One Year with Omnipod 5: What a Long-Term Study Shows About Automated Insulin Delivery

Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems are designed to take some of the constant work out of managing Type 1 diabetes by automatically adjusting insulin doses based on real-time glucose readings. The Omnipod 5 is one such system, and early studies have shown it works well in the short term. But real life doesn't stop after three months—so researchers wanted to know whether the benefits and safety hold up over a longer period.

A new study published in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism followed adults in France who used Omnipod 5 for an additional 12 months after completing a shorter trial. Some had used it from the start; others switched to it from their previous pump therapy. The results offer a more complete picture of what extended use looks like.

Comparing participants' results from the beginning of the original trial all the way through the 12-month extension, researchers saw sustained improvements in blood sugar metrics.

Time in range—the percentage of time blood sugar stayed between 70 and 180 mg/dL—increased by 17.9%. That's a meaningful shift toward the recommended target zone. Average glucose levels also fell noticeably, by 27.8 mg/dL on average. HbA1c, which reflects average blood sugar over roughly three months, dropped from 8.33% to 7.18%.

Notably, these improvements held steady regardless of whether someone had been using Omnipod 5 throughout the study or had just switched to it from standard therapy during the extension phase. This suggests the system works well both as a starting point and as an upgrade.

Better blood sugar control is important, but how people *feel* about their management matters just as much. The study measured quality of life and confidence in managing low blood sugar episodes. At both the six-month and 12-month marks, these scores stayed the same or improved compared to where people started.

This suggests that using an automated system for a full year didn't create new stress or reduce people's sense of control—rather, it sustained or enhanced their overall experience with diabetes management.

Safety was another key concern. Over the year of follow-up, serious adverse events were uncommon, occurring at a rate of 12 per 100 person-years. This means that even accounting for the time each person spent in the study, the overall frequency of significant problems was low.

These findings support what earlier, shorter trials had shown: Omnipod 5 appears to be both effective and safe when used over an extended period.

This 12-month extension study strengthens the evidence that Omnipod 5 can help adults achieve and maintain better blood sugar control without compromising safety or wellbeing. For people considering an automated insulin delivery system—or those already using one and wondering whether the benefits will last—these results offer real-world reassurance that the improvements seen in early trials do persist.

If you're thinking about whether automated delivery might be right for you, these findings are worth discussing with your healthcare team. Individual results vary, and your diabetes care provider can help determine whether this type of system fits your specific needs and circumstances.

Source: Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.