Insulin does not always work the same way from day to day. Site issues, timing, temperature, hormones, illness, and stress can all change how effective a dose is, which can make it hard to know what to adjust first.

This week on Optimizing Diabetes Tech (ODT), we dig into insulin efficacy and why the “same” dose can behave so differently depending on what is happening in your body and environment. We talk about how storage and temperature affect insulin, how to spot when your insulin might be losing potency, and what to watch for with illness, steroids, and stress. We cover site rotation, scar tissue, and how to tell if unexplained highs are more likely a site problem, spoiled insulin, or something else.

ODT is our recurring series focused on using diabetes technology more effectively. Each episode, I am joined by CDCES Gary Scheiner, the Founder of Integrated Diabetes Services, where we dive deep into practical topics and answer listener questions.

On the next ODT, we’re covering meal time bolusing, including timing strategies, correction dosing, extended boluses, and how to use your data to fine tune post meal control. You can send in your questions here.

If you are looking to upgrade your diabetes treatment, I highly recommend the team at Integrated Diabetes Services, where Gary and his team provide personalized diabetes coaching, insulin pump setup and optimization, and CGM and open source AID training. I have worked with them myself on optimizing settings on Loop. Let them know we sent you!

For now, you can watch this week’s episode with the video below or listen with the podcast player above.

Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a physician before making changes to your healthcare.