Well at this point I should add that I’m not saying this is safe. Just that I don’t consider spreading propanol on my skin on a regular basis safe either. At the start of COVID when docs were running out of cleaning agents there was some research for effective antiseptic agents and, IRC, they did test 70% ethanol (140° proof) and it did pretty well.
However I’m suggesting for cleaning; like something you might use on your bathroom toilet to get it really clean. For 'pods I just use the ethanol (ok, here’s the picture:
) most of the time. When I’m starting to see detachment as a result of what I’m doing I swap the next pod to alcohol for cleaning then skintac then the 'pod then, if it’s getting hot in the kitchen, an overpatch as well.
For the Dexcom G7 I always use full process; i.e. I do the alcohol clean then the skin tac then the overpatch (not Dexcom’s, which is not cool.) That’s because it needs to last 10 days and a lot does happen in 10 days.
The stuff is certainly not designed or intended to be drunk. The closest I ever got was 100° proof Scottish malt whisky. It wasn’t designed to be drunk either; it was the stuff that comes out of the still after the skanky methanol (which does kill) has been fractionated off. Normally in the production process this is diluted back down with peat water, producing the brown colouration and resulting in a liquor somewhere around 70°. I did drink it but in very small glasses and it was very very close to undrinkable. The bottle itself was mostly consumed with a per-person choice of the local water added, still completely colourless but much more like a reasonable Scottish malt.
I used to use spray 70% propanol, it worked but propanol takes longer to evaporate and when I’m changing a 'pod I’m in a hurry. I have anhydrous propanol (99.5% or so) these days but I avoid spraying that on my skin most days. I discovered that Oregon sells 95% ethanol from the local herbalist while discussing how to make plant extracts; it’s just a matter of asking (they have it under the counter) but it’s the only place for either of us to get it (this is Oregon…)
You know you ethanol/alcohol! Thanks for this pic. I will give this a try. I never considered that the B-D alcohol swabs could be unhealthy since they are used in hospitals but T1s do use them nearly daily esp with finger sticks!
I don’t think the swabs could ever be unhealthy. If they were some college student would have worked out how to buy 1000 on Amazon. It is most certainly what I do that is more likely to be unhealthy, there’s a long list here and on TuD.
As long as it isn’t taken internally isopropyl alcohol is not particularly dangerous. It’s possible to have an allergic reaction, but that’s true of ethyl alcohol. A person with a corn allergy could react if it’s made from corn, same with other grains.
Did you guys see the fda recently approved a new algorithm for the Omnipod 5? Allowing a more responsive automatic mode and lower target of 100 instead of 110 minimum. Hope it works better than the current. Supposed to hit the shelves in early 2026
I tried Insulet customer support and they (not surprisingly) are totally confused about this improved algorithm. I am amazed at how slow witted their help desk people are. When I quoted the article about FDA approval I was told “yes there is an update for this, Version 2.1.6.” However they told me my software (Version 2.1.0) is current, verified that Apple app store only has 2.1.0 and they could not tell me how to get this update…
Edit: It took about 30 minutes of back and forth nonsense to obtain this answer: “I wish to inform you that we do not have a predetermined time frame for the release of this feature.”
The loop algorithm is in the pod. The target maybe requires a software update on the PDM or the 'phone app. Could be confusing in that the channels will be delivering two different versions of the 'pod so I guess there may be a “switch on” requirement in the PDM/app.
For future readers the announcement was made Dec 2025, not Dec 2026:
Well I just ordered another 90 days worth of pods without the updated algorithm. The company is being just as tight lipped about the release date for this as they were when Omnipod 5 was first released. I guess they feel like their customers (“Patients”) have unlimited patience. My plan is to give Om 5 auto mode a decent second trial over Feb- March before deciding whether to switch to another pump such as sequel Twiist. It would be great if Insulet would publicize a release date for the improved algorithm.
I don’t think their changes will be large enough to make significant changes with regard to overall control. I can change my target between 100 and 120mg/dL without any noticeable change in control (as would be expected) and I can change correction rate (maximum amount of super-micro-bolus, maximum “basal”, for example) and get noticeable results but they’re not spectacular and neither extreme (before or after) would persuade me to turn the loop off.
My endo told me recently that his experience with iLet (across multiple diabetics) was that it was possibly too aggressive, but he’s very concerned about lows. iLet is certainly an alternative that I am still considering (despite the advice) - I can get a 90 day trial because I’m on Medicare (apparently).
I can’t get twiist on Medicare (they haven’t done the required footwork) but it does run the Tidepool variant of Loop. My impression is that they might have tied it down but there is a lot of Loop experience, particularly the Tidepool variant, here. I’d say it’s a good thing to test because, like the O5, it doesn’t have a tie-in so you can swap to and then swap back (with endo consent.)
I certainly wouldn’t expect, “The first half of 2026” to happen anytime before July 1
What works for one diabetic is guaranteed not to work for the next. The only thing that I can think of which sort of works consistently is insulin, and even that sucks.
