom: do you find the Dexcom more accurate? Are there particular features you love? Would you recommend making the switch?

I’d be truly grateful for any insights you’re willing to share.

Warmest thanks and kind regards,
Josephine
Click to expand...

Bluemarinejosephine said:
Dear Everyone,

I hope this message finds you all well.

I’d love to ask for your thoughts and advice on a few matters.

I’m currently a pump user on the Omnipod Dash and use the Freestyle Libre 2 for glucose monitoring. Over the past 30 days, my time in range has been around 92%, though I’ve had about 6% mild hypoglycemia. Recently, I’ve been approved for a closed loop system with the Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G7.

For those of you who are using or have tried a closed loop system—are you happy with it? I confess I feel a bit hesitant to surrender complete control to the device, as I find reassurance in managing things myself. That said, I do recognise the freedom a closed loop could offer, especially since I still struggle with exercising without the looming risk of frightening hypoglycemic episodes. I dearly miss the active lifestyle I enjoyed when I was on multiple daily injections, where I felt freer to exercise without fear.

My second question is for those who’ve used both the Freestyle Libre and the Dexcom: do you find the Dexcom more accurate? Are there particular features you love? Would you recommend making the switch?

I’d be truly grateful for any insights you’re willing to share.

Warmest thanks and kind regards,
Josephine
Click to expand...
Hi Bluemarinejosephine

I am using Omnipod 5 and Libre2+ closed loop. I previously used Omnipod dash with dexcom 1. It has taken a while for the algorithm to learn me and my requirements. It did take me a while to get used to giving control over to the pump. There is an activity setting on Omnipod 5 which should help with exercise.

I have 2 main challenges with Omnipod 5. Firstly maintaining line of sight between the pod and sensor. The best way to maintain line of sight is to have the pod and sensor is to have both on your arm. The sensor lasts 15 days and the pod 3 days. The skin on my arms is suffering.

My other issue is that I do not hear the alarms on the pdm overnight. I wear hearings aids so during the day hearing the alarms is not an issue.

I have found Libre 2+ more accurate than Libre 1 or Libre 2. For me I have found dexcom more accurate. The other benefit with dexcom is that you can locate it on more sights. Libre 2+ is only licensed for use on the arm.

Hope this helps you a bit with your decision making
 
I can’t comment on your potential particular set up as I’m on Medtronic, however, being on closed loop has changed my life. I was a ‘bad’ diabetic (I hate saying that but I was) before going on closed loop, I mean we are talking highs of 20 every single day for hours. My HbA1c was 78 :eek: And I honestly felt unwell most of the time. Since being on closed loop my HbA1c floats around 48 and I’m in range around 70% of the time with lows of around 2% or less.

I think the things with closed loop is you have to remember to try not take over too much as it needs to learn from you itself without intervention, however, if you feel you need to intervene you absolutely can. There’s times when it’s said my blood sugar is low when it absolutely isn’t so I’ve intervened to say as such or I’ve felt higher than it’s predicting and I’ve intervened to ensure I get more insulin. It’s a scary thought initially thinking a machine is essentially doing everything for you (aside from carb entry) but it’s now such a normal part of my life I forget half the time it’s doing everything for me, I’ve been on closed loop for coming up to 4 years now and I’d never go back. There are so many settings that can help you day to day with closed loop (such as exercise settings).

I could not recommend closed loop enough in all honesty, like has been said previously though you do definitely have to make sure your pump and sensor are within range of each other at all times.
 
Hi @Bluemarinejosephine Without any hesitation yes go for it. It's the best treatment for type 1 out there currently, it's changed my life, my sleep quality is 95% better with HCL, doesn't take away the anxiety as that comes hand in hand with t1d as far as i'm concerned but it's made my life easier as less decisions, more time to live my life, anything that gives you back some quality of life from living with t1d is well worth it.

In regards to exercise anything is possible, you can use exercise mode or a temp basal pattern or just have more carbs and less insulin, don't fixate on what you perceive to be barriers, focus on the positives.
 
I use Omnipod dash and Libre 2+ ..my 90 day time in range is 93% in range, high 3%, and low 4%. my estimated A1c is 5.6%
i am really fortunate that i am retired and can spend a lot of time managing the T1d ---- My endocrinologist admits i won't improve those number using HCL but it could mean less manual intervention on my part. i wish you well in your search for the right solution for you .
 
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