Tandem's Control-IQ has been exciting news for the diabetes community! But what is it like to live with the new technology? On diaTribe Learn, Kerri Spalding recently shared her experience with getting started and living with the t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ. I really think this is worth a read. She talks about the transition of upgrading to Control-IQ on her existing pump, how she has utilized the new system, and how the Control-IQ changed and improved her diabetes management. And overall, how it made life a little easier and lighter.
Big News: Healthy Living Now Providing Control-IQ
Have you heard? The Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology is now available through Healthy Living Medical Supply! This advanced hybrid-closed loop system is designed to help increase time in range (70-180 mg/dL) and is the first system cleared to deliver automatic correction boluses in addition to adjusting insulin to help prevent high and low blood sugar. This is awesome news! The t:slim X2 with Control-IQ is integrated with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) which requires no fingersticks for calibration or diabetes treatment decisions.
To get a feel for the new experience, try out Tandem’s free t:simulator App. It lets visitors experience the touchscreen interface of the t:slim X2 pump with Control-IQ technology directly on a mobile device.
All in-warranty t:slim X2 pumpers in the United States have the opportunity to update their software at no cost to begin using Control-IQ. Information about the requirements and update process is available at www.tandemdiabetes.com/X2update.
Benefits of Control-IQ Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop Technology:
Predicts and helps prevent lows and highs – Control-IQ technology uses CGM readings to predict glucose values 30 minutes ahead and can increase, decrease or stop basal insulin delivery to help keep glucose in range (70-180 mg/dL).
Automatic Correction Boluses – If glucose values are predicted to be above 180 mg/dL, Control-IQ technology calculates a correction bolus with a target of 110 mg/dL and delivers 60 percent of that value. It will do this up to once an hour as needed.
Accommodates for sleep and exercise – Control-IQ technology offers optional settings for sleep and exercise that change the treatment values to better match the different physiologic needs during these activities.
No fingersticks – With Dexcom G6 CGM integration, the Control-IQ feature works with no fingersticks required for mealtime dosing or calibration. Other benefits of the Dexcom G6 CGM include an extended 10-day wear, acetaminophen blocking, and the ability to share real-time CGM data with up to 10 followers.
Easy to use – The system has no complicated criteria to keep Control-IQ technology on. If the CGM signal is temporarily lost, the Control-IQ feature will resume automatically when the CGM is back in range. In the pivotal study, participants gave Control-IQ technology a 4.7 out of 5.0 for ease of use, and a 4.8 out of 5.0 for desire to continue use of the system.
Innovative, Flexible Pump to Deliver Multiple Meds
A new insulin pump concept has appeared on the horizon that has potential to revolutionize the pump experience for people with diabetes, and others. The Evopump is a bandage-like device that can deliver more than one medication subcutaneously to a broad range of people. The Evopump's breakthrough design is soft, thin, and flexible, with precision and therapeutic flexibility.
The Evopump is under development by Boston-area medical device startup Cam Med. Founded in 2014, the company specializes in microfluidic-based drug delivery, and won an innovation award from the T1D Exchange in 2017 and then partnered with JDRF a year later to create this future multi-reservoir flexible patch pump. The Evopump is an electrochemical actuator with no mechanical parts, offering a highly precise flow rate. The company envisions that the Evopump will be used as part of closed loop systems, working with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).
"With the Evopump’s low profile, flexible form factor and the ability to deliver more than one medication, we are poised to not evolve the on-body insulin delivery market, but to revolutionize that market," says Cam Med's Chief Commercial Officer Richard Spector, who lives with type 1 diabetes and formerly worked at Insulet (creators of the Omnipod tubeless pump). "We are thinking very much outside the box with the Evopump technology -- all the while keeping the user experience as the foundation of our efforts."
Learn more here:
DiabetesWise Offers Unbiased Resource to Help Patients Find Right Diabetes Tech
This is an amazing resource to check out -- DiabetesWise. On this site, you'll find unbiased comparisons to help people with diabetes find the right devices for their lives and their needs. DiabetesWise could become your new hub for navigating the wide range of diabetes devices and technology available today.
On DiabetesWise, you can start with their "Checkup" - a quiz that will help you personalize how you can make your diabetes device routine easier and more effective. Then you can enter the "Wisdom" section where you can filter by your priorities and concerns, then learn about how other people with diabetes have made their choices. Look at their profiles and stories, and learn from their experiences to find what is right for you. This is a great way to gather real-world wisdom.
Next, learn about different device combos, be it sensor and pump, meter and pump, sensor and injections, sensor and smart pump, or meter and injections - and how they may fit in your life. Beyond this, there are guides galore and more specific information for people coming from different backgrounds of using (or not using) devices of different types.
This looks to us like a great site to visit and explore. Find out more about it in the Diabetes Mine article, DiabetesWise: New Hub Helps Match Patients with the Right Diabetes Technology. The article covers the history and creation of the site, as well as a deeper dive into the opportunities DiabetesWise offers.
dTech Companies Expand Global Reach
Dexcom and Medtronic both shared exciting news last week! Medtronic announced that they have obtained reimbursement in Germany for the MiniMed 670G Insulin Pump System for patients with type 1 diabetes. Learn more.
Dexcom announced last week that they are now accepting orders for the Dexcom G6 CGM System for people with diabetes ages two years and up in Canada. “We are thrilled to offer the Dexcom G6 CGM system to Canadians and are proud of this innovative technology that enables more effective diabetes management,” said Laura Endres, vice president, and general manager, Dexcom Canada, Inc. Learn more.
In the News: For Many Diabetes Patients, Skin Patches and Phones Are Replacing Finger Pricks
The Wall Street Journal recently featured a story that explains why and how more U.S. diabetes patients are using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to track their blood sugar. Almost 840,000 patients in the U.S. used the devices as of March 31, more than double the 389,000 using them at the end of 2017, according to Seagrove Partners LLC, a health-care research and consulting firm. The Journal's article has a great diagram showing how CGM works and talks about the importance of this technology to improve quality of life for many people with diabetes.
Medtronic’s Next-Gen Hybrid Closed Loop System
Medtronic's next-gen hybrid closed loop system will be the Minimed 780G, designed to help patients enjoy greater freedom and less burdens. Currently, the 780G is being studied in an in-home trial with 350 adult and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes participating, using the device over a three-month period. The in-home study is estimated to be completed in January of 2020, with the results presented in July, 2020.
What should you expect from the new Medtronic system?
New vertical "modern" look
Automatic correction bolusing
A new algorithm, that according to Medtronic is more accurate and reliable
A function to automatically adjust for missed meals
Adjustable target range, down to 100 mg/dL
Option for remote software updates
Bluetooth connectivity
Stay tuned for a launch date and other news on the Minimed 780G!
Noteworthy Positive Trial Results for Tandem's Closed Loop System
The diabetes community is excited about positive results from two Tandem studies that were announced earlier this week. Data from the studies has demonstrated that Tandem's advanced hybrid closed-loop system has achieved the primary outcome of increasing time in range (70-180 mg/dL) without any severe hypoglycemic events for both adult and pediatric age groups.
Tandem's t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology utilizes Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor values to predict glucose levels and adjust insulin delivery to prevent highs and lows, while still allowing the user to manually bolus for meals. The system also automates correction boluses, a feature not commercially available today on automated insulin delivery devices.
Read the entire press release for many more details on the studies and outcomes. This news supports Tandem as the company moves toward a future FDA approval on their closed loop system, expected later this year.
In the News: The Omnipod DASH Now Available in the U.S.
Insulet's Omnipod DASH is now officially available in the United States. The Omnipod DASH™ System combines a tubeless, waterproof, wearable Pod that provides up to 72 hours of non-stop insulin with an easy-to-use, touch-screen, Bluetooth®-enabled Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) that looks like a normal smartphone. The Pod can be worn anywhere you would administer an injection. Placement is easy, completed with the touch of a button and without even seeing a needle. The DASH system is available with limited release right now, and Healthy Living anticipates providing the system at the end of this year or early in 2020.
There are two components to the DASH system.
The Pod:
The Pod is a small, waterproof device that you fill with insulin and wear directly on your body.
The Pod includes a small, flexible cannula that inserts automatically with the push of a button.
The Pod communicates wirelessly with the Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) to program insulin delivery.
The Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM):
Multiple PDM features support how you control your insulin.
The system includes two mobile apps and accompanying widgets.
Compatibility with other systems simplifies the tracking and recording of data.
Beyond Type 1 addresses the updates in the Omnipod DASH system:
What’s New in the DASH™ System?
Updated PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager) – The handheld portion of the Omnipod Insulin Management System got an update and will feature a color touchscreen display.
Bluetooth wireless technology – DASH™ PDM and Pod will communicate via Bluetooth, laying the groundwork for current and future integrations with compatible technology – like meters, CGM, and management apps.
Meter integration – DASH™ will be optimized for use with CONTOUR® NEXT ONE Blood Glucose Meter for the transfer of blood glucose readings to the PDM’s bolus calculator via Bluetooth – The PDM will no longer have a built-in BGM.
Diabetes management app integrations – The Omnipod Display and Omnipod View apps will provide users and their caregivers easy access to their insulin therapy information on their smartphones.
Omnipod DISPLAY allows users to discreetly monitor their PDM data on their smartphones.
Omnipod DISPLAY on a smartphone will include a “Find My PDM” feature.
Omnipod VIEW allows parents and caregivers to monitor their loved ones’ diabetes more easily.
The iOS Today View widget allows users and their care teams to see their or their loved ones’ PDM and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data on one smartphone screen with one swipe.
New Pods – The DASH™ pods will look and work the same, but have been updated for Bluetooth compatibility with the DASH™ PDM. Old pods will not work with the new PDM.
Rechargeable Battery – The DASH™ PDM will require recharging of its lithium ion battery, replacing the AAA batteries used in current Omnipod PDMs.
Payment Structure – The DASH™ PDM will be offered at no cost with the purchase of Pods.
Give These Insulin Pump Simulator Apps a Shot
Researching your pump options? Here are some helpful tools from Tandem and Medtronic to help you understand the benefits of different insulin pumps on the market.
t:simulator App from Tandem
With the App, you can experience the touchscreen interface of the Tandem t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Basal-IQ Technology using a smartphone or tablet. You can also enable "Tool Tips" for a tour of the pump's key features. The App provides info about the pump's technical specifications and access to a glossary of common terms for better understanding.
Download the t:simulator App at the bottom of this page.
MiniMed 670G System Simulator from Medtronic
This application provides step-by-step instructions on the different features of the 670G and 630G insulin pumps. There are training resources for both systems and the capability to explore the insulin pump through different functionality scenarios. You will find device feature videos that give more info about the Auto Mode and Suspend Before Low features.
Download the MiniMed System Simulator through Google Play or on the Apple App Store.
Why the Tandem t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Dexcom CGM Is an Excellent Choice for Medicare Members
Many more choices for insulin pumps and CGM are becoming available to Medicare members as diabetes technologies continue to progress. And even more exciting, many companies are starting to work together more closely to integrate their separate insulin pump and CGM systems to create even greater advancements. In today's post, we want to point out the benefits of combining the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump with Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for better diabetes management.
The t:slim X2 pump can be upgraded when new technologies and features become available.
For example, Medicare members who qualify can currently access the Dexcom G5 CGM system, and we anticipate the more advanced Dexcom G6 system will be available to Medicare members on April 1st. If a patient is currently using the t:slim pump with a G5 system and upgrades to using the G6 system, all the patient will need to do is update his or her t:slim X2 pump with the latest software OR if they already have the t:slim pump with Basal IQ, they can integrate their Dexcom G6 after viewing a brief online training video. This ability to upgrade the insulin pump's software is unique to Tandem systems.
Medicare members are eligible for a new pump every five years, and in that time span there can be many advancements in diabetes technologies that can potentially leave a user behind on newer, beneficial improvements.
As we mentioned, with the Tandem t:slim pump, a Medicare member can easily update the pump to keep it current with the latest technology. This will soon prove a great benefit as we anticipate Tandem to release their "Control iQ" feature within the year. This will allow the pump, when paired with the Dexcom G6 system, to autonomously deliver more insulin when blood glucose levels are high.
The Tandem t:slim is an easy-to-read, color touchscreen pump - and it is super easy to use.
Want to try it out for yourself? Tandem offers a free simulator app for Medicare members to install on iPhone or Android devices right now. This simulator app provides users with the opportunity to test the experience of using the pump along with the Dexcom G6 system before deciding to make the purchase.
Learn more about the Dexcom G6 CGM system here.
Tandem's t:slim X2 the First Interoperable Insulin Pump
The Tandem t:slim X2 has been approved by the U.S. FDA as an "interoperable" insulin pump. An interoperable pump can be used with different components that make up diabetes therapy systems, allowing patients to tailor their diabetes management to their individual device preferences, which opens up huge future possibilities for closed-loop systems and other management technologies. In 2018, the Dexcom G6 was designated the first interoperable continuous glucose monitor by the FDA.
Read the full press release from the FDA here.
The Future of Tandem
In November, Diatribe wrote a fantastic article about what's on the horizon for Tandem, including the Control-IQ hybrid closed loop, the "interoperable" pump designation, the t:connect mobile app, and the t:sport patch pump with hybrid wear.
Prepared & Ready to Provide Testing Supplies to Medicare Members in 2019
The New Year is right around the corner, and we think this is the perfect time to let you know that when January 1, 2019 rolls around, we will be able to provide test strips and related diabetes supplies to Medicare members. You may already be getting your insulin pump supplies or CGM supplies from us, or maybe you are just meeting Healthy Living. Whatever your background, we hope that you will consider us for your diabetes testing supply needs!
Healthy Living currently provides insulin pumps, pump supplies, and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and supplies to Medicare members throughout the United States. If customers are already enrolled with us for pump or CGM supplies, it is easy for us to add testing supplies to existing 90-day orders...and new patients can easily enroll using our enrollment form.
Healthy Living Medical Supply specializes in diabetes, with a compassionate, experienced, and understanding customer care team. We are here and ready to help at 866.779.8512 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).
Great Websites for People Looking for New Insulin Pumps
Thinking about a new pump? These websites have discussion forums where people share their experience using different insulin pumps, CGM systems, and other diabetes supplies. They are excellent independent resources to use when making a decision on what products to use, and they are also a great way to connect with other parents and people with diabetes to share experiences, resources, and support.
What a Partnership! Basal-IQ Technology, Tandem's t:slim X2 Pump, and Dexcom G6 CGM
This sounds stupidly easy. But it’s so effective. And looking at my pump, I can see how many times it kicks Basal IQ into action so I can continue to exercise, or snuggle my kid, or drive my car, or sleep. You know, basic stuff that humans do. – Kerri, six until me
Tandem Basal-IQ Technology is wowing all around. Available as part of the t:slim X2 Insulin Pump and integrated with the new Dexcom G6 CGM, Basal-IQ Technology predicts and helps prevent lows, suspending insulin delivery before they happen. Expect less time low: there was a 31% relative reduction overall in sensor time below 70 mg/dL when clinical study participants used Basal-IQ Technology. Zero fingersticks are required for mealtime dosing or calibration when using Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring.
The X2 pump is discreet and easy to use. It features a large, color touchscreen interface for carb counting, bolusing, and viewing blood glucose trends – and it’s the smallest available pump. The Tandem t:slim X2 also offers upgradeable software, so when new features become available, the pump can be updated using a personal computer. You can also share blood glucose information with family members and other key members of the support team via Dexcom share app.
Check out the Tandem video or try out the system via the simulator app. Contact the Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team to find out more about getting started at 866.779.8512, Option 2 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).
Before Deductibles Are Reset, Start on an Insulin Pump or CGM System
It's an excellent time time of year to go on an insulin pump, upgrade an out-of-warranty pump, or start using CGM...or at least investigate your options! For many people on commercial health insurance plans, deductibles are satisfied and reset on January 1st of the new year. Reach out to the Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team for a no-cost insurance verification to find out more about your coverage and costs. Reach us at 866.779.8512, Option 2 (phone), 248.577.9903 (text), or via chat at myhlms.com.
To find out more about the benefits of these technologies and the products that we offer, visit:
Medtronic Founder Earl Bakken Turned a Tiny Repair Shop Into a Giant of Medical Technology from WSJ
I just learned about what a fascinating and inspiring man Earl Bakken was. He co-founded Medtronic in 1949 with the unassuming goal of repairing medical equipment. But in the mid-50s, a heart surgeon in Minneapolis asked Bakken to create a pacemaker that didn’t need to be plugged in, and a few weeks later, he had invented a wearable pacemaker powered by a battery. Mr. Bakken was an inventor from an early age, and his worked sustained him late into his life. Bakken died on October 21 at the age of 94, and back in 2010 he was using his second pacemaker and third or fourth insulin pump!
Please take a moment to read the lovely Wall Street Journal article that commemorates Bakken’s life. I found this part especially interesting:
He worried that children no longer take gadgets apart. Even engineers “never get the sense of the actual object they’re designing on a screen,” he wrote. “They make faulty assumptions because they have never taken the real thing apart and put it back together again. They’ve never jiggled it in their hand, never gotten a feel for its density and heft, never lifted it to their nose and smelled it. What a pity for them—and maybe for the rest of us as well.”
We are thankful today to Medtronic Diabetes for providing insulin pump and CGM technology to many of our patients. Just like their founder, they are in the business of changing lives.
The Easiest Way to Stay on Top of Your Diabetes from BCBS
We came across a noteworthy blog on from Blue Cross Blue Shield about successfully managing diabetes – with regular monitoring and careful planning. It’s definitely worth a read! The article encourages two main action steps:
Become a Master at Monitoring – including diet, exercise, blood sugar levels, and medicine
Make Sure to Get Regular Check-Ups – including a wellness check-up every 3-6 months, making sure shots are current, and staying on top of appropriate testing
Healthy Living accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan insurance (as well as many others) for insulin pumps, CGM, and diabetes testing supplies. We’re here to help when you need us at 866.779.8512 (phone), 248.577.9903 (text), and via chat at myhlms.com.
Research Underway to Create a Cannula with Lower Risk of Infection & Inflammation
A professor at the University of Central Florida, Elizabeth Brisbois, is working to develop a cannula that can be left in place for as long as 30 days while effectively delivering insulin into the body. Cannulas are small tubes that are inserted beneath the skin to deliver insulin into the body as part of an insulin pump system. The cannula can either be part of the infusion set or attached to the actual insulin pump. Normally, over time, the body’s immune system attacks the cannula, with cells creating a film around the cannula that begins to inhibit proper insulin delivery. That is why infusion sets normally need to be changed every two to three days to reduce the risk of infection.
Brisbois’ goal is to create cannulas that have a lower risk of infection and inflammation, with reduced pain and inconvenience for patients. She and her team are developing cannulas that release nitric oxide, a molecule that can kill bacteria. Nitric oxide is also produced in the body to fight off germs and has an important role in wound healing.
This advance could significantly increase quality of life for people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Brisbois and her team are funded by a recent grant from the JDRF and are collaborating with researchers at the University of Georgia. Learn more about the cannula research here.
Grunberger Patient Appreciation Day a Great Success
Despite the weather (pouring rain all day!), the Grunberger Diabetes Institute’s Patient Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 25 had an awesome turnout! Over 100 patients attended the event outside Dr. Grunberger’s office -- a fun, educational opportunity to understand what resources are available for diabetes care. Jennifer from Healthy Living Medical Supply attended the event, along with many of our manufacturer partners representing CGM and insulin pump solutions. The Grunberger Diabetes Institute also served food and sponsored a raffle for patients and guests.
Dr. George Grunberger is internationally renowned for his work with people with diabetes. His office is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and offers cutting-edge diabetes and endocrine problems management, one-stop service for comprehensive care, a multidisciplinary team, and participation in research studies. Learn more about the Grunberger Diabetes Institute and check out their blog.