Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
No, I don’t. I thought I might be able to start using an AID system, but I got the wrong phone. When I talk to the reps, I’ll have to ask if there is a way around using phones. 🙂
I dont use a phone. I just use my pump Tandem Tslim x2 with the cgm on it
None of the 3 systems available in the USA require a phone, although you might want a phone to take advantage of some extra features. You can use the Tandem pump & Dexcom CGM without a compatible phone. You can use Medtronic without a phone. OmniPod will provide a separate controller to use the new OmniPod5/Dexcom AID.
Having a compatible phone is useful and you can get extra features if you do, like bolusing from your phone instead of the pump with Tandem. A select few phones will fully control the OmniPod5 but aren’t necessary as you can use their separate PDM.
Thank you Joan McGinnis and LizB!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
That information is so helpful!
For some reason, I had it in my mind that I would have to use a phone. I imagine my phone will eventually be in their queue for compatibility which will be awesome, too. 😀
I have been using Medtronic 670g/770g pumps since 2018. I tried and abandoned using their auto mode. I have training on the Tandem t:slim X2 & Dexcom tomorrow and I’m hoping that I have a better experience with Control IQ.
LIZb, I switched from the 770G to the T:slim X2 and Dexcom G6 almos a month ago now. I would say I have had mixed results. Be prepaired to adjust your settings from what your 770G was doingto work better with the Tslim pump. I did. Also I see some of the same issues with the Tslim as the 770G had. I sometimes have a slow SG drop over night and the pump has stopped basil. This results in early morning low BG alarms.
TEH,
Thanks for your comment. It is interesting. I was wondering, what is an “SG drop?”
Off the shelf algorithms are set with too high of targets for me. I don’t have all the parts for the diy, either. So, I use my own algorithm, to accommodate my needs (manually, with all my parameters figured out)!
I use the Medtronic 770 and Sensor 3 in Auto Mode all the time and I love it. My time in range hovers around 85%. My only gripe is that Medtronic’s system require more attention than other systems based on what I have read in this and other forums.
The upper end of Tandem’s Control IQ is set too high to be useful. My DH maintains tight control so his endo said Control IQ would actually make his time in range go down and his A1C go up. However, he does use Basal IQ which shuts off his insulin if he starts dropping too fast – It’s a big help when he is gardening or bicycling and forgets to watch his BG like a hawk.
I was an early adopter of the 670G, and I think it killed the whole AID thing for me. Up until then I’d been using an old-school Paradigm pager-style pump, my first pump after 20 yrs on MDI. Added a Dexcom a few years into pumping. Was eager to try the 670G even tho it meant switching to Medt CGM. Did my best to make it work, had great hopes, but the G3 drove me batty and my A1Cs were worse than before. Finally put it back in its box and went back to Paradigm + Dexcom (now G6). Everything I read suggests Tandem is better but I don’t really have it in me to learn a whole new system when I’m doing fine with what I have (last A1C 5.8, TIR 90+%). Also, Tandem doesn’t support using Fiasp, which I’ve been using for 4 yrs now and am also happy with.
William, My son successfully uses FIASP in his Tandem pump with ControlIQ. I have tried it, but Medicare will not cover it for a pump.
I like ControlIQ, It is really nice to be able to start most days in range at about 100mg/dl. I had found this hard to achieve without it. I do not find the exercise mode for ControlIQ helpful. I now suspend my pump when I am at the gym.
Hi Bob Durstenfeld!
Thank you for your answer to William Bennett! I had that same question about Fiasp and asked my doctor (who hasn’t responded yet… but it’s only been a few days). That helps me so much! 😀
Switched from Tandem X2 with control IQ to OmniPod 5.
Love being tubeless but algorithm is not as robust. Fingers crossed for further updates!!
Just switched to using the Dash Pods with Loop. So nice for my daughter to only have to carry her iphone.
I’m very hasppy with Tandem X2 – Dexcom combo using BIQ. CIQ doesn’t allow me to set my parameters. I am very aggressive in my T1D mgt, so I set my target at 80 (I would correct at 110 which is the CIQ target), I also make use of temp basal options. I don’t use my phone – the fewer devices I have to carry with me 24/7 the better. I explain it this way, when I was working I was on call – often. Once “smart phones” became consumer goods, I was over it. I am happiest when my phone is at home and I am not. My A1C’s are consistently 5.3-5.5, and my TIR is 95-97% using the standard 60-180 range. Using my range (60-130) my TIR is 85% or so.
I have control IQ but don’t use it currently because I am pregnant. The goals that are set in the algorithm don’t match the tight control I need, and I find that I’m able to maintain my BG better than the algorithm. I will turn it back on after baby arrives, mostly to help prevent lows (not as effective for preventing highs).
I am on Omnipod 5 & Dexcom 6. I tried using the Omni 5 automated mode long enough to determine it wasn’t going to work for me. So, it will stay in Manual Mode until they have a better algorithm and the pod and CGM don’t have to be so close together. That said, I also have intermittent problems with communication between the pod and the controller even in Manual Mode. So they need to fix that, too.
My controller/receiver malfunctioned three days on it. It took them three weeks before they finally committed to sending me a new one. Then the Pods I receive malfunctioned and all started beeping even before using them. When I called they said this issue had been coming up with dozens of people with the same lot number. They told me they were recalling them. Never got a notice about it or seen one. Then they wanted me to take them back to where I got them (which was thru my mail order pharmacy), and when I called the pharmacist he had to call them and tell them they don’t do that. It was a battle of another two weeks. Worst company ever!
Control IQ app on the Tandem t:slim X2 has been far better than the continuous roller-coaster of MDI, but the goals are set higher than I’d prefer.
Using Control IQ on Tandem X2 running Sleep Mode 24×7, A1c 5.4
I’ve just recently started using the sleep mode 24×7 except when exercising. It maybe has helped me a little bit but I am not really sure.
I love my Control IQ but I’m interested in learning about Omnipod 5.
I couldn’t wait to go tubeless and got the OmniPod5 instead of using my out of warranty Tanden TSlimX2 Pump. Big mistake! This is the worst pump in the world. Everyone I’ve talked to has the same opinion and issues with it.
I uas medtronic minimed 770g and guardian 3 sensors. I put auto suspend because if I have a severe low it will auto shut down. With very loud alarms I might add!
When I had my insurance utilized the Medtronic system, both in the Smartguard auto mode and suspect modes. Generally in “manual” because the auto mode had a higher glucose target and threshold. (I now use a Libre3 and pens, my care hasn’t suffeted).
I tried both Basal IQ and Control IQ, but didn’t like either of them. The main reason being that when my blood glucose is at 120 ml/dl I feel high – – I am thirsty and forever looking for a bathroom. Once the FDA realizes that for some people this target glucose level is too high, I will try it again. I’ve got to have a lower target though!