The Omnipod 5 hybrid closed loop system has received approval to integrate with the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor in the UK, which will give people living with diabetes additional choice and flexibility for managing their blood sugar levels.
We welcome this announcement from Insulet, the manufacturers of Omnipod 5, and look forward to learning more about when people living with diabetes will be able to benefit from this.
What is Omnipod 5?
Omnipod 5 is the first and only tubeless hybrid closed loop system that is approved for CE marking and integrated with two continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor brands, Abbott FreeStyle Libre and Dexcom. Omnipod 5 is approved for people living with type 1 diabetes aged two years and older in the UK.
Omnipod 5 is made by Insulet, who are working with the NHS to ensure access for people living with type 1 diabetes, who are eligible for the device, in line with recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraisal of hybrid closed loop.
Omnipod 5 currently connects with the Dexcom G6 CGM, and this new announcement means that it will also be able to connect to the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor.
When can I use Omnipod 5 with the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor?
We are waiting for more details on when people living with diabetes will be able to integrate Omnipod 5 with the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor.
Insulet has received CE Mark approval to connect the Omnipod 5 with the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor. The CE Mark is recognised in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
In the UK, Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 is available for people living with diabetes, which can also work as CGM. However, the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor is not yet available in the UK.
Abbott plans to share more information on the new features of the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor and timelines for the UK launch in the coming months.
How does Omnipod 5 work?
Omnipod 5 is a tubeless hybrid closed loop system that delivers insulin doses automatically.
As this is a patch pump system, the waterproof pod delivering the insulin sits directly on the skin, which Insulet says some users prefer because of fewer pieces of hardware required and lower risk of tubes getting caught or blocked.
The system features an integrated algorithm, known as ‘SmartAdjust’ technology, which receives glucose values and trends every five minutes.
Omnipod 5 can then predict what a person’s sugar levels will be 60 minutes later, and it automatically adjusts insulin doses or pauses insulin delivery based on a person’s blood sugar targets.
Insulet says this simplifies diabetes management by making insulin dosing decisions for a user, so they don’t have to.
The system also comes with an activity feature which can be enabled to reduce insulin delivery during exercise.
How do I access Omnipod 5?
Omnipod 5 was made available in the US in 2022, and in 2023 it became available for people living with type 1 diabetes aged two years or older in the UK.
In December 2023 NICE released final appraisal recommendations in England and Wales which means that over 100,000 people with type 1 diabetes could be offered hybrid closed loop technology as an option to help manage their condition over a planned five-year implementation period.
Omnipod 5 is available on the NHS for those eligible and you can check with your local diabetes team to see if the device will be available for you.
The Dexcom G6 CGM meanwhile is available on the NHS for those eligible or it can be self-funded, separately from Omnipod 5.
