# Omnipod 5 PDM controller **URL:** \ **Category:** Type 1 & LADA\ **Tags:** omnipod\ **Created:** [August 13, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033 "2022-08-13T20:31:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Josephine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Josephine](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Josephine)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/1 "2022-08-13T20:31:28Z")
I am happy to report, I got my new Omnipod PDM controller in the mail today. I just want to post that I am grateful to Omnipod 5 customer service and Reps. I got the new PDM controller, set it up with the settings the my Omnipod 5 trainer sent me and it is all go to go! I have a new pod on. I hope this controller does not crap out in a week. If it does I know Omnipod 5 will help me. That makes me feel good about the company. If you are interested in trying Omnipod 5 just know their customer support is wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/2 "2022-08-14T22:52:41Z")
Are you using it with a CGM, i.e. the Dexcom G6 (the only one it supports)? ---
**Author:** ![Josephine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Josephine](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Josephine)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/3 "2022-08-14T23:07:30Z")
jbowler, not yet. I wanted to see how I felt about Omnipod 5 first. I saw my Endocrinologist on Thursday, we talked about getting Dexcom G6 CGM. She said I will be getting a call from Southern Diabetes to set up getting Dexcom G6. ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/4 "2022-08-15T00:00:51Z")
> [@Josephine](#): > > we talked about getting Dexcom G6 CGM. My understanding is that you will then need a 'phone which supports the G6 app _and_ the Insulet PDM. That might be fine, but you might also consider just buying an S10 (or one of the other supported 'phones) on Amazon. I did this when Insulet announced the O5; I had swapped to an iPhone because Insulet seemed to be supporting Apple with the Dash, but with the O5 I immediately went to the kPhone. Compared to the cost of the rest of the stuff a 'phone is cheap (not quite as cheap as the ones Insulet use - the kPhone cost me about $200 - but still cheap.) I should add, I do **not** use the O5; not because I didn’t want to, I just haven’t been able to get in to see an endo for over a year. I use AndroidAPS with the Dash pods, which works just fine (TIR 70-180 close to 100% for the past month or so since I started) but has the disadvantage that when I forget to stay close to the 'phone everything stops working. ---
**Author:** ![Josephine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Josephine](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Josephine)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/5 "2022-08-15T00:36:22Z")
The Omnipod 5 Rep informed me that the Omnipod 5 PDM controller links to Dexcom G6 CGM. I don’t need an app besides I use an iphone so right now there is no app linking to iphone. All my devices are covered by Medicare. I don’t have to do or buy anything. It has all been worked out with Medicare. I see my Endocrinologist every 3 months. I have other health issues going on. I have a genetic liver disorder called PBC (primary biliary cholangitis that is what caused my type 1 diabetes to start with. My damaged liver caused my pancreas to stop making insulin. I was put on insulin pens. I’m closely watched by my doctors. I got curious about Omnipod 5 after seeing it advertised on TV. I was set up with a Rep who dealt with Medicare and I started my trial period. I was told if I decide to stay with Omnipod 5 it works best with the Dexcom G6 CGM. When I give my final go ahead for Omnipod 5 Southern Diabetes will contact me about getting the CGM. I don’t pay for any of my medications Medicare does. ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/6 "2022-08-15T00:51:00Z")
> [@Josephine](#): > > The Omnipod 5 Rep informed me that the Omnipod 5 PDM controller links to Dexcom G6 CGM. I don’t need an app besides I use an iphone so right now there is no app linking to iphone. You need an app to activate the G6; what the rep told you was correct but maybe slightly incomplete. You need a compatible phone for the G6 activation. @John58, others; please correct me if I am wrong, you know I find this whole shebang very confusing. ---
**Author:** ![John58](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/john58/32/147_2.png) [@John58](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/John58)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 7:23am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/7 "2022-08-15T07:23:28Z")
> [@jbowler](#): > > G6 activation The question of the day is whether the Omnipod 5 PDM can start a Dexcom G6 sensor/transmitter without using the Dexcom receiver or the Dexcom phone app. I have not tried starting a G6 sensor/transmitter that way but I doubt it would work. But starting the G6 with the G6 receiver will work, and once the G6 is started the BG data can be read by the OM5 PDM with no phone app needed. ---
**Author:** ![Josephine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Josephine](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Josephine)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/8 "2022-08-15T15:03:40Z")
My Omnipod 5 PDM has a section on it for Dexcom G6 CGM. I am sure if I decide to go with Omnipod 5 the Rep or Southern Diabetes who supplies Dexcom G6 will go over all that with me when they call. It is my understanding the Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G6 communicate with each other and it all connects on my Omnipod 5 PDM I do see a set up on Omnipod 5 PDM for the Dexcom G6. Either way I will get it all sorted out, I’m not worried. ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/9 "2022-08-15T15:48:33Z")
> [@John58](#): > > The question of the day is whether the Omnipod 5 PDM can start a Dexcom G6 sensor/transmitter without using the Dexcom receiver or the Dexcom phone app. It cannot; the O5 manual is completely silent on starting the G6, instead it says that the G6 has to be started following the manufacturers instructions. The O5 manual is, however, very firm on using the G6 receiver along with the O5 system, see my post in one of the other threads on this topic: > [@Omnipod 5 and dexcom newbie help](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-and-dexcom-newbie-help/12993/11): > > Ah. I had blindly assumed when I flipped through [the manuals](https://www.omnipod.com/current-podders/resources/omnipod-5) that the pod could activate a new G6 sensor, but in fact the quick start guide says nothing about starting the G6 - just that you have to refer to the G6 documentation. The user manual states this, from page 272: Caution: You cannot use the Dexcom G6 receiver with the Omnipod 5 System because the Omnipod 5 System is compatible only with the G6 app on a smartphone. This has been discussed before in [other threads](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-review-of-omnipod-5) ([search for “rece…](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-review-of-omnipod-5/12775/22) I’m not going to repeat that post here because there is much more information in the whole thread. It is unfortunate but it does make sense that the O5, either the app or the O5 receiver, can’t activate a pod; neither app nor receiver talk to the G6, instead they talk to the pod which talks to the activated G6 sensor. The pod communication with the sensor is passive; it doesn’t stop or start the sensor. If the pod could do either of those things it would be a major extra factor in safety. The question that remains is: > [@John58](#): > > But starting the G6 with the G6 receiver will work, and once the G6 is started the BG data can be read by the OM5 PDM with no phone app needed. But remember that not only the manual but also all the Insulet representatives say, consistently, that the **G6 receiver** cannot be used with the **O5 system**. Now I suspect you must be correct; the O5 is completely agnostic on the issue of how to start the G6, however if it is started from the receiver it is going to be necessary to free the receiver slot up before the pod can connect. That’s going to require a period of disconnection, the 2 hour warm up may be enough, but maybe whatever starts the sensor has to be there to finish the job after the 2 hours? Logically it should also be possible to do manual mode with the G6 receiver; that sounds like something you might have tried @John58. The problem is that if the pod ever gets to know the **transmitter** ID it’s going to sit there trying to grab the receiver slot from the G6 receiver. That’s a point you made before. Insulet are definitely against using the receiver even in manual mode: > [@Omnipod 5 and dexcom newbie help](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-and-dexcom-newbie-help/12993/18): > > No it is my understanding that in manual mode in Omnipod 5 you still cannot use the receiver. Unless anyone has gotten it to work then please let us know. My rep said it isn’t possible but I also have not tried it so I dont want to sound to final on it. I’m sure Insulet are simplifying, but given the convoluted and restricted setup the 2-slot G6 design has created I can see why they would want to simplify! Drawing in another point from that thread, and [your own post](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-and-dexcom-newbie-help/12993/24) in yet another thread, while the O5 receiver does get and make available the CGM data Insulet reps are saying this: > The rep at Omnipod said that the Omnipod controller doesn’t replace the receiver - it doesn’t give you glucose level alerts and you can’t start/stop a sensor with it. That’s from @Lethean’s [post](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-and-dexcom-newbie-help/12993/10) on the first thread. Apparently the O5 does give a 55mg/dL alert but it is said (same thread again) that it doesn’t give any other BG alerts and it doesn’t give lost signal alerts. This is somewhat strange; AndroidAPS in comparison gives lost BG reading alerts, lost pod connection alerts (I guess that’s really a lost phone alert; actually quite useful) and so on. ---
**Author:** ![bggale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@bggale](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bggale)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/10 "2022-10-03T23:10:14Z")
Does anyone know what the magic formula is to get the Omnipod PDM to charge on a different charger than the one it came with? I’ve tried plugging mine into several different USB-C chargers I have, ranging from 7.5w to 65w, and it only makes the charging tone/bong when I use the the one it came with. I also tried leaving it plugged into the 7.5w one for several hours, to see if it was actually charging, and it was not. Anyone else having this issue? ---
**Author:** ![Hammer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/hammer/32/7809_2.png) [@Hammer](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Hammer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/11 "2022-10-04T00:35:52Z")
I plugged mine into a number of different chargers without issue. I did change over to use the magnetic dongle thing though, causes a lot less stress on the USB port itself, and makes it easy to ‘plug in’. ---
**Author:** ![Cjwoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@Cjwoods](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Cjwoods)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/12 "2026-05-24T17:07:33Z")
Is anyone able to help me out can I borrow someone’s omnipod 5 details until I can sort mine out when I’m back home drone travelling? ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/13 "2026-05-24T23:33:10Z")
> [@Cjwoods](#): > > can I borrow someone’s omnipod 5 details You can but it will kill you. ---
**Author:** ![bggale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@bggale](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bggale)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/14 "2026-05-25T18:12:59Z")
Mystery solved. It turns out that the USB-C cord that comes with the Onmipod 5 has an unusually long end on it (the metal part that plugs into the controller). I didn’t notice because the difference in length is so small. I wanted to only carry a single USB-C charger on travel for all my devices, so now I know to take the one that came with my Omnipod. All my transformers work fine. ---
**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/15 "2026-05-26T14:15:24Z")
> [@bggale](#): > > so now I know to take the one that came with my Omnipod. You’re not actually stuck with using that one. > **[Omnipod 5 PDM charging explained](https://randomt1tips.wordpress.com/omnipod-5-pdm-charging-explained/)** > > There is a lot of confusion and many myths about how you can or can’t charge the Omnipod 5 PDM. No fairytales, unicorns, etc. here. Just the facts. The PDM itself isn’t a custom medical… ---
**Author:** ![bggale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@bggale](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bggale)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-5-pdm-controller/13033/16 "2026-05-26T17:47:53Z")
The problem is finding another USB-C cable that has the extra long end on it. I typically buy things like that at CrAmazon, so I can’t determine the length. Interesting that the article you cite doesn’t mention the connector length issue. Is mine the only controller with an extra deep USB-C socket? I have many USB-C cables, and none of the others will charge my controller. I’ve tried them all…