Kaleido Insulin Pump: Colorful, Compact, and Full of Features

A colorful hybrid closed-loop insulin pump powered by an ultra-customizable algorithm.

Author

Justin Eastzer
October 22, 2024

I had the opportunity to attend the EASD Conference where I finally got my hands on the hybrid closed-loop Kaleido insulin pump! Kaleido is not just practical but stylish, coming in a range of 10 different color sets—offering users the chance to express themselves with fun, vibrant choices.

Kaleido users get two reusable pumps and choose from 10 color set options (source: ViCentra).

This pump is currently available in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Its small, sleek design is about the size of an AirPods Pro case. You can attach it directly to your body with a Velcro-like patch. There are two tubing options: a short 2-inch tube or a longer 12-inch option if you prefer carrying it in your pocket.

Kaleido’s a short two inch tube and infusion set adheres beside the pump

Kaleido’s a short two inch tube and infusion set adheres beside the pump (source: ViCentra).

The DBG1 algorithm is packed with features

Kaleido isn’t just about looks though—the real magic lies in its Diabeloop DBLG1 algorithm, which offers features like: 

Rescue Carb Recommendations

These alerts give you a suggested amount of carbs to ingest to treat a low blood sugar and help remove the guesswork. The determined amount is calculated based on a few inputs: your weight, your pre-determined hypoglycemia threshold, your current glucose and predicted glucose.

Zen Mode

This mode allows you to temporarily raise glucose targets to avoid hypoglycemia and alerts. Although you can adjust this target, the default is a rise of 20 mg/dL. The duration is also adjustable, but defaulted at 3 hours. This is designed for events where you don’t want frequent alerts like during a movie.

Meal Time Customizations

Users can schedule future meals and will be alerted 6 minutes before the scheduled meal to take action. Users can also pre-set carb amounts for small, average or large meals and log high fat meals to adjust for delayed hyperglycemia.

Exercise Customizations

These customizations allow for scheduling activity ahead of time. By default, the system suggests starting the activity in 1 hour, so that your system can adjust. Users can also select between various workout intensities between low, moderate and intense and the system will adjust treatment accordingly.

Personal Customizations 

With the Kaleido, not only can users set personal glycemic targets, but they can also set personal glucose thresholds and treatment values for hypo and hyperglycemia. These targets can range from 59 mg/dL (3.3 mmol) - 84 mg/dL (4.7 mmol) for hypoglycemia and 169 mg/dL (9.4 mmol) - 219 mg/dL (12.2 mmol) for hyperglycemia.

Getting started on Kaleido only requires four inputs: weight, total daily insulin, meal time ratios and safety basal rate (the default basal rate that will be delivered in case of an error). With this information, the algorithm is able to calculate your basal rate, correction boluses and meal boluses. The pump constantly makes real-time adjustments by increasing, decreasing or suspending basal rate according to CGM values.

The Diabeloop DBLG1 algorithm connects to the Dexcom G6 CGM and Kaleido (source: Diabeloop).

Check out the below video with Nina Joachim on the top 5 reasons why she loves her Kaleido pump. She’ll be on the podcast soon to share her experience using Kaleido–if you’ve got questions, send them in on Patreon.

@diabe_tech

Kaleido connects to a cgm for automated insulin. Here are the top 5 reasons Nina got Kaleido! #t1d #diabetes #insulinpump

Currently, Kaleido is only approved for people 18 and older, but the company plans to expand that to children as young as six next year. Diabeloop says a new version of the algorithm, DBLG2, is in the works, moving closer to a fully closed-loop system by eliminating the need to log meals—a feature I’m super excited to see. 

Kaleido is just the beginning of the tech innovations coming in the near future. To hear more about the Kaleido and the other innovations I saw at the EASD conference, check out my full recap video below or listen to it on your preferred podcast platform here.

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