From the Guidelines
Temp basal on the Omnipod 5 is used to temporarily adjust insulin delivery rates for short-term changes in insulin needs, allowing users to increase or decrease their basal insulin delivery by a percentage or set rate for a specified duration. This feature is particularly useful during activities like exercise, illness, or stress, where insulin needs may vary 1. The Omnipod 5's automated mode can automatically adjust basal rates based on continuous glucose monitor readings, but users can still set manual temp basals when needed 1. Some key points to consider when using temp basal on the Omnipod 5 include:
- Temp basals can be set for a duration of typically from 30 minutes up to 12 hours
- The feature allows for flexibility in managing blood glucose during predictable short-term situations without permanently changing basal settings
- After the temp basal duration expires, the system automatically returns to the user's regular programmed basal rate or automated mode
- The use of temp basals can help reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and improve overall glucose control 1. It's worth noting that the Omnipod 5's automated mode can adjust insulin delivery based on sensor-derived glucose levels, mimicking physiologic insulin delivery 1. However, the ability to set manual temp basals provides an additional layer of control and flexibility for users 1.
From the Research
Temp Basal on Omnipod 5
- The temp basal feature on Omnipod 5 is used to adjust the basal insulin dose for a specific period of time, which can be useful in various situations such as during exercise or illness 2, 3.
- Adjusting basal insulin doses is essential for lowering blood glucose while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia, and different basal insulin titration strategies can be used to achieve this goal 3.
- The effectiveness of different basal insulin titration strategies on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes has been compared in several studies, and self-titration at least twice a week with health care provider support has been shown to lead to superior HbA1c reduction without increasing the risk of severe hypoglycemia 3.
- In non-critically ill hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes, combining basal plus correction insulin therapy with dulaglutide has been shown to contribute to ideal glycemic control 4.
- The American Diabetes Association recommends basal insulin or basal plus correctional insulin regimen for non-critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus unable to eat, and adjusting the basal insulin dose can help to achieve optimal glycemic control in these patients 5, 6.