What to do When the Time Changes
Synching Pump Time to Loop Phone Time
For Loop users, the pump time should be in synch with the phone time so that you are getting the expected basal rate when you are disconnected from Loop. For Omnipod, there’s no choice but to set the time with the Loop app on the phone. For Medtronic, you should always use the Loop app to set the time on the pump. Do not adjust it on the pump itself.
For short trips you may choose to leave your basal rate on your “home” time zone.
Traveling across Time Zones or “Summer Time”
When you are traveling and change time zones, or when “summer time” starts or ends, you need to synch the pump to the phone time and this must be done using the Loop app.
With Loop version 3 and newer, there is an icon that tells you when your phone time zone and pump time zone do not agree. When you are ready to update your basal rates, override, carb ratio and insulin sensitivity schedules, go to your pump setting screen and touch the row to update pump time.
To synchronize time on pump to the Loop phone time zone when running version 2.2.x:
- Settings
- Omnipod or Medtronic
- Change Time Zone
- Tap on the Change Time Zone button:
- Medtronic pump: modifies the time on the pump to current time on the Loop phone
- Omnipod: loads your basal schedule onto the pod based on the current time on the Loop phone – make sure phone, radio-link and pod remain in close contact until this step completes
For most people, an hour difference in basal rates probably won’t make much difference. Some people have drastically different rates at certain times to account for exercise such as swimming, and that hour difference can be important. Some people travel and leave their pumps on the home time.