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Alexandra Winterle
Charles Archer
ENGL 420
Writing for the Web
2 May 2019
There’s an App for That

The Insulet corporation changed the game significantly in 2000 when they released the

Omnipod. For those unfamiliar, the Omnipod is the only insulin pump that does not require

tubing. While all other insulin pumps on the market use an infusion set which includes twenty-

three plus inches of tubing. Use of an infusion set also means changing it out every couple of

days and jabbing oneself with a needle in the process. With the Omnipod that isn’t necessary. No

tethering, no swapping things out, no more worrying if you have somewhere to stash the pump.

With the Omnipod all you have to do is fill it up with insulin and slap in on and you’re ready to

go. Delivery of insulin with the Omnipod is controlled by a personal diabetes manager or PDM.

At least that’s how it’s worked for the last nineteen years. Sometime in the near future though

that is going to change. The FDA recently approved an app to control insulin delivery.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has partnered with Tidepool to their

Loop program to the Apple App store (Tidepool.org). Loop as they call it while they develop the

app is set to work with the next generation Omnipod. Tidepool is working closely with the FDA

to develop the software needed to run the algorithm that would turn the Omnipod into a closed

loop fully automated insulin delivery system. Like Medtronic’s 670G the Omnipod would be

capable of adapting insulin dosage based on readings from a CGM (Tidepool.org). As Insulet

had previously partnered with Dexcom, the CGM will likely be their sixth-generation sensor that
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was recently made available. Although it is entirely possible Dexcom’s seventh-generation

sensor will be ready by this time next year when the Tidepool Loop enabled Omnipod is

expected to hit the market.

Dexcom G6 sensors are already in use separate from pumps at the moment allowing

people with diabetes to view CGM results on their smart phone. However, without integration

with an insulin pump it is little more than a way for patients to log blood sugars. If all goes as

planned Medtronic could have some major competition in the next year or so. As a former

Animas pump user now turned 670G pumper when the Johnson & Johnson owned Diabetes

company went out of business last year, I am excited to have more advanced options coming in

the near future. While Medtronic does their best to make their customers happy, they have been

the only big player in the world of pumps since Animas’ unexpected collapse. Insulet might just

be the underdog that changes the game in being the first to gain approval for Loop integration.

Only time will tell if that is the case or not. I for one am hoping Android gets in on this app so

I’m not forced to switch to an iPhone.

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Works Cited

Look, Howard. “Tidepool Intends to Deliver Loop as a Supported, FDA-Regulated Mobile App

_____in the App Store.” Tidepool, www.tidepool.org/blog/tidepool-delivering-loop.