Can you tell me about your experience Looping with Omnipod 5 and Libre 2+/Dexcom 6?

[soupdragon]

I'm hoping to hear your experiences of people looping with Omnipod 5 + Libre 2+ or Omnipod 5 + Dexcom 6, please.

I've been using Libre and then Libre 2 since 2020. Great improvement on fingerprick testing but I do some issues.
The first is that Libre 2 is often (but not always) inaccurate enough to make it impossible to use the alarms as an alert rather than an alarm. It is quite common for a sensor to read 1.4 higher than blood glucose. This means that by the time I receive an alarm (using the highest value for the alarm of 5.6) I'm often close to 4 and my warning signs are kicking in anyway. Sensors are often consistent so being able to calibrate a sensor would solve this problem (or to be able to set a higher alert value).
The other issue is that the algorithm does not keep up during exercise (I've only ever used Libre so don't know if this is a common problem with all sensors). Also, the algorithm is a bit overenthusiastic at times. For example when standing up my blood glucose allegedly shoots up (but falls back later). It also smooths out highs and lows (which were confirmed by FP testing) so that it looks as though I have a lot less hypos than I actually do.

At my last consultant appointment I was asked if I would be interested in moving to HCL (I'm currently using Omnipod Dash). I hesitated because I assumed (due to it being cost neutral) that I was being offered Omnipod 5 + Libre 2+. I was told that it would be Omnipod 5 and Dexcom 6 so I asked to be added to the list.

I've now been left a message asking if I'm on Libre 2+ before they order Omnipod 5 for me.

I'll be ringing to check what is happening but before I do I was hoping that some of you could help me by letting me know your experiences? I've seen on the forum that the Libre 2+/Omnipod 5 combination has not worked well for some people.
I'd love to lose some of the thinking involved with managing blood sugar but I'm worried that looping with Libre 2+ might involve even more second guessing than I already do. Just has another thought - I'm not keen on wearing the Omnipod on my arm either, which seems to be needed?

Any thoughts gratefully received!
@PattiEvans @PhoebeC and anyone else who can help.

 

[nonethewiser]

Seems issues are around Libre using O5 as there's been a few members saying so, was only ever offered Dex6 when changing to HCL & so far it's worked just fine, no issues at all with connectivity.

Another plus is find Dexcom sensors more compatible to bg readings than Libre ever did, more so had higher & lower bg levels.

 

[soupdragon]

Seems issues are around Libre using O5 as there's been a few members saying so, was only ever offered Dex6 when changing to HCL & so far it's worked just fine, no issues at all with connectivity.

Another plus is find Dexcom sensors more compatible to bg readings than Libre ever did, more so had higher & lower bg levels.

Thanks for that @nonethewiser
I was feeling positive about looping with Dex6 and it's good to hear that for you Dexcom is an improvement over Libre. Not sure that I trust Libre enough to loop with it.

 

[PhoebeC]

For me the libre 2+ and Omnipod 5 connected less than half of the time, I was in manual mode a lot. I was told by insulet they must be worn within inches of each other, and as the libre should only be on the arm that was pretty impossible for me, for site rotation and playing a contact sport it made the main benefit of a small patch pump useless. They also told me that other bluetooth devices may impact the libre 2+ and O5 connection and to turn off all other devices. Wouldn't be able to use my watch, headphones, mouse or keyboard, get into my office etc. let alone other peoples devices

I've posted about how I feel about the 5 over the dash in a few posts, I am still deciding actually. I would say give it a go with an open mind, do not expect a lot from it. I think I was oversold on the wins.

If I go back to Dash I hope I can keep the G6, I like the ability to use different sites and as you say the low and high alerts are much better, also a lot more customisable, so overnight my high alert is set at a higher amount, so I know if its dangerous but if just a bit higher my sleeps not impacted.

 

[soupdragon]

For me the libre 2+ and Omnipod 5 connected less than half of the time, I was in manual mode a lot. I was told by insulet they must be worn within inches of each other, and as the libre should only be on the arm that was pretty impossible for me, for site rotation and playing a contact sport it made the main benefit of a small patch pump useless. They also told me that other bluetooth devices may impact the libre 2+ and O5 connection and to turn off all other devices. Wouldn't be able to use my watch, headphones, mouse or keyboard, get into my office etc. let alone other peoples devices

I've posted about how I feel about the 5 over the dash in a few posts, I am still deciding actually. I would say give it a go with an open mind, do not expect a lot from it. I think I was oversold on the wins.

If I go back to Dash I hope I can keep the G6, I like the ability to use different sites and as you say the low and high alerts are much better, also a lot more customisable, so overnight my high alert is set at a higher amount, so I know if its dangerous but if just a bit higher my sleeps not impacted.

Thanks so much for that, @ Phoebe C
That confirms a few things I'm concerned about.
I spoke to the person at the clinic who had left the message today. Luckily the consultant I saw last time had stated that I'd be looping with Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G6 in the clinic letter so she's going to feed back to the DSN who asked her to call. Hoping it will be good news.

 

[PhoebeC]

Thanks so much for that, @ Phoebe C
That confirms a few things I'm concerned about.
I spoke to the person at the clinic who had left the message today. Luckily the consultant I saw last time had stated that I'd be looping with Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G6 in the clinic letter so she's going to feed back to the DSN who asked her to call. Hoping it will be good news.

Yes, fingers crossed for you.

It's not loads different in terms of setup going from the dash, pods are the same. Need to put your settings ratios, correct rate etc. into the PDM, some differences but not loads. I found the setup day really straight forward.

Hopefully you don't have a long wait.