So on Wednesday the sixth of July, I began utilizing the Tandem T:Slim pump with Management IQ, and general, I’m very impressed with it; nevertheless, there’s room for enchancment from Tandem, extra on that later. First, I’m pausing to replicate on how altering diabetes units has affected me over time.
Altering diabetes units
Altering diabetes units was once troublesome for me; I used my first glucose meter for six years. Yep, the very same one for six years. AND, Not realising that I needed to change the lancet within the finger pricker 😱Altering to a special meter the primary time was painful paperwork, however fortunately, that had modified.
Now, I am extra open to new units and replicate on the enhancements every system has delivered to my high quality of life. I keep in mind the primary time I took insulin by means of my first pump. There was no stabbing, no striptease to show tummy flesh, simply press some buttons and voila! Eight years later, I keep in mind the primary time I took insulin utilizing an App on my cellphone – no rooting round in my pocket for my pump, no unclipping or clipping it from my waistband – Woah!
Again to New Pump Chapter
However again to my outdated pump versus new pump story. Utilizing DIYAPS Loop, my time in vary was often between 70%-85% with out a lot effort from me. Nonetheless, there often isn’t lots of variation in my day-to-day routine, and when there’s a variation, I fail miserably at carb counting. Train was additionally a serious, MAJOR subject for me too, even with DIYAPS.
I felt that shifting to a brand new pump with much less management over the parameters would imply that my HbA1c would enhance and my time in vary would lower; nevertheless, that has not been the case. Sure, my estimated HbA1c has elevated barely, however my Time in Vary has elevated, not decreased. My time in vary is a formidable 79%, with 0% time in low or very low vary, inside this era of full upheaval, and all I can say is I’m very grateful to this know-how for caring for me once I wasn’t in a way of thinking to do it myself.
In regards to the Pump
There are fairly a couple of issues I like about Tandem, however there are a few issues which are very annoying concerning the pump, and there are issues I miss about DIYAPS, so, taking inspiration from the format Pumps and Pricks overview of A 12 months of Medtronic 780g, I shall record them off.
Notice 2: I’m pretty sure that these outcomes could possibly be achieved with the Medtronic 780g and the YpsoPump Loop (when it will get authorised right here).
What I like about Tandem T:Slim Management IQ
No software program self-building/updates upkeep
Solely those that are utilizing DIYAPS will perceive this one. The outcomes are wonderful with LOOP, however I might nonetheless have lots of highs, particularly once I didn’t replace the programme recurrently. So I don’t miss this in any respect.
The Dimension
It’s fairly small, however I don’t assume it’s as small because the YpsoPump although.
No extra batteries
I like that I don’t should have AAA lithium batteries anymore and might cost my pump utilizing a USB cable whereas I’m within the bathe or sitting at my desk. And it doesn’t require suspending insulin supply to take action.
The Assessment Software program
Tandem’s t:join software program doesn’t appear to be obtainable but in Eire or the U.Ok. in order that’s an enormous pity and likewise a priority because the distant bolus function was launched in July within the US. My diabetes group set me up with Glooko as a method to overview charts. Tandem uploads to Glooko and Dexcom can hook up with the Glooko App by way of Bluetooth. I can even enter meals, train, observe and different particulars by means of the Glooko App.
What I dislike about Tandem T:Slim Management IQ
The cartridge change was finicky to start with and nonetheless nerve-wracking
I utterly tousled my first set change and needed to do one other one the subsequent day once I figured this needed to be the issue. I discover it troublesome not seeing the insulin refill the cartridge. I do know that a part of why the cartridges are designed the best way they’re makes the pump measurement smaller however filling the cartridges is fiddly at first. I’m used to it now however not complacent.
Almost about the Tandem insets, I discover them nice. They’re the identical as I used earlier than with my Animas pump and similar to the Medtronic Mio Advance. I actually didn’t like Medtronic’s reusable inserter in any respect once I used it. I discovered I ended up with much more web site occlusion with it.
The Assessment Software program
This one is a part of my Like’s record too, the reason is that the pump should be linked to my laptop computer to add to Glooko and doesn’t sync by way of Bluetooth. So I haven’t been utilizing it in any respect, which suggests this may most likely not be executed till my clinic appointment is imminent:-S
The pump display screen retains 24 hours of glucose developments, identical to the Dexcom App so I nonetheless use the Dexcom Readability App to overview glucose ranges past that time-frame once I’m curious to overview or to see time in vary.