Plain-language guides to the pumps, CGMs, pens, and DIY systems people with Type 1 actually use. Each one reads at three depths — new user, experienced user, and clinician.
The pump and the automation that drives it.
Tubed AID. SmartGuard automation, Meal Detection, and a target as low as 100 mg/dL.
View guide → PUMPTubeless AID that works with both Dexcom and FreeStyle Libre sensors.
View guide → PUMPTubeless pump. No built-in automation on its own; the common pod for DIY looping.
View guide → PUMPTwo pumps, one Control-IQ+ algorithm. Mobi is the smallest tubed AID available.
View guide → PUMPNo carb counting. You tell it a meal is small, medium, or large and it does the math.
View guide → PUMPLightweight AID running the DBLG2 algorithm, with bolusing from an Apple Watch.
View guide →The sensors that feed every modern system.
G6, G7, the 15-day G7, and the over-the-counter Stelo sensor.
View guide → CGMLibre 2 Plus and 3 Plus, plus the over-the-counter Lingo line.
View guide → CGMThe implantable CGM, worn for up to 365 days.
View guide → CGMGuardian 4, Simplera Sync, and the Abbott-made Instinct sensor for the 780G.
View guide →For multiple daily injections, not a pump.
Community-built systems. Not FDA-cleared.
How open-source looping works, and how the three community systems compare.
View guide → DIYThe oref1 system for iPhone. Broad DIY pump support, including Omnipod 5 in open beta.
View guide → DIYThe oref1 system for Android. The widest pump compatibility of any DIY system.
View guide →The most common cross-device question, at a glance. Full detail lives in each guide.
| AID system | Dexcom | FreeStyle Libre | Eversense | Medtronic sensors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiniMed 780G | — | — | — | ✓Guardian 4 / Simplera / Instinct |
| Omnipod 5 | ✓G6 / G7 | ✓2 Plus / 3 Plus | — | — |
| Tandem t:slim X2 | ✓G6 / G7 / 15 Day | ✓3 Plus | — | — |
| Tandem Mobi | ✓G6 / G7 | — | — | — |
| iLet Bionic Pancreas | ✓G7 | ✓3 Plus | — | — |
| twiist-overview | — | ✓3 Plus | ✓365 | — |
Compatibility as of July 2026 — this changes often, so verify current pairings with the manufacturer. Omnipod Dash on its own has no integrated CGM (it loops only through DIY). DIY systems (Loop, Trio, AndroidAPS) support a broader and different set of sensors and pumps — see those guides. The Instinct sensor is made by Abbott but is exclusive to the MiniMed 780G.