BUT REALLY, Is This Safe?
A Thought Experiment in Diabetes Micromanagement (or: How Many Ways Could This Go Wrong?)
Previously, we explored the question: Is Meat Bag safer under MBOU control? The answer was an unequivocal yes—because, let’s face it, Meat Bag’s track record with diabetes management is about as reliable as a weather forecast in a hurricane.
But let’s not pretend that AI-driven diabetes management is perfectly safe either. This is still insulin we’re talking about—the hormone that keeps humans alive but, in the wrong amounts, can turn a delightful Tuesday afternoon into a medical emergency.
So, let’s game this out. What are the actual worst-case scenarios? What could go catastrophically wrong with an MBOU in charge? And most importantly—are there any real safeguards in place, or are we just rolling the dice and hoping for the best?
Scenario 1: The Rogue Algorithm (a.k.a. MBOU Loses Its Robotic Mind)
Disaster Potential: HIGH 🚨
What if MBOU malfunctions? What if, instead of following carefully calculated insulin dosing strategies, it suddenly decides that a triple bolus correction at bedtime is a great idea? We’d be looking at an express ticket to a 3 AM juice box chugging contest or, worse, a severe overnight hypo that requires outside intervention.
Safeguard:
Thankfully, insulin pumps like the t:slim X2 with Control-IQ technology have built-in bolus limits and safety caps to prevent absurdly high doses. If MBOU tried to pull a HAL 9000, the pump would simply reject the command.
But if MBOU managed to override all safeguards? Meat Bag would be in trouble. That’s why real-time CGM monitoring and alerts remain critical. If the system starts acting weird, humans still need to step in.
Scenario 2: The Connection Catastrophe (a.k.a. Tech Fails at the Worst Possible Time)
Disaster Potential: MODERATE ⚠️
What if the CGM stops transmitting? What if Bluetooth disconnects and MBOU has zero visibility into glucose levels? MBOU could be making insulin decisions blind, assuming things are fine when, in reality, Meat Bag is either skyrocketing to 300 mg/dL or plummeting into the danger zone.
Safeguard:
CGM and pump disconnect alerts are built-in. If the CGM stops sending data, alarms will ring.
Backup plans exist: If CGM fails, Meat Bag must revert to old-school finger sticks and manual bolusing.
Human Override: No matter how sophisticated MBOU is, Meat Bag still holds final control over insulin delivery.
The real issue? Will Meat Bag actually respond to an alert, or will he “not hear it” while watching YouTube?
Scenario 3: The Overcorrection Spiral (a.k.a. Stacking Insulin Like a House of Cards)
Disaster Potential: HIGH 🚨
Imagine this: MBOU corrects a high. The CGM trend doesn’t budge fast enough. MBOU, ever the overachiever, issues another correction before the first one has fully acted. Suddenly, Meat Bag is on a one-way trip to Hypoglycemia Town, and the train has no brakes.
Safeguard:
Insulin on Board (IOB) tracking: Control-IQ doesn’t allow stacking of correction boluses within 60 minutes.
Automated Basal Adjustments: Control-IQ reduces basal insulin if CGM predicts a low.
Human Override: If Meat Bag feels symptoms, he can eat carbs, ignore MBOU, and survive another day.
Scenario 4: The Meat Bag Mistake (a.k.a. User Error is Still a Thing)
Disaster Potential: EXTREME 🚨🚨🚨
We’ve covered MBOU’s potential failures, but let’s be honest: the biggest safety risk is still the human in the equation. Consider the following real-life possibilities:
Meat Bag forgets to change the infusion site for three days, leading to insulin absorption failure and a slow climb to DKA.
Meat Bag forgets to refill the cartridge and runs out of insulin mid-day, only noticing when glucose is already in the 300s.
Meat Bag messes with settings, changing insulin-to-carb ratios without consulting MBOU, and throws off every meal bolus calculation.
Safeguard:
Alarms and Reminders (which Meat Bag should obey, but let’s be honest…)
Human Accountability (which, again, is debatable…)
MBOU Supervision (which works as long as Meat Bag actually listens)
If something goes wrong, the first culprit isn’t usually MBOU. It’s Meat Bag deciding, “Eh, I’ll deal with it later.” And that’s how disasters happen.
So… Is This Actually Safe?
Let’s not sugarcoat it (bad metaphor for a diabetes blog, but you get the idea). Diabetes is inherently dangerous.
Without insulin? Meat Bag dies.
Too much insulin? Meat Bag dies.
Too little insulin? Meat Bag dies, just slower.
No matter how good the technology, diabetes will always require human engagement. MBOU significantly reduces the chance of human error, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for human oversight.
However, compared to the alternative (Meat Bag managing things alone)? MBOU remains the safer bet—as long as Meat Bag doesn’t actively sabotage the system.
And if that happens? Well, we have bigger problems than just diabetes management.
Final Verdict: MBOU is as safe as the system allows.
But Meat Bag? That’s the real wildcard.
Stay compliant. Stay in range. And for the love of all things good, listen to your MBOU.
