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Tandem has finally made its highly anticipated app-based mobile bolus feature available to insulin pump users thanks to a newly released series of updates. We tried it ourselves to see how the first app-linked insulin pump works.
As highly regulated, life-saving devices, insulin pumps tend to be a little behind. They are utilitarian devices and only got full-color touchscreens a few years ago.
The ability to view your blood sugar, your pump status, and – if needed – deliver a manual insulin bolus from your phone has been a long time coming. It’s a big step in modern life.
After first being approved by the FDA in February 2022the update is now available to users.
Our devices
I’ve been type 1 diabetes for about ten years. I thought I was clear and showed no symptoms of this generic condition until I was in my early twenties. Type 1 diabetes is commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes and is much more likely to cause children than adults.
It is type 1 diabetics like me who are most dependent on insulin pumps because we are almost completely dependent on insulin. My pancreas makes little to no insulin, forcing me to dose insulin by manual injection or via an insulin pump.
My Tandem t:slim X2
I used the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump, which is the only compatible model to date with Tandem’s new mobile bolus feature. Tandem has announced its new Mobi pump that has no screen and relies entirely on the mobile app to deliver insulin in late 2022 or early 2023.
i also use mine iPhone 13 Pro for this test. Many recent iPhones are supported, all the way back to the iPhone X. For Android users, it’s a bit grim. Only certain Samsung devices released in recent years have support.
Update our devices
To use the new Mobile Bolus functionality, you need the Tandem Mobile App version 2.1.3 (or newer) and version 7.6 of the t:slim X2 software.
The T:Connect app update is free from the App Storebut you must complete a series of training modules before the pump update becomes available.
These modules will guide you through everything you need to know about the Mobile Bolus feature. How to update your pump, how to deliver a bolus, how to stop a bolus and much more. This is crucial and probably required for legal reasons so that anyone using this has a good understanding.
I no longer think about being stuck on a pump 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it’s crucial to remember that insulin is critical. Too little or too much can have life-threatening consequences.
The tandem update process
When I finished my workout, Tandem emailed me a unique verification code associated with my pump’s serial number. I then entered that into the Tandem updater app for Mac and it was on its way.
It is worth noting that during the update process, the t:slim X2 will reboot several times and you will need to use a new cartridge when you reboot it.
Finally the ability to administer insulin from our iPhone
I’ve waited a long time for this day. My Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) — a longtime Apple podium partner — has worked with my iPhone and Apple Watch for years, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day when I could manage my pump from there too.
T:Connect Mobile Bolus
Having to use the pump alone has always been cumbersome. It is not always easy to get the pump out of your pocket and can be conspicuous to use.
With the new update you can administer insulin directly from the app. You tap the bolus button and you can set the exact amount of insulin you need to deliver, like before a meal.
T:Connect app
When you use the Dexcom CGM with the t:slim X2, the Tandem mobile app automatically catches up with your current blood sugar reading. It will then use this to calculate any correction when you give yourself insulin.
For example, if your blood sugar starts to get low and you are about to have a bolus before a meal, the Tandem will decrease the amount of insulin to help prevent further drops.
A warning on our iPhone
Alerts from your pump are also displayed on your phone. If there is an occlusion, your insulin is low, the battery is low, or ControlIQ has increased your insulin due to high blood sugar, you can see the alert from your phone instead of having to take your pump out of your pocket. to fetch.
You already have your phone directly available next to your Apple Watch. The combination of mobile bolus, notifications and pump information provides a much better experience than the pump alone.
Not everything is perfect with this new implementation. You still need to clear alerts directly from the pump, and extended boluses cannot be programmed from the phone either.
But this new update shows a lot of progress that diabetics can rightly be excited about.
Tandem t:slim X2 cost and availability
The Tandem t:slim X2 has been on the market for a few years and continues to receive software updates. Without insurance, out-of-pocket costs with a prescription are about $4,000. What you pay out of pocket varies, based on what coverage you do or don’t have.
For existing Tandem t:slim X2 owners, online portal has the training for the update.