23 Comments
If you use a Tandem insulin pump with Control IQ, which of these options best describe your use of the “Sleep” activity setting? Select all statements that apply to you.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
I chose “I use the Sleep activity setting during the hours that I’m sleeping”, but my sleep hours are not definitely 2300-0800 and I don’t change the settings as I would for activity.
I switch to the Sleep setting around 8 PM to avoid Midnight lows.
Lately, I’ve been using the sleep setting to avoid “stealth” correction boluses during the day as well as during the night. After decades of tightly managing my control, I still haven’t been able to relinquish control completely to the algorithm. I’ve been doing correction boluses manually. I don’t like to be in the middle of a strenuous activity that I thought I had room for BG-wise only to find my pump had decided to fix my BG for me. Also, I prefer the slightly lower baseline BG that the sleep mode aims for. I’m about to spend some time in the hospital getting my knees replaced. I’ll let my pump takeover then since it will probably be thinking more clearly than me at that point.
I have only used the sleep mode during my regularly schedule sleep times. However, the thought of using it at other times gives food for thought. I wonder what would be the advantages of using the sleep mode during awake times?
I use the sleep mode almost 24/7. I don’t want my BSs as high as the other modes allow.
For the 9 months since I got the pump my sleep mode has been set from 1:00am to 6:45 on the suggestion of the nurse who helped me set it up. I actually usually go to bed around 10:30 and after reading some of the comments here I obviously need to do a little research and possible make some adjustments.
I just started using the sleep setting last night
Never use the sleep setting as it takes me too low. I always use the exercise setting 24/7 so my sugar will stay high enough. Go figure?
I used to have my sleep mode on from 11 pm till 7am. My diabetes P.A. had me change to using the sleep mode for the whole 24 hours. It helps me have a slightly tighter blood glucose range the whole day as the t-slim gives a slightly tighter goal in sleep mode. It doesn’t give me bolus corrections now but I very rarely had automatic bolus corrections anyway and the corrections were so minor that they really didn’t make a difference in my blood sugar control.
When I first got the pump I set the Sleep activity for 12 AM to 9 AM, close to the actual hours. Since then, I’ve found that I’m often resetting the start time if I’m in the middle of editing a photoshoot or reading the news past midnight. I don’t think it actually makes that much difference. I still need to get up around 9 AM to take my morning prescriptions and start my day, but I’m not on a time clock. Control IQ has done a very good job of of keeping me in range during the night and I see no reason to play games with the setting…or the pump.
So, the sleep mode keeps your blood sugars low? I’m very new to Tandem Control IQ, so I’ll have to read up on this mode that my doctor recommended.
Does sleep mode use a “gentler” correction bolus?
All I know is that I keep going low and the machine doesn’t seem to want to correct it even on sleep mode.
Maybe I’ll start using exercise mode for sleep?!!
Sleep Mode sets a lower target which is why some people use it 24/7. OTOH, it will not issue a correction bolus even if one is warranted, so you need to keep an eye on that and do it manually if you need one.
If you keep going low while sleeping, you probably have too high of a basal setting. Since you are new to the system, you can contact your doctor to help you adjust your settings if you aren’t comfortable doing that yourself. If you just use exercise mode while you sleep, you will likely go too high as that exercise goal is set to between 140-160.
I wish there was a button for me to reply to you guys! But, hopefully you will see this:
Thank you SO MUCH for your answers to my questions!!! I really appreciate it (more than you can know). I understand those modes now.
What machines can do is just so fascinating! Thank you. 😀
I use omnipod.
I hadn’t considered using sleep mode 24/7. I might try that. Thanks to all that commented.
Yes, thanks to everyone.
I marked sometimes use when I’m not sleeping because I have sleep settings set, but often stay up later. Sleep mode overnight does help me wake up in range almost every morning, which makes it my favorite Tandem feature. I’ve been tempted to try using sleep mode 24/7 for tighter control, but I’m worried if the algorithm is assuming I’m not moving when I am, it could make me more prone to lows.
I don’t think that your concern will happen. The basal adjustments I believe will only kick in if your sugar levels are below or above where they should be. I have used sleep mode 24/7 for at least a year and haven’t had more lows.
I don’t use
I am Team Sleep mode 24/7. I like that it aims for a lower target and the lack of automatic corrections isn’t an issue for me. During the day I can correct myself if needed, and sleep mode keeps me steady overnight.
Control-iQ does NOT correct soon enough to give me good control. I have brittle T1D so I run Sleep Mode 24/7 which has a lower target BG. It then is more aggressive and reacts sooner with increased basal. The downside is that I need to manually take correction boluses for highs and that means more alarms (sad, but I’m 85-95% in range with 25-30 StdDev). 🙂 I have better control with Sleep Mode.
I have such a problem with Control IQs correction when I’m trying to get over a low and it kicks in a bolus. Ugh!! Think I’ll try Sleep mode and do corrections myself for awhile. Thanks for the encouragement to do this!