Sarah Auletta
Simmons University
My name is Sarah Auletta, and I am the president of the Simmons University Diabetes Link chapter, class of 2024. I am majoring in Public Health and Spanish and involved in our student run science magazine, Partners in Health Engage chapter, and campus activities board. I love all things health, which makes it hard for me to decide what direction I want to take my career after graduation (but I almost guarantee it includes more school!).
Tw: @sarah_auletta IG: @sarahauletta
It goes without saying that most, if not all, people living with diabetes would love to have a functioning pancreas.
Since we can’t wave a magic wand over our midsection and make that wish come true, the next best thing is a hybrid closed loop insulin delivery system. A hybrid closed loop system allows for a complete circle of communication between a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and insulin pump.. The CGM reports your glucose levels to the pump and the pump then adjusts insulin delivery, and so on.
The Omnipod 5 System achieves this by integrating with the Dexcom G6 CGM — a combo that I am fortunate to have started on a few weeks ago. I’ve been using Omnipod for a few years now, and I cannot say enough good things about it. I truly love the lack of tubing, how you can place it almost anywhere that you’d give yourself an injection, and how the wireless Controller looks like a phone. The Omnipod and Dexcom give me so much freedom.
I have been eagerly awaiting the day when I could transition to a hybrid closed loop system and take some of my brain space back from the ever-present thought of checking and regulating my blood glucose. When the decision was made to jump on a hybrid closed loop system, my doctor and I began the process by reevaluating my insulin to carb ratios and correction factors. We also submitted the prior authorization to my insurance. After I received the Intro Kit, I completed the online training, and got started!
A few weeks in and I can honestly say, it feels great to take back some of the mental energy that diabetes had previously consumed.
I can now go a few hours without eating and checking my blood glucose because Omnipod automatically adjusts my insulin delivery based on my CGM values and trend if I start to go high or low. It’s especially great if I’m trying to really focus or am in a meeting where I don’t necessarily want to have to keep my blood glucose on a short leash. I can let go of the ever-present concern of keeping myself in range.
The other huge advantage to this hybrid closed loop system for me, and I’m sorry to all my Gen Z folks for making this point, is that it allows you to disconnect from your phone since you can use the Controller. If you’re like me, then you’ve been using your phone as the Receiver for your Dexcom. That is a great option because it consolidates your devices, and we all carry enough stuff. On the other hand, it literally makes your phone a lifeline that you can never really take a break from. Sometimes, I just want to disconnect.
With the Omnipod 5 Controller, you can view your blood glucose and trend graph on that one device so, if you want to, you can put your phone down or — stay with me here — leave it in another room 🤯. I know, I know, at first it seems crazy and maybe even scary, but it really is liberating to not always have the notifications and apps in your hand.
Overall, I’m not only satisfied, but honestly, quite impressed with this hybrid closed loop system. For anyone already using both the Omnipod DASH and Dexcom G6 devices, it’s a no-brainer to upgrade to Omnipod 5 with Dexcom G6 integration. And for anyone not using either of these devices, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about making the switch to the liberating lifestyle of a tubeless hybrid closed loop system.
Thank you so much to Omnipod for sponsoring this blog post!
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