This is the pump I'm getting and I'm super excited. I've only had T1D for exactly two months today but I am super happy that they already trust me enough to get a pump. Thank you for your channel it's amazing and super helpful and relatable.
Gratulation zum Dr., Michelle! Habe mich vor Tagen entschlossen die t:slim X2 als nächste Insulin Pumpe zu nehmen und deine Videos haben mir sehr geholfen. Vielen Dank. Bleib gesund
Congrats Michelle, and thanks for your likes and dislikes. I have been Type 1 for 51 years! I have used the Mini-Med Medtronic pump for over 10 years with great success. I switched to T-Slim 2 weeks ago because I like cool, new, hip-looking devices. Like you, I have likes and dislikes. I like the use of the touch screen, the easy-to-read display, and the user-friendly steps to bolus and track BG's. My major problem is with the infusion set, the AutoSoft 90. I have found it very difficult to disconnect and reconnect at the site. The connecting clip is hard to squeeze and remove without pulling out the catheter. Second, I don't like the numerous steps needed to refill the the cartridge (as you mentioned) nor do I like the numerous steps needed to insert the infusion set. It also involves an incredible waste of plastic, which is not what we need in the world right now. I plan to switch to one of the other "manual insertion" sets that Tandem offers. It requires you to just push the needle into your skin, so you have to be brave. I imagine that most of us are used to sticking ourselves with needles by now. Thanks for your blog Michelle. I'll keep checking in.
Hi Peter, T1 44 years. Went to tslim from Animas. I tried the -90- infusion sets, and I had the same experience. Waaaay too hard to disconnect. I use the XC soft. I used the manual, 30degree inserts for 20 years and was having frequent issues with sets going bad because of scar tissue - allegedly, no one can really prove that, right? med pers just GUESS so much! While I agree with you on the waste generated for the apparatus to insert the straight-in cannulas, I've gotten used to them and find that I have a wider range of site choices. More power to us, right? Blessings!
My son wears the G6! It's absolutely fantastic! As well, he's about to switch to the Tandem t:slim X2! Which just got the Control-IQ update! So it can now adjust for both lows and highs! AUTOMATICALLY!!! We're super excited! So anywho! Metal detectors can cause issues and errors with CGM transmitters! Because of this, you shouldn't be going through metal detectors. Nor can they make you! You should be bypassing them and having them use a hand-scan wand!
Kimberly Sweet Dexcom disagrees with your metal detector assessment. Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners are a different matter though. www.dexcom.com/dexcom-airport-and-travel-guide-flying-dexcom-cgm
I wish they would educate tsa about insulin pumps. The last few times I have traveled I tell them I can't go through and they just keep waving me on like I am creating a problem for them. The amount of times they just say, "oh its fine". So I go though and it goes off and they get mad at me anyways. They shouldn't be able to say its fine when they don't know your pump? I think mostly they're just in a rush because theres a long line of people and it angers me. If someone requests a pat down theres usually a damn good reason for it because that is the most awkward experience! Luckily I haven't had trouble with the scanners causing malfunctions but jeez it is nerve-wracking thinking there could be a problem when you're in a tiny tin can in the air. I don't have bombs or drugs - just a bad pancreas. Give me a break.
After living with insulin dependent diabetes for >40 years, there is still a lot to learn especially from young adults who are technically competent (and very pretty). I appreciate your insight and have learned a few things from you- thank you! Keep up the good work.
Like below, high congrats on your PHD. I am just starting X-2 tomorrow. I know I will love it. For my pump wearing (male) I find a belt pouch works the best. It is very secure with easy access to the device. Never had luck with clips as they are not so secure and somewhat fragile. My current pump is in a Canon EOS memory chip pouch which secures by belt loop. It is very secure., Again, in the pouch, the thickness of a case can be eliminated. With the cartridge/infusion set connector it is easy to disconnect for airport scanning. Cartridge filling is, yes, a more lengthy and insulin consuming process. Vanessa Belani has some insulin saving tips for cartridge filling which are safe and fast, but compared to other pump designs it is more cumbersome. I feel other pump benefits overcome this issue. As for pump falling off, I will happily retain it for you. Happy pumping with glucose management for good health and long life.
Just switched to my tslim yesterday 9-30-20 from over 15 years with Medtronic. I was so nervous about the cartridge fill based off their video and how many more steps there were to fill than my previous pump. Watched your site change and cartridge video and it was so helpful!
Before watching your video, I thought of my likes and dislikes. They are the same as yours! The only added irritation is why doesn’t the pump clip go upside down from what it is, so I don't have to look at the screen upside down if I don’t want to take it off. They should really make the whole clip situation user friendly. But the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Love your videos!! Thank you and congratulations on your PhD!
So interesting to hear about the T-Slim! I’d definitely consider switching to this pump, love the smaller profile and integrated CGM. Thank you for the well thought out and presented info, Michelle!!
Thank you Andrea! I'm so glad you found this video interesting. I am definitely loving the t:slim, especially the integration with the Dexcom 😘. I could definitely see you using this pump in the future since you are such a big Dexcom fan 😀
Hi Michelle - very useful video for me, thank you. I've been using the Medtronic 640 for years and I'm thinking of changing to T SLIM for a smaller pump. And congratulations on the PhD - it's great to see young women achieving great things.
I had been using the same medtronic minimed pump for 11 years and two weeks ago I switched to Tandem. Overall, I think it's nothing short of amazing and control IQ has helped stabilize my blood sugar tremendously, but, I totally agree with your thoughts on the cartridge filling process. I still have to watch the training videos because it's complicated compared to filling a reservoir for the minimed. Just a couple hours ago I was on the phone with tandem because the cartridge filling process was giving me a ton of issues. First the pump would not prime the inslin AT ALL but the pump was able to read that there was a full cartridge in it. It ended up being faulty tubing. Another thing was earlier during the syringe filling part, after getting the air bubbles out, the syringe was stuck, not able to be plunged, with 300 units in it. I ended up wasting 2/3 of it by screwing the needle on and off and insulin leaking everywhere. Tandem customer support is awesome though and they're sending me more cartridges and sets just because some were faulty and they told me to call anytime something like that happens so they can refund me more supplies for the faulty ones. Overall I think it's an amazing device and the more i change my set/fill the cartridge the easier it will turn into muscle memory!!! I'm glad this video came up on my recommended category, you seem awesome and you're the first diabetic I'm now subscribed to!! Congrats on all your Phd btw!!!
I met my CDE yesterday, and am now considering two new options from my 670G (which I’ve mostly been satisfied with): (1) upgrading to 770/780G OR (2) switching to Tandem’s. T-slim X2 with Dexcom. Any insights?
I'm about two months in using T-slim with G6. In my dozen years dealing with this condition, I'm experiencing some of the best overall BG control I ever have. I too am having similar dislikes and issues, I just ordered one of your recommended belt clips. I tried using a "quad-lock" clip but found it too bulky. Thank you for posting...
Great video! It's nice to hear other's opinions too! And of course CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PhD!! That is so exciting and such an amazing accomplishment!
I’ve had the Tandem X2 for 2 years now. I had a minimed for 15 years prior. I got a case from Type 1 Tactical. It’s a slip case made of plastic and the clip is extremely strong. Probably too bulky for wearing with a dress but I wear it in my work suit all the time. You get options of color and pattern ( I got carbon fiber). Your pump can slip in and out of the case with a very assuring tension feeling to it. It has never slipped out on its own. Congratulations on you PhD.
Congrats on the PhD! I'm also on the TSlimX2. It's been nice not having to stress too much about going dangerously low. I've had a few issues with kinked cannulas, but that's more to do with the way my muscle/ fat/ and scar tissue are distributed, so not a Tandem specific issue.
Congrats Dr. Lord!!!!! As far as the T Slim goes I pretty much have the same or close to the same likes and dislikes. I don't like the case at all so I took mine off and so far it has survived a few accidental drops! I do also really like that the it connects to the Dexcom CGM!
I actually am just finishing my first set with the T-Slim X2. I have a Dexcom G6 and I love them both so far. I switched from a Medtronic 530G and it is just night and day. First due to insurance issues I was able to get the Dexcom G6 device about a month prior to my T-Slim Pump. So for the fun of it I used both the G6 and the Minimed Enlite system to compare. It took about 24 hours for the G6 to truly calibrate itself. In this time I did sent it Glucose Meter readings but after the first 24 hours it was extremely accurate. The Enlite CGMS prompts me to calibrate it every 6 hours and I would find it was much less accurate than the G6--sometimes as far as 80 points off. Not having to worry about things if you forget your glucose meter is such a nice thing. Also the G6 is less bulky in my opinion. The Enlite (and guardian) systems have transmitters that do not seat into the sensor body. The also have this sort of mushroom shape that exposes a corner that easily is caught on things like clothing when you are taking off your shirt. This has resulted in a number of failures of the enlite system for me. So far my G6 has avoided those pitfalls. It is also really nice to be able to acknowledge alarms on my phone. I have my phone set to make noise alerts and have my pump on vibrate only. I may change this eventually--but if you're driving and your pump is under layers of clothing and a seat belt--it is nice to simply just acknowledge your phone and not worry about having to acknowledge the pump itself. The Minimed would repeat the alarm every 60 seconds with increasing intensity which wasn't ideal. The alarming systems on the T-Slim also seems to be very well thought out. The repeat alarms are more reasonable and volume is customizable. In terms of using the T-Slim pump--the interface is very well thought out. I don't like the fact that if you touch the screen three times in non function areas it turns off. I understand why-but in my case I have quite a bit of scarring on my thumbs which interferes with the touch screen--if I touch the screen with too much of my scarred areas it doesn't pick it up as a valid click--but does sense the pressure so three scar tissue clicks means the screen shuts off and I have to start over. Even with that I am learning to use my index finger more. the Basal IQ is fantastic. The MiniMed 530G would shut off the pump if you crossed a threshold value and it would alarm until it would wake up everyone in the house. Also my Minimed 530G did not automatically resume so if I was alone in the house I would typically sleep through the alarms and wake up with a blood sugar of over 400 if an event like that happened. The Basal IQ on the other hand watches your rate of fall and predicts where you will be in 30 minutes. If it predicts you will fall below 80 in the next 30 minutes it suspends delivery until it sees your blood sugar start to rise. It will do so without alarms and the first night I switched over to the T-Slim I ended up having a severe drop around 2am. Basil IQ suspended and resumed and when I started to drop again it suspended again and it did a really great job of preventing a low and allowing me to sleep through the entire event. The user interface between any Minimed system and T-Slim is not comparable at all., Being able to just enter my blood sugar and carb amounts rather than scrolling is extremely satisfying. The ease with which you can set up profiles, edit basil and bolus settings, and see information is great. I can easily look at the home screen and see how much insulin is on board and how much time is left, I can easily see how many units of insulin I have--all without having to go into a status screen and scroll down. One complaint would be that I don't think T-Slim used all of the space it could have. There is about 1/2 inch of black space where their "T" symbol sits. You can touch the T-Symbol at any time to return to the home screen. I think the button on the housing works fine for that and that you could have had a more robust display area. For example you could have added an area showing how many hours were left on your sensor once you were under 24 hours. You could also show an indicator showing the progress of a bolus delivery. The filling of the cartridge is not ideal--but it also makes it possible to have a slimmer cartridge and smaller pump than the Minimed. So once I am used to it I don't think that will be a long term factor. I am not a big fan of the case or clip. I think Minimed's design of their spring loaded clip was better because it was easier to clip around various clothing styles (athletic pants/shorts with elastic waist bands are thicker and the T-Slim doesn't clip on that very well). I am a little concerned about air travel since I do travel for work a fair amount--but I'll work with that. Overall starting on this pump has been such a positive life changing experience. I expected to be disappointed as I was with the 530G. It seemed the 530G promised more that it delivered, but this T-Slim product is very well thought out for making life easier. I chose the T-Slim X2 over the Minimed 670G primarily because their strategy for managing low blood sugars was so simple and less intrusive compared to Minimed's most advanced model. Now with Control IQ coming out the end of January-this pump will do everything the 670G does--but without the archaic interface. Additionally the ability to download software updates is something the 670G cannot do. So upgrading for Minimed involves a hardware upgrade rather than the simplicity of downloading an update to my pump. In about 3 weeks I'll download the Control IQ system and have a system that compensates for both lows and highs. In terms of Dexcom--being able to confidently make decisions based of the CGMS data is huge. Also the fact that every 3-6 months you get a new transmitter, when the G7 comes out--upgrading is automatic. The attention to hardware and physical lifestyle updates is a really neat feature. The G7 is supposed to be the thickness of a quarter I believe and will be another good step to easier living with diabetes. Dr Lord--this was a great video and congratulations on your PhD. I will check out the links for the clips and probably order one.
Nate Alwine, Thank you much for your preview of the T-Slim Pump. I am going to try Saline trials this week with the T-Slim X2 and my Dexcom G6. This will be my first insulin pump. I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes almost 4 years ago. So, I have been on 3 different insulins and 5 or 6 shots a day with such radical highs and lows. I hade the Dexcom G5 to get used to for about a year and and now I do have the G6 and feel that I am ready for the next step of the insulin pump. I was first looking at the Medtronic, closed loop system, but I like more what I have seen with the Dexcom/Tandem interfaces and the fact that I am used to using the Dexcom CGM that I also have readings on my iPhone and iWatch...it helps a lot. My only apprehension is that these are mechanical things an they can be off. I have found my G6 off quite a bit sometimes and that is what makes me nervous a little.
Nate; very interesting point of view, loaded with information. I'm slow to wearing a pump (still prefer my syringes or pens), but I'm considering it now, after 48 years being Type 1. Doing my research, trying to find a reliable, slim (not obvious) pump. I wore a CGM once and I HATED it. Couldn't tear it out fast enough. Uncomfortable and obtrusive. Cost effective if of course another consideration. Love hearing about all of your experiences.
The reservoir connector to the infusion set tubing sticks out of the belt clip holster. It just flops around. But the pump is awesome. Took my A1C from 7.4 to 6.2 in one month of wearing it with my G6.
your pros and cons are spot-on....I had been traveling a lot, never a problem with medtronic pumps to walk thru the scanners. With T-Slim, I remove my pump before I get in line, and insert the pump in a faraday bag in my carry-on, haven't had any pat-downs and never a problem with teh pump in the faraday bag in the carry on. Don't like the frequent battery charging requirement either, seems to be worse since implementing the control-IQ update
Hello my name is Kalicia and I have been using G6 for a couple of months and have started today using the TSlim X2 today. I am very excited and a little nervous about it. I have just found your youtube and am hoping to get a lot of great ideas from you. Also it is exciting to have someone to watch that has type one diabetes like me. You seem to be having an easier time of it then me. I look forward to more videos. :)
Michelle, just found your channel. I just switched from my Medtronic pump which I had for 5 years, to this tslim pump. I love it so far. Just got it and trained for it 3 weeks ago. I like it better than the medtronic pump I had. But it's hard for me to refill it. I follow a step by step sheet that my trainer gave me. I will get better at it. It's just different. I am glad I switched to the tslim. Numbers seem better already. Thanks honey. I have been type 1 for 8 years now.
Michelle Congratulations on your graduation. I agree with you on your 2nd dislike but as far as your 3rd one i just put it in my pocket or bra. There is one other dislike I have and that is tandem does not have an over patch for the infusion like Dexcom does. I also am a changer from the Medtronic to tandem 9 months ago and I love my decision also.
I’ve been on the tslim for a month now and love it, I’m in the USA so I have the basal iq and it works great no more lows at night when I’m sleeping, I love the ability to have different profiles and to be able to change insulin rates during the day in the timed feature, as far as the clip I haven’t had any issues with that most of the time I have it clipped to my pants pocket facing in so the unit is inside the pocket. I did by a spi belt which works good it’s sleek you can’t even tell it’s under your shirt and it has a port for running your tubing in so it’s not getting caught up in the zipper it doesn’t bounce around either. I can’t wait for the update for the closed loop I think tandem put more research into that then Medtronic we shall see suppose to be out some time this summer or early fall. Also love the fact it is updatable offer the net.
Congrats on becoming a doctor! I've been so envious of others on Tandem pumps, it's good to hear both it's pros and cons. Hope the Amazon clip/case works better, pump clips have been a constant gripe of mine
Good to know about the cartridge filling. I've been doing research and watching videos and I'm a little nervous about it. My animas is so easy I could literally do it with my eyes closed (not that I do that). I also thought the clip wasn't great. My animas clip is AMAZING...7 years and going strong haha. The pump overall still seems amazing and I love that when something new comes you can download the new features which is cool.
I just started to use TSlim2 IQ, with the G6 sensor/transmitter directly to the pump. IQ technology is very good. My complaints are: (1) the "cartridge" (reservoir) should be without syringe (e.g. Medtronic since the 90s) to save time AND avoid getting insulin all over the place, (2) the clip is protruding metal, which creates problems for the skin of runners, swimmers, (3) the belt clip is horizontal only, so you have to read and administer sideways and upside down, (4) the number of "touches" to give a combined or square bolus, with confirmations, is excessive and (5) the tubing is about 6 inches short for using belt clip at the toilet seat.
Yes, I use the latest T-slim with basal-IQ / Dexcom G6. Soon a wonderful feature of T-slim will be put to use...the firmware updatability. I-Control is soon to be released making this pump a closed loop system which will further reduce lows and highs making this a very powerful system. Update, not Out-of-Date. Answering your question about pump clips, I use a product purchased at Walmart for $6 by ByTech. It is a tiny cell phone case that just fits the pump and securely clips to nearly anything. I prefer it because it encloses the pump protecting it from scuffs and bangs. Waist bands, belts or pockets are good places to carry this case. I like nearly all the features of this pump. The pump will not allow you to record a solo carb entry. "Incomplete bolus entry" alarms sound. I would like this for pro-active data entry showing before exercise or preventative low protection. I am a type 1 of 54 years and have learned much over that time. My endocrinologist is helping steer me into Stanford Chronic Disease Peer Training program which will allow me to share some of my knowledge without putting myself or the hospital at risk of litigation.
I have used Medtronic pumps since 2000. I have just switched to T-slim X2 Dec. 28 2020 . Along with the Dexcom G6 sensor. I love it so far, but keeping that sensor attached for 10 days can be a pain! I use skin tac, and I ordered some of those patches you recommended, but they haven't arrived yet. I am 58, and have been a type 1 since 1986. I was diagnosed when I was about 24, from family history of diabetes.
Thanks to your channel and a lot of research I went with the Tandem T:Slim X2 and my A1C went from 9.2 in April, on May 12 I started on the pump and my A1C in June was 6.6, that is with the Control IQ minds you.
Michelle, call Tandem and ask if they can locate a T-holster for you.. This is the case that they provided with the original t:slim. It holds much better than the new clip. Also the clip can be rotated so that you can wear the pump in different positions. I now am back living in the US. I lived in T. O. and had an office on Eglinton Ave W near Yonge St.
Will move on to X2 and G6 soon, still wait over here for update “Stop before Low”. Use the Medtronic 640 and now 670 with auto adjusted insulin..but after many years with Medtronic they never get the Sensor good..can show 11 but I am at 2 so I hope that part is better on X2. But guess I will see soon..😀 And there is No perfect pump so you just have to choose the cons they have that matter less for your use.
Congratulations on the PhD! That's awesome! Thank you for these videos. Very helpful. My 15-year-old son will be starting on the T:slim 2x this week after being on the Medtronic pump most of his life. Like you, I feel a little apprehensive... but your video is reassuring me that we'll get through this pretty smoothly. I played with the pump a little, and I must say that I love the interface, so far.
My son is with same pump of medtronic g640 his 5 year old but i find some many pro lem in pump just we change the pump i will post them for other . Please writ us about t slim x2 how is for kids .
Have been on the T-slim x2 almost two months. Cartridge refills were also my issue, getting better. Formerly on Medtronic 630 g for approximately 10 years. Even after two hours of training with my Trainer, whom I would not trade for the world, still had to watch TH-cam videos,which was and is very helpful. Enough of my rambling, so far loving my T-slim.
I’m a 20 year t1 diabetic as well. I’ve had a pump for like 10 or so years, but have only transitioned to a close looped system. I’ve been on this system for less than a week, and the conclusion I’ve come to is that the focus of these companies is to prevent lows, and highs are not really their focus. I understand that lows are an immediate danger, but the highs are what cause the long term complications that diabetics are at risk for. The pump defiantly stops me from going low, but I’ve noticed that when I’m on an upward trajectory, it does nothing until I hit the “high threshold”). Only then does it start increasing my basal, and it doesn’t bolus me until I’m basically in my 200s. For lows. It doesn’t matter it my glucose is 120, if it starts falling slightly, control iq will start decreasing my basal. And will eventually turn it all the way off BEFORE you are actually low. But for highs it waits until you hit 170 before it takes any action. For me that’s doesn’t fair well because my body for some reason once my sugar is above 170, it likes to stay there. So I end up having to continually manually bolus myself. It defeats the purpose…I don’t understand why they didn’t just keep the same technology for highs as the do lows. I’ve even seen my basal decrease when I was at almost 150, and it started dropping. Why would my basal decrease? Shouldn’t it either stay the same or even increase to pull me back down to 120-110??? And of course my sugar crept up and up until I hit 170, and then the pump started increasing basal. Didn’t bolus my until I was past 200. 🤨
Michelle, congratulations on your PhD. As a 15 year Medtronic pump user who is considering new pump options, I am really interested in the cartridge loading process. You suggested it was very different from the Medtronic pumps, can you create a video demonstrating the new process from end to end? Thanks again.
Okay wait what?????!!!!! 😳 YOU have your PhD??!! Dr Lord!!!! That’s awesome!!! You look so young.... that is such perseverance!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💯 I love your accent!!! Finally lol I am a T1D and I have the guardian 3 with a 670g from Medtronic💙 The best thing for me “next to sliced bread!!!” 🤔 🤣🥨🥖🥐🍞🥯 😂 And the freedom of having that connection pump to sensor & having the “auto mode” feature that stops basal delivery is AWESOME!!! 🥰🥳🤩 The real time blood sugars LOVE IT!! 🥰🤩🥳 I have never been able to bring down my #’s and the A1c was awful... today I have a 6.3 a1c & my BS are 90-130!!!! 🙌🏼 Your videos are great!! And CONGRATS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT PhD ✨✨✨✨ what a great role model you are to young girls!!! To young women in general!!! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Congrats to you! I’m leaning towards the t-slim for my first pump (just diagnosed in February). This was super informative and helpful:) My endocrinologist says it’s the Tesla of pumps!
Hi Doctor Lord im also on the tandem t:slim x2 your absolutely right the clip isnt very strong also another thing i dont like about the pump is it can only give u a maximum of 25 units per bolus per meal as im a very big eater its quite annoying that the pump is like that another thing is when you bolus it takes a long time for the insulin to go through into your pump before you can eat the last thing is when u have to change your infusion set there's alot of steps to do so and when u have to prime the insulin it can take between 10 to 20 units to prime which is alot of insulin wasteage Now the things i like is how u can charge the pump by usb Also the temporary Basel is good And the size of the pump is a good size especially for me who plays alot of sports such as indoor cricket outdoor cricket Afl And oz tag thats my sports all in the one week look forward to hearing back from you thank you for your video Doctor Lord
My 10 year old daughter just started the TSlim x2 a week ago and she loves it. I'll have to share your videos with her. Only problem is sometimes she wears long dresses and it makes getting to her pump harder.
Congratulations Doctor Lord; makes you the Lord of the Doctor's cool. I have so enjoyed your comments and review especially, selecting the T:Slim X2 insulin pump and the closed loop technology for treating your Diabetes. I am sure this device will serve you well in your new career.
Michelle, Congratulations on your PhD! - I've been a type 1 diabetic for 48 years, I've been wearing an insulin pump for 26 yrs, just recently changed over to the t:slim X2. I wasn't crazy about my trainer, she didn't seem very knowledgeable what I'm trying to figure out is how to set my "Low Range" to higher than 70. 70 is way to low for me, I've very sensitive to insulin so by the time my sugar is near 70 it is way too low for me, within a few minutes I drop to 50. I'm going to call tandem tomorrow to see if someone there can help me - I like to carry my pump in my bra - I get my bras from Victoria's Secret, I purchase headbands that the color matches my bras - I then take it to my dry cleaners (they do alterations), they put a pocket between the cups (on the inside) - this works fantastic, my pump fits in horizontally, stays secure and no one ever knows I have a pump on : )
I realize you have possibly answered your own questions regarding how to clip or secure your insulin pump to your body. I have sewn together a belt attachment much like the one used on the Medtronic Minimed insulin pumps. It works like a charm. Once I get the drawings completed and recommendations on the stitchin process I will instagram you with the detail. I realize women don't wear belts so in the meantime I will work with my wife and see if we can come up with a few more solutions.
Good day Michelle! T1 since 1985. Been using Medtronic pumps for 20 years. Switched to the TSlim almost 2 weeks ago. Was using the 670G for the previous 4 years. That pump was AWFUL! So bad in fact, that it caused me to permanently divorce Medtronic. Never again (BTW I am not employed in any field involving diabetes care, and my income has zero to do with diabetes products, so my opinions are not biased). So far the TSlim X2 & Dex are FAR superior to the 670G. What do I like the best: no calibration. Seriously, I almost got PTSD-like symptoms trying to calibrate the 670G. I have a B.S. in electrical engineering, and do statistical data modeling for a living, so I know all about predictive algorithms. That pump SUCKED. The Dex sensors are much easier to insert. The needle must be much smaller. I've had about 35,000 insulin injections, about 1,500 infusion set changes, and about 250,000 finger stick blood tests, so I'm not afraid of needles. Dex sensors seem to track slightly better with finger stick results than the 670G sensors. Adhesive on the Dex really does last 10 days (670G it barely lasted the week the sensor lasted). I also like being able to set basal rates. I have awful dawn phenomenon, so being able to increase insulin doses makes it so my morning blood sugars are much more reasonable. The 670G was never able to adjust the basal rate enough to stop that from happening. I have not tried the delayed bolus feature yet, but had that on previous pumps (dual-wave bolus). I like that the TSlim has that - otherwise eating pizza would suck. I'm sure I will try that feature out soon. The 670G did not have it at all - major fail. I also like that the TSlim app can transmit my blood sugars to someone else in case I get dangerously low. After 37 yrs of being T1, I am hypoglycemia unaware, so this feature is nice. It gives my wife peace of mind that she can look at my blood sugars on her phone any time she wants. The 670G had Bluetooth capability (blood test meter connected to the pump via Bluetooth) but it would not connect to phones for that one safety feature? WTF Medtronic???? What do I not like: I also do not like the cartridge refilling. I'm sort of a "cheap bastard" and try to reuse my supplies as long as possible. It was easy to reuse reservoirs on my previous pumps. TSlim - not so easy. I know you aren't supposed to reuse, but I did anyway. Also the infusion set really is a 3-day set. I used to get 4-5 days with Medtronic infusion sets (again, cheap bastard) but the TSlim infusion set tubing is so delicate that at about day 3 it seems to be nearly breakable. Supplies for the TSlim are FAR less expensive than the 670G was, and the initial cost of the TSlim was less than half what the 670G was. I also do not like the constant alarms for high blood sugars. Every few minutes the pump/phone app are going CRAZY. I get that low blood sugar alarms are necessary. But high blood sugars, once the alarm goes off and I acknowledge it, they should silence for a much longer period of time. If my blood sugars are high at night, I am forced to stay awake for hours so the alarms do not wake up my wife. Eventually sugars return to normal range and I can go to sleep.
Loving your content and Congratulation Dr. Lord!!! Getting my Tslim set up with my dexcom 6 tomorrow. Put the case on upside down and Unable to get it off! I don't want to break anything. Any tips!!!
Just started on the T-slim 5 weeks ago. Been on the Dexcom 6 for 2 years, love the interoperability of the 2 systems. I too was uncomfortable with the cartridge filling but, took my time and now think I have the hang of it. As to traveling, I do it a lot so that was an issue for me as well. What I have been doing is being proactive when approaching TSA. First of all, I have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck so what I do is shut off the insulin delivery and disconnect the tubing from the cannula, place the pump and tubing in a plastic baggie, hand it to the TSA person and tell them “this cannot go through the XRay machine, it’s an insulin pump. They take it from me, hand it downstream to another agent who swipes it down and by that time I’m through the process and they hand it back to me in the bag. Then I reattach the cannula and away I go. Gotta say, first time through I was a bit nervous but, I overthought the whole thing. I love the pump, I’m now in range consistently at 90% regularly
Hi. I'm late in seeing your video because I'm about to get the T-slim X2. Congrats on your PHD, Dr. Lord! Can you please explain the tubing and cannula parts?
Congratulations Michelle in your accomplishment!....I’m actually kinda nervous and exited to start using my Tslimx2...tomorrow!,...I’m not as young as you but for me being in injections shots for so long feels like I had my best Christmas gift😇....one important question now that summer is coming...how do you use your pump when you are wearing your swimsuit???
I just started using a pump and the Control IQ has been amazing! I was very nervous about the automatic corrections and basil rate adjustments, but I haven’t had any issues yet. Every night it perfectly adjusts to keep me at my target BS. The only frustration is finding a good clip and location to clip to as I am extremely active and always finding new ways to have the infusion set ripped off. Would love advice on active clothing and better infusion set sites.
When I had my Medtronic...I found workout shirts with a pocket...I cut a small hole on the inside and fished my hosing through to my insertion set...I also put a button on a couple as I was in karate and moving around a lot...it worked pretty well just need to find good quality shirts. Cheers, JpG.
I've recrntly been approved to receive an insulin pump, and my choices (as omnipod is not an option due to high insulin usage) is between the t-slim x2 and the latest medtronic. I like that the t-slim seems smaller as I wonder how I'll wear it when not wearing jeans (skirts, dresses, looser waistbands etc) but I am a bit concerned about the cartridge filling. I'll have to watch your video about that.
I have a tandem t:slim x2 for now two years and I enjoy using the pump makes my life much easier. I'm an officer and during a training my clip broke of course I looked online for for a better one which was found on Amazon and at the same time works good especially when dealing with lots of issues and safety moment. I definitely am happy to have the best pump ever it took me a while and research to find one and tandem t:slim was best option. I have been diabetic for 20 years and it get tough but with good management and good pump it help greatly. I appreciate your video and understand other option but more happy to see you with tandem.
I switched from the Medtronic 722 to the T:Slim X2, I am using my holster from Medtronic and without modification it works very well. I did find that the pump had a tendency to slide out of the holster if it was on my waste and I leaned against a counter or something that put pressure on the face of the pump (didn’t happen often). In order to remedy that I added a small bumper from a cabinet door (looks like a clear dot) that increased the friction need to remove the pump and now works awesome. So if anyone is in need of a holster that is reliable, doesn’t break easily and allows you to swivel the pump for viewing the use the Medtronic swivel holster.
Hey Michelle! Congratulations on being awarded your PhD! Awesome. Love the video. I just went from an old Medtronic 512 to the t:slim x2. I concur with every observation you made. I tried the Medtronic 630g and disliked it intensely... too big, heavy and the button pushes?! Don't get me started. I just got an email... actually a couple of minutes before watching your post... and basal iq has been approved for Canada. Since I'm paying for my cgm, I'll have to consider whether to upgrade to the g6. Anyway, thanks for the post!
Congratulations Dr. Lord. You’re a fine example and a model for people with challenging diseases such as T1D who are willing to work through adversity in achieving what may seem like impossible goals. Re. the new pump, are you no longer going to use your smart watch - in conjunction with your phone - to get your glucose readings? I will be getting the Tandem in a few weeks and I’m wondering whether I should keep both systems going (pump CGM readout and cell phone) at the same time. I must admit that I have become somewhat addicted to having my glucose levels available on my smart watch. All the best in your professional career.
Thank you so much! Yes, I still use my apple watch in conjunction with my phone, especially when I'm out and about in the city. However, when I'm at home I usually don't wear it.
I wear my pump on my hip and use a tactical ttr holder. Looks a little military, but is attached to the belt by a loop, not a clip. That allows it to be positioned lower to avoid my waistline fat. I've always been a fan of repurposed kit. The only thing to be aware of is magnetized closures.
Very very cool! I just heard about this pump a few days ago and I am ready to switch from my Minimed 630G. I actually wear a slim running belt to hold my pump (gave up on clipping it to belts and whatnot), mostly when I was doing fieldwork in the Yukon last winter - was kinda worried about my insulin freezing in the middle of nowhere :)
I have had the T-slim for over a year now and I must say that when comparing using this pump to sticking needles into my body 4-5 times a day, there is NO comparison. This pump has changed my lifestyle overnight. I no longer have to take insulin cartridges with me (or bottles) where ever I go. I do agree that it is a "chore" to have to fill the cartridge with insulin for the T-slim, but it is still far better than sticking needles. I still have to prick my finger every morning to ensure that my pump reading is in line with my BG reading, but it is no longer a big deal.....you get used to anything after a while. In my opinion, the Tandem T-slim is Out of This World. I was really hesitant about going on the pump, but now, after a year, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Congrats Dr.Lord, on your PhD and new pump!. My teen son has also T1D for 11 yrs and due to not having insurance he's been using needles but now we can afford the pump and I want to know how much it costs monthly, does the Canada government covers or help with the cost, also does it hurt to apply it? We live in Toronto, we don't know much regarding pumps but I know this one works with the G6 CCM, is it true you need to buy a new transmitter every 3 months? I wish I would know more. He really need this.
Wow...pat yourself on your back...Dr Lord...cool!...ohhhh boy, I had to switch from the Omni-pod wireless pod (due to medical coverage change) that doesn’t raise alarms at TSA and I travel all the time...maybe what I would do is disconnect the pump and put it in the carry on bag...just started w the tandem slim x2, and like the interface and sleek design...great video...
Congrats on your achievement! when going through airport security I just disconnect the pump and place it in my pocketbook. I reconnect it immediately after.
@@williamtaylor6280 There should be no problem for the pump but there are issues for CGM devices. I always take my pump off and just put it in a pocket in my carry on and have never had a problem (I currently use a medtronic pump).
@@donhutchison9289 completely false. Read your owners manual and talk with them about this. I travel frequently and it will definitely mess up the devices. They tell you not to for a reason.
Congratulations on getting your PhD Dr Lord! 😊 How did you find your viva? I was terrified going into mine, but actually ended up quite enjoying it as both my internal and external examiners were so lovely.
Thank you!! It was such a good experience actually! Very similar to yours, where the examiners were more interested in my work and we ended up having great discussions 😊
I just celebrated my 45th yr with Diabetes on May 4th. I was on same medtronics as you and have been with the T2 since Nov of last yr, Same likes and dislikes as you except I dont use the case/clip as guys usually have an open pocket available but I would recommend looking into the T1 Tactical cases, but may be geared for guys more than females. The basal IQ with the G6 works great and I hear by the end of this yr it will also be able to increase basal if it detects you will be too high as well with the G6.
If you travel through a U.S. airport, TSA lets you "hand check" insulin pumps! Just before you go through the metal detector just ask to have it hand-checked. You hand the pump to the right TSA agent and walk through the metal detector. Then they either swab the pump or your hands and run the swab through the explosives detector. So much easier than a full-body pat-down. Not sure if Canada does the same thing but worth a try!!
I never go through the body scanner with the Dexcom Transmitter on my body, though. So, I have to get the full pat down. Being a girl, I have had to wait upwards of 10 mins for a girl officer to come over and do it. It's not awful though. Just add 10 mins to your security experience.
Congrats Dr. Lord! Thank you for sharing 😊 I’ll also be switching to the tslim from the Medtronic paradigm soon so this was very helpful. Really hoping I can continue using dexcom g5 with it (Aus government cut me off since I turned 21 last week, will only fund me if they decide I’m ‘high need’ now 🙁) Does insurance cover cgms at all in Canada?
Hi Michelle! Just wondering when you were doing your research and trying to make your decision for your next Pump, did you ever consider the Omni pod? If not do you mind sharing what your reasons were? I’m toying between the two, really leaning more towards the tandem since the basil IQ IS coming out in February and I’m pretty sure by the end of next year we will see the control IQ also. Just wondering if it was ever one of your considerations. Thanks so much!
Really useful video thanks - I'm currently wanting to switch to the TslimX2 from the Animas Vibe but my hospital here in the UK are saying no. The other CGM augmented option of the Medtronic 670 isn't good as the Guardian and enlite CGMs didn't work reliably for me when I have tested them - kept missing hypos - but the hospital still say no!!
@@MichelleLord- Thanks, need to stick with Dexcom so this is really the best and only option for me but it does look like a really good pump for other reasons too. I'll be using some of your points when I next see my consultant to try again... Congratulations on the Doctorate by the way...
Thank you for the great video! Could you please explain how is the charging time for X2? My wife wants to change her Medtronic to this one and struggling with the charge time of the X2.
I can charge my pump maybe once a week? I have never had it die on me. When you go take a shower, or are laying in bed its so easy to plug it up. I also carry a battery pack with me if I am going to be out just for emergencies. You can also charge it using a car adapter. Charging time to get a full charge from a low battery can take 15-20 or so minutes just depending? Over all it isn't something I have had trouble with nor seen complaints of.
Any advice on infusion sets? I used quik set with my Medtronic pump. I’m nervous about switching to the x2 as I’ve used Medtronic for 20 years but I love my Dexcom so I’m switching.
I used the Mio infusions sets with Medtronic, which are identical to the AutoSoft90 for t:slim. However, I'm not sure if there is a quickset equivalent. You could quickly call Tandem and ask! I find the AutoSoft90 infusion set to be very easy to insert and it doesn't leave scarring for me.
Congrats Dr Lord! Fantastic news about your PhD. You're going to LOVE Sicily. My husband grew up there. It's an amazing place -fantastic food, people and sea. Which places are you visiting?
Thank you! Oh I am SO excited for Sicily. How amazing that your husband grew up there :). I am visiting Favignana, Trapani, Erice, Palermo, Catania and Taormina :)
I was using the Medtronic 670G, but due to ALL the major problems I have been having with that pump. After going three different 670G between January and March of this year, I quit using the thing. I am now hoping that my insurance will cover the switch to the Tandem. My big question is how does recharging the pump work for you? Congratulations of the Doctorate.
Congratulations! I just switched from Animas to the Tslim x2 about a month ago. I love it but wish it had a remote to bolus when it's tucked away. Where did you get your overlay patch from? It is so pretty!
Dexvome allows you to monitor your child's sugar levels at all times on your cellphone. On the other hand the Pods are tubeless, which is good. Plus you can use dexcom with any pump, it is just not connected like it is with this one but you can still monitor your child's sugar levels and I think they are working on connecting it with all pumps.
I have had a Medtronic pump for over 20 years and considering a switch. Thanks for all the information. I wear my pump in my back pants pocket at work and clip it to my belt on weekends. Can this pump be worn in back pants pockets without it changing setting etc? Also, charging the cassette looks to be a disadvantage. Also, at times the Medtronic pump would give no delivery messages, have you experienced this with the tslim. Interested in all thoughts- thanks so much!
Hello! I’m currently wearing an Omnipod. However, my supply company told me about this the tandem tx slim 2 (I’m sorry if I got the name of the pump wrong.) anyway the site doesn’t say much about this pump then I found you. How much insulin does the pump hold?! The one and only reason I’m on the Omnipod is because my tubing from my minimed kept getting tangled up with my keys and I had to be particular in the clothes I wore. I’m looking forward to your clothing video.
I was on Medtronic pumps since 1991, 31 years. I switched to OmniPod 5, which I got free for 3 months, because i was in a trial release, and I was really interested in an AID system. Now that I have to pay, it will cost me $130 a month more than the Tandem over 4 years. I start Tandem next month when my OmniPod pumps run out. I’m looking forward to it.
Hi Michelle! Congrats on your PhD! I am also a Type 1 diabetic with a PhD! WooHoo! Question: Where did you get the patch around your Dexcom transmitter?
I have been on the T-slim for about 6 months now I HATE it! constant beeping all day and all night! you have to change the cartridge every three days, change the sensor every ten, change the transmitter every three months and a lot of the times the sensor is dysfunctional and you have to contact Solara. Its so unsightly under clothes (yes I purchased the garter, the waist band) and the catheter gets caught in your zipper or falls off and hurts by pulling the needle out!. The nurse at my mammogram told me to STOP wearing it in my bra area because it can cause cancer? Maybe I am too active for this ,but I am going back to injections. Also I gained 17 lbs. since I started the pump and did way better without this pump. I hike 2-3 miles a day and eat great ,I still have to bolus constantly and I have dangerous lows (42) and horrible highs (390+) not in control at all - sorry this is not for everyone!.
I have a case/clip on order from Type1Tactical. They are a small company and from what I understand it can take months to recieve, but everyone I've talked to who has one swears by them. There is also a new company Called EDC Solutions T1 out of Texas making holsters....theirs look a bit bulkier, but it's cool that they will custom etch different designs onto the case for you.
Congratulations Dr. Lord on your PhD. Wait until you can download Basel-iQ when it becomes available in Canada. I am still amazed at the number of times and how it determines when to prevent you from going low. Then Control-IQ when approved by FDA (End of 2019?) and later available in Canada. Don’t know about Nite-Ize clips, but I have used their holsters for my pumps for many years. They are high-quality, outstanding innovation, design, engineering and manufacturing.
So much WASTE of insulin to change the cartridge! I used to use same tubing for 2, sometimes 3, cartridge refills (Animas). With T slim you have to prime at least *10 units* with each new cartridge. So now I just change the tubing every time. ugh. Insulin = gold
my one challenge is that I can't seem to get it to provide my bolus soon enough and my post meal blood sugars always go up to 200 no matter the bolus amount. It needs to allow more bolus go through more quickly.
Hi Michelle, I am an insulin resistant T2 diabetic and considering a switch to Tandem because they have larger reservoirs and can deliver larger boluses than medtronic. As a diabetic I heal more slowly so I have opted against a CGM, but will reconsider with a pump change. Are there alternatives to a CGM like a communicating glucometer?
Both the Tandem and Medtronic pumps have the same max reservoir amount of 3mL (300 units). The Medtronic pumps actually come with a glucometer that communicates directly with the pump.
I was an early adopter of the t:slim (2013). Few things I hated in order: Didn't support apidra or any other insulin except humalog/novolog: most pumps use a piston but t:slim has a pump so it can be smaller crystallization causes blockages. Changing cartridges was more complicated has many parts with leaving crap all over the place. The leur lock would often get unscrewed, but medtronic’s was integrated with the top of the pump so it didn’t happen very often. The first T:slim had very little functionality (there wasn't even a TDD function at that time) Touch screen - have to look at the pump to do most operations. I asked about upgrade to the x2 but the answer I got started with the letter 'F' eventually a upgrade was offered at the cost of $800 - It was only a software update, why wouldn’t they just give it to me. I paid it, but then the Dexcom integration was out later than they said and I never saw that feature. When my pump came out of warranty they asked if I wanted to upgrade and i told them I had the X2 and what exactly would I be getting and they said a 4 year warranty and continued updates (I only got 1 update at that point) so my response started with the letter ‘F’ Things I liked: Stable, medtronic at the end would require a pump change every 6 months. I never sent my t:slim in Waterproof, until 2013 medtronic pumps weren’t waterproof Touch screen - pump could be a flashlight and interface can be changed Embedded battery, longer battery life.
Thanks for sharing! I didn’t think about that drawback of the touch screen. Also I had a feeling about the leur-loc being dodgy 😕 Think I’ll still go with the tslim when I replace my pump this year, because the drawbacks of the new Medtronic pumps seem worse to me (too big and wrong orientation for me).
This is the pump I'm getting and I'm super excited. I've only had T1D for exactly two months today but I am super happy that they already trust me enough to get a pump. Thank you for your channel it's amazing and super helpful and relatable.
Gratulation zum Dr., Michelle!
Habe mich vor Tagen entschlossen die t:slim X2 als nächste Insulin Pumpe zu nehmen und deine Videos haben mir sehr geholfen. Vielen Dank. Bleib gesund
Congrats Michelle, and thanks for your likes and dislikes. I have been Type 1 for 51 years! I have used the Mini-Med Medtronic pump for over 10 years with great success. I switched to T-Slim 2 weeks ago because I like cool, new, hip-looking devices. Like you, I have likes and dislikes. I like the use of the touch screen, the easy-to-read display, and the user-friendly steps to bolus and track BG's. My major problem is with the infusion set, the AutoSoft 90. I have found it very difficult to disconnect and reconnect at the site. The connecting clip is hard to squeeze and remove without pulling out the catheter. Second, I don't like the numerous steps needed to refill the the cartridge (as you mentioned) nor do I like the numerous steps needed to insert the infusion set. It also involves an incredible waste of plastic, which is not what we need in the world right now. I plan to switch to one of the other "manual insertion" sets that Tandem offers. It requires you to just push the needle into your skin, so you have to be brave. I imagine that most of us are used to sticking ourselves with needles by now. Thanks for your blog Michelle. I'll keep checking in.
Hi Peter, T1 44 years. Went to tslim from Animas. I tried the -90- infusion sets, and I had the same experience. Waaaay too hard to disconnect. I use the XC soft. I used the manual, 30degree inserts for 20 years and was having frequent issues with sets going bad because of scar tissue - allegedly, no one can really prove that, right? med pers just GUESS so much! While I agree with you on the waste generated for the apparatus to insert the straight-in cannulas, I've gotten used to them and find that I have a wider range of site choices.
More power to us, right? Blessings!
My son wears the G6! It's absolutely fantastic! As well, he's about to switch to the Tandem t:slim X2! Which just got the Control-IQ update! So it can now adjust for both lows and highs! AUTOMATICALLY!!!
We're super excited!
So anywho! Metal detectors can cause issues and errors with CGM transmitters! Because of this, you shouldn't be going through metal detectors. Nor can they make you! You should be bypassing them and having them use a hand-scan wand!
Kimberly Sweet Dexcom disagrees with your metal detector assessment. Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners are a different matter though.
www.dexcom.com/dexcom-airport-and-travel-guide-flying-dexcom-cgm
Congratulations Dr. Lord! All that hard work paid off.
Thank you! Yes it did! :)
I wish they would educate tsa about insulin pumps. The last few times I have traveled I tell them I can't go through and they just keep waving me on like I am creating a problem for them. The amount of times they just say, "oh its fine". So I go though and it goes off and they get mad at me anyways. They shouldn't be able to say its fine when they don't know your pump? I think mostly they're just in a rush because theres a long line of people and it angers me. If someone requests a pat down theres usually a damn good reason for it because that is the most awkward experience! Luckily I haven't had trouble with the scanners causing malfunctions but jeez it is nerve-wracking thinking there could be a problem when you're in a tiny tin can in the air. I don't have bombs or drugs - just a bad pancreas. Give me a break.
Quit flying on planes
@@tonycallea6223 yeah thanks Tony for the life changing advice
After living with insulin dependent diabetes for >40 years, there is still a lot to learn especially from young adults who are technically competent (and very pretty). I appreciate your insight and have learned a few things from you- thank you! Keep up the good work.
Like below, high congrats on your PHD. I am just starting X-2 tomorrow. I know I will love it. For my pump wearing (male) I find a belt pouch works the best. It is very secure with easy access to the device. Never had luck with clips as they are not so secure and somewhat fragile. My current pump is in a Canon EOS memory chip pouch which secures by belt loop. It is very secure., Again, in the pouch, the thickness of a case can be eliminated. With the cartridge/infusion set connector it is easy to disconnect for airport scanning. Cartridge filling is, yes, a more lengthy and insulin consuming process. Vanessa Belani has some insulin saving tips for cartridge filling which are safe and fast, but compared to other pump designs it is more cumbersome. I feel other pump benefits overcome this issue. As for pump falling off, I will happily retain it for you.
Happy pumping with glucose management for good health and long life.
Just switched to my tslim yesterday 9-30-20 from over 15 years with Medtronic. I was so nervous about the cartridge fill based off their video and how many more steps there were to fill than my previous pump. Watched your site change and cartridge video and it was so helpful!
Before watching your video, I thought of my likes and dislikes. They are the same as yours! The only added irritation is why doesn’t the pump clip go upside down from what it is, so I don't have to look at the screen upside down if I don’t want to take it off. They should really make the whole clip situation user friendly. But the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.
Love your videos!! Thank you and congratulations on your PhD!
I just started T: slim Control IQ yesterday, and wondered if there's a way to flip the screen display.
I have worn minimed pumps for about 20 years and am considering the t:slim so I thank you for your informative video
!
Rina Hovden Same and I just did a month ago and love it!
So interesting to hear about the T-Slim! I’d definitely consider switching to this pump, love the smaller profile and integrated CGM. Thank you for the well thought out and presented info, Michelle!!
Thank you Andrea! I'm so glad you found this video interesting. I am definitely loving the t:slim, especially the integration with the Dexcom 😘. I could definitely see you using this pump in the future since you are such a big Dexcom fan 😀
Hi Michelle - very useful video for me, thank you. I've been using the Medtronic 640 for years and I'm thinking of changing to T SLIM for a smaller pump. And congratulations on the PhD - it's great to see young women achieving great things.
I had been using the same medtronic minimed pump for 11 years and two weeks ago I switched to Tandem. Overall, I think it's nothing short of amazing and control IQ has helped stabilize my blood sugar tremendously, but, I totally agree with your thoughts on the cartridge filling process. I still have to watch the training videos because it's complicated compared to filling a reservoir for the minimed. Just a couple hours ago I was on the phone with tandem because the cartridge filling process was giving me a ton of issues. First the pump would not prime the inslin AT ALL but the pump was able to read that there was a full cartridge in it. It ended up being faulty tubing. Another thing was earlier during the syringe filling part, after getting the air bubbles out, the syringe was stuck, not able to be plunged, with 300 units in it. I ended up wasting 2/3 of it by screwing the needle on and off and insulin leaking everywhere. Tandem customer support is awesome though and they're sending me more cartridges and sets just because some were faulty and they told me to call anytime something like that happens so they can refund me more supplies for the faulty ones. Overall I think it's an amazing device and the more i change my set/fill the cartridge the easier it will turn into muscle memory!!! I'm glad this video came up on my recommended category, you seem awesome and you're the first diabetic I'm now subscribed to!! Congrats on all your Phd btw!!!
I met my CDE yesterday, and am now considering two new options from my 670G (which I’ve mostly been satisfied with): (1) upgrading to 770/780G OR (2) switching to Tandem’s. T-slim X2 with Dexcom. Any insights?
I'm about two months in using T-slim with G6. In my dozen years dealing with this condition, I'm experiencing some of the best overall BG control I ever have. I too am having similar dislikes and issues, I just ordered one of your recommended belt clips. I tried using a "quad-lock" clip but found it too bulky. Thank you for posting...
Great video! It's nice to hear other's opinions too! And of course CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PhD!! That is so exciting and such an amazing accomplishment!
I’ve had the Tandem X2 for 2 years now. I had a minimed for 15 years prior. I got a case from Type 1 Tactical. It’s a slip case made of plastic and the clip is extremely strong. Probably too bulky for wearing with a dress but I wear it in my work suit all the time. You get options of color and pattern ( I got carbon fiber). Your pump can slip in and out of the case with a very assuring tension feeling to it. It has never slipped out on its own. Congratulations on you PhD.
Congrats on the PhD! I'm also on the TSlimX2. It's been nice not having to stress too much about going dangerously low. I've had a few issues with kinked cannulas, but that's more to do with the way my muscle/ fat/ and scar tissue are distributed, so not a Tandem specific issue.
Congrats Dr. Lord!!!!! As far as the T Slim goes I pretty much have the same or close to the same likes and dislikes. I don't like the case at all so I took mine off and so far it has survived a few accidental drops! I do also really like that the it connects to the Dexcom CGM!
I actually am just finishing my first set with the T-Slim X2. I have a Dexcom G6 and I love them both so far. I switched from a Medtronic 530G and it is just night and day. First due to insurance issues I was able to get the Dexcom G6 device about a month prior to my T-Slim Pump. So for the fun of it I used both the G6 and the Minimed Enlite system to compare. It took about 24 hours for the G6 to truly calibrate itself. In this time I did sent it Glucose Meter readings but after the first 24 hours it was extremely accurate. The Enlite CGMS prompts me to calibrate it every 6 hours and I would find it was much less accurate than the G6--sometimes as far as 80 points off. Not having to worry about things if you forget your glucose meter is such a nice thing. Also the G6 is less bulky in my opinion. The Enlite (and guardian) systems have transmitters that do not seat into the sensor body. The also have this sort of mushroom shape that exposes a corner that easily is caught on things like clothing when you are taking off your shirt. This has resulted in a number of failures of the enlite system for me. So far my G6 has avoided those pitfalls. It is also really nice to be able to acknowledge alarms on my phone. I have my phone set to make noise alerts and have my pump on vibrate only. I may change this eventually--but if you're driving and your pump is under layers of clothing and a seat belt--it is nice to simply just acknowledge your phone and not worry about having to acknowledge the pump itself. The Minimed would repeat the alarm every 60 seconds with increasing intensity which wasn't ideal. The alarming systems on the T-Slim also seems to be very well thought out. The repeat alarms are more reasonable and volume is customizable. In terms of using the T-Slim pump--the interface is very well thought out. I don't like the fact that if you touch the screen three times in non function areas it turns off. I understand why-but in my case I have quite a bit of scarring on my thumbs which interferes with the touch screen--if I touch the screen with too much of my scarred areas it doesn't pick it up as a valid click--but does sense the pressure so three scar tissue clicks means the screen shuts off and I have to start over. Even with that I am learning to use my index finger more. the Basal IQ is fantastic. The MiniMed 530G would shut off the pump if you crossed a threshold value and it would alarm until it would wake up everyone in the house. Also my Minimed 530G did not automatically resume so if I was alone in the house I would typically sleep through the alarms and wake up with a blood sugar of over 400 if an event like that happened. The Basal IQ on the other hand watches your rate of fall and predicts where you will be in 30 minutes. If it predicts you will fall below 80 in the next 30 minutes it suspends delivery until it sees your blood sugar start to rise. It will do so without alarms and the first night I switched over to the T-Slim I ended up having a severe drop around 2am. Basil IQ suspended and resumed and when I started to drop again it suspended again and it did a really great job of preventing a low and allowing me to sleep through the entire event. The user interface between any Minimed system and T-Slim is not comparable at all., Being able to just enter my blood sugar and carb amounts rather than scrolling is extremely satisfying. The ease with which you can set up profiles, edit basil and bolus settings, and see information is great. I can easily look at the home screen and see how much insulin is on board and how much time is left, I can easily see how many units of insulin I have--all without having to go into a status screen and scroll down. One complaint would be that I don't think T-Slim used all of the space it could have. There is about 1/2 inch of black space where their "T" symbol sits. You can touch the T-Symbol at any time to return to the home screen. I think the button on the housing works fine for that and that you could have had a more robust display area. For example you could have added an area showing how many hours were left on your sensor once you were under 24 hours. You could also show an indicator showing the progress of a bolus delivery. The filling of the cartridge is not ideal--but it also makes it possible to have a slimmer cartridge and smaller pump than the Minimed. So once I am used to it I don't think that will be a long term factor. I am not a big fan of the case or clip. I think Minimed's design of their spring loaded clip was better because it was easier to clip around various clothing styles (athletic pants/shorts with elastic waist bands are thicker and the T-Slim doesn't clip on that very well). I am a little concerned about air travel since I do travel for work a fair amount--but I'll work with that. Overall starting on this pump has been such a positive life changing experience. I expected to be disappointed as I was with the 530G. It seemed the 530G promised more that it delivered, but this T-Slim product is very well thought out for making life easier. I chose the T-Slim X2 over the Minimed 670G primarily because their strategy for managing low blood sugars was so simple and less intrusive compared to Minimed's most advanced model. Now with Control IQ coming out the end of January-this pump will do everything the 670G does--but without the archaic interface. Additionally the ability to download software updates is something the 670G cannot do. So upgrading for Minimed involves a hardware upgrade rather than the simplicity of downloading an update to my pump. In about 3 weeks I'll download the Control IQ system and have a system that compensates for both lows and highs. In terms of Dexcom--being able to confidently make decisions based of the CGMS data is huge. Also the fact that every 3-6 months you get a new transmitter, when the G7 comes out--upgrading is automatic. The attention to hardware and physical lifestyle updates is a really neat feature. The G7 is supposed to be the thickness of a quarter I believe and will be another good step to easier living with diabetes.
Dr Lord--this was a great video and congratulations on your PhD. I will check out the links for the clips and probably order one.
Nate Alwine, Thank you much for your preview of the T-Slim Pump. I am going to try Saline trials this week with the T-Slim X2 and my Dexcom G6. This will be my first insulin pump. I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes almost 4 years ago. So, I have been on 3 different insulins and 5 or 6 shots a day with such radical highs and lows. I hade the Dexcom G5 to get used to for about a year and and now I do have the G6 and feel that I am ready for the next step of the insulin pump. I was first looking at the Medtronic, closed loop system, but I like more what I have seen with the Dexcom/Tandem interfaces and the fact that I am used to using the Dexcom CGM that I also have readings on my iPhone and iWatch...it helps a lot. My only apprehension is that these are mechanical things an they can be off. I have found my G6 off quite a bit sometimes and that is what makes me nervous a little.
Congratulations Dr. Lord! I am very happy for you and would like to thank you for sharing your videos!
Nate; very interesting point of view, loaded with information. I'm slow to wearing a pump (still prefer my syringes or pens), but I'm considering it now, after 48 years being Type 1. Doing my research, trying to find a reliable, slim (not obvious) pump. I wore a CGM once and I HATED it. Couldn't tear it out fast enough. Uncomfortable and obtrusive. Cost effective if of course another consideration. Love hearing about all of your experiences.
Thank you, Dr. Lord! My 14 year old Type 1 daughter is going to get trained on the 17th. Thanks so much for your perspective.
The reservoir connector to the infusion set tubing sticks out of the belt clip holster. It just flops around. But the pump is awesome. Took my A1C from 7.4 to 6.2 in one month of wearing it with my G6.
THATS AMAZING. I just got mine today
your pros and cons are spot-on....I had been traveling a lot, never a problem with medtronic pumps to walk thru the scanners. With T-Slim, I remove my pump before I get in line, and insert the pump in a faraday bag in my carry-on, haven't had any pat-downs and never a problem with teh pump in the faraday bag in the carry on. Don't like the frequent battery charging requirement either, seems to be worse since implementing the control-IQ update
Hello my name is Kalicia and I have been using G6 for a couple of months and have started today using the TSlim X2 today. I am very excited and a little nervous about it. I have just found your youtube and am hoping to get a lot of great ideas from you. Also it is exciting to have someone to watch that has type one diabetes like me. You seem to be having an easier time of it then me. I look forward to more videos. :)
Michelle, just found your channel. I just switched from my Medtronic pump which I had for 5 years, to this tslim pump. I love it so far. Just got it and trained for it 3 weeks ago. I like it better than the medtronic pump I had. But it's hard for me to refill it. I follow a step by step sheet that my trainer gave me. I will get better at it. It's just different. I am glad I switched to the tslim. Numbers seem better already. Thanks honey. I have been type 1 for 8 years now.
Michelle Congratulations on your graduation. I agree with you on your 2nd dislike but as far as your 3rd one i just put it in my pocket or bra. There is one other dislike I have and that is tandem does not have an over patch for the infusion like Dexcom does. I also am a changer from the Medtronic to tandem 9 months ago and I love my decision also.
Congratulations!! I switched pumps and should be getting the t slim x 2 any day now!!!! :D I’m so excited, and even more so after watching your video!
I’ve been on the tslim for a month now and love it, I’m in the USA so I have the basal iq and it works great no more lows at night when I’m sleeping, I love the ability to have different profiles and to be able to change insulin rates during the day in the timed feature, as far as the clip I haven’t had any issues with that most of the time I have it clipped to my pants pocket facing in so the unit is inside the pocket. I did by a spi belt which works good it’s sleek you can’t even tell it’s under your shirt and it has a port for running your tubing in so it’s not getting caught up in the zipper it doesn’t bounce around either. I can’t wait for the update for the closed loop I think tandem put more research into that then Medtronic we shall see suppose to be out some time this summer or early fall. Also love the fact it is updatable offer the net.
Congrats on becoming a doctor! I've been so envious of others on Tandem pumps, it's good to hear both it's pros and cons. Hope the Amazon clip/case works better, pump clips have been a constant gripe of mine
Good to know about the cartridge filling. I've been doing research and watching videos and I'm a little nervous about it. My animas is so easy I could literally do it with my eyes closed (not that I do that). I also thought the clip wasn't great. My animas clip is AMAZING...7 years and going strong haha. The pump overall still seems amazing and I love that when something new comes you can download the new features which is cool.
I just started to use TSlim2 IQ, with the G6 sensor/transmitter directly to the pump. IQ technology is very good. My complaints are: (1) the "cartridge" (reservoir) should be without syringe (e.g. Medtronic since the 90s) to save time AND avoid getting insulin all over the place, (2) the clip is protruding metal, which creates problems for the skin of runners, swimmers, (3) the belt clip is horizontal only, so you have to read and administer sideways and upside down, (4) the number of "touches" to give a combined or square bolus, with confirmations, is excessive and (5) the tubing is about 6 inches short for using belt clip at the toilet seat.
Yes, I use the latest T-slim with basal-IQ / Dexcom G6. Soon a wonderful feature of T-slim will be put to use...the firmware updatability. I-Control is soon to be released making this pump a closed loop system which will further reduce lows and highs making this a very powerful system. Update, not Out-of-Date.
Answering your question about pump clips, I use a product purchased at Walmart for $6 by ByTech. It is a tiny cell phone case that just fits the pump and securely clips to nearly anything. I prefer it because it encloses the pump protecting it from scuffs and bangs. Waist bands, belts or pockets are good places to carry this case.
I like nearly all the features of this pump. The pump will not allow you to record a solo carb entry. "Incomplete bolus entry" alarms sound. I would like this for pro-active data entry showing before exercise or preventative low protection.
I am a type 1 of 54 years and have learned much over that time. My endocrinologist is helping steer me into Stanford Chronic Disease Peer Training program which will allow me to share some of my knowledge without putting myself or the hospital at risk of litigation.
I have used Medtronic pumps since 2000. I have just switched to T-slim X2 Dec. 28 2020 . Along with the Dexcom G6 sensor. I love it so far, but keeping that sensor attached for 10 days can be a pain! I use skin tac, and I ordered some of those patches you recommended, but they haven't arrived yet. I am 58, and have been a type 1 since 1986. I was diagnosed when I was about 24, from family history of diabetes.
Thanks to your channel and a lot of research I went with the Tandem T:Slim X2 and my A1C went from 9.2 in April, on May 12 I started on the pump and my A1C in June was 6.6, that is with the Control IQ minds you.
Michelle, call Tandem and ask if they can locate a T-holster for you.. This is the case that they provided with the original t:slim. It holds much better than the new clip. Also the clip can be rotated so that you can wear the pump in different positions. I now am back living in the US. I lived in T. O. and had an office on Eglinton Ave W near Yonge St.
Will move on to X2 and G6 soon, still wait over here for update “Stop before Low”.
Use the Medtronic 640 and now 670 with auto adjusted insulin..but after many years with Medtronic they never get the Sensor good..can show 11 but I am at 2 so I hope that part is better on X2. But guess I will see soon..😀
And there is No perfect pump so you just have to choose the cons they have that matter less for your use.
Congratulations on the PhD! That's awesome! Thank you for these videos. Very helpful. My 15-year-old son will be starting on the T:slim 2x this week after being on the Medtronic pump most of his life. Like you, I feel a little apprehensive... but your video is reassuring me that we'll get through this pretty smoothly. I played with the pump a little, and I must say that I love the interface, so far.
My son is with same pump of medtronic g640 his 5 year old but i find some many pro lem in pump just we change the pump i will post them for other . Please writ us about t slim x2 how is for kids .
Have been on the T-slim x2 almost two months. Cartridge refills were also my issue, getting better. Formerly on Medtronic 630 g for approximately 10 years. Even after two hours of training with my Trainer, whom I would not trade for the world, still had to watch TH-cam videos,which was and is very helpful. Enough of my rambling, so far loving my T-slim.
Hi Michelle, I have used pumps for years and being a tradie they must be held securely. The Spibelt is cheap and works great.
I’m a 20 year t1 diabetic as well. I’ve had a pump for like 10 or so years, but have only transitioned to a close looped system. I’ve been on this system for less than a week, and the conclusion I’ve come to is that the focus of these companies is to prevent lows, and highs are not really their focus. I understand that lows are an immediate danger, but the highs are what cause the long term complications that diabetics are at risk for. The pump defiantly stops me from going low, but I’ve noticed that when I’m on an upward trajectory, it does nothing until I hit the “high threshold”). Only then does it start increasing my basal, and it doesn’t bolus me until I’m basically in my 200s. For lows. It doesn’t matter it my glucose is 120, if it starts falling slightly, control iq will start decreasing my basal. And will eventually turn it all the way off BEFORE you are actually low. But for highs it waits until you hit 170 before it takes any action. For me that’s doesn’t fair well because my body for some reason once my sugar is above 170, it likes to stay there. So I end up having to continually manually bolus myself. It defeats the purpose…I don’t understand why they didn’t just keep the same technology for highs as the do lows. I’ve even seen my basal decrease when I was at almost 150, and it started dropping. Why would my basal decrease? Shouldn’t it either stay the same or even increase to pull me back down to 120-110??? And of course my sugar crept up and up until I hit 170, and then the pump started increasing basal. Didn’t bolus my until I was past 200. 🤨
Michelle, congratulations on your PhD. As a 15 year Medtronic pump user who is considering new pump options, I am really interested in the cartridge loading process. You suggested it was very different from the Medtronic pumps, can you create a video demonstrating the new process from end to end? Thanks again.
I think Diabetic Danica has a video on that.... Another sweetheart!
Okay wait what?????!!!!! 😳 YOU have your PhD??!! Dr Lord!!!! That’s awesome!!! You look so young.... that is such perseverance!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💯
I love your accent!!!
Finally lol I am a T1D and I have the guardian 3 with a 670g from Medtronic💙
The best thing for me “next to sliced bread!!!” 🤔 🤣🥨🥖🥐🍞🥯 😂
And the freedom of having that connection pump to sensor & having the “auto mode” feature that stops basal delivery is AWESOME!!! 🥰🥳🤩 The real time blood sugars LOVE IT!! 🥰🤩🥳 I have never been able to bring down my #’s and the A1c was awful... today I have a 6.3 a1c & my BS are 90-130!!!! 🙌🏼
Your videos are great!! And CONGRATS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT PhD ✨✨✨✨ what a great role model you are to young girls!!! To young women in general!!! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Congrats to you! I’m leaning towards the t-slim for my first pump (just diagnosed in February). This was super informative and helpful:) My endocrinologist says it’s the Tesla of pumps!
Thank you! Yes, it seems like the t:slim is leading the way in terms of insulin pumps :) . I'm glad this video could help!
Hi Doctor Lord im also on the tandem t:slim x2 your absolutely right the clip isnt very strong also another thing i dont like about the pump is it can only give u a maximum of 25 units per bolus per meal as im a very big eater its quite annoying that the pump is like that another thing is when you bolus it takes a long time for the insulin to go through into your pump before you can eat the last thing is when u have to change your infusion set there's alot of steps to do so and when u have to prime the insulin it can take between 10 to 20 units to prime which is alot of insulin wasteage
Now the things i like is how u can charge the pump by usb
Also the temporary Basel is good
And the size of the pump is a good size especially for me who plays alot of sports such as indoor cricket outdoor cricket Afl
And oz tag thats my sports all in the one week look forward to hearing back from you thank you for your video Doctor Lord
Thank you for your information, I start the T:Slim X2 on Thursday
My 10 year old daughter just started the TSlim x2 a week ago and she loves it. I'll have to share your videos with her. Only problem is sometimes she wears long dresses and it makes getting to her pump harder.
Congrats doctor...so proud of you ...thanks for giving the hope for us ...my son 9 years old has been just diagnosed with type 1 DM
Congratulations Doctor Lord; makes you the Lord of the Doctor's cool. I have so enjoyed your comments and review especially, selecting the T:Slim X2 insulin pump and the closed loop technology for treating your Diabetes. I am sure this device will serve you well in your new career.
Congratulations Dr. Lord!
Michelle, Congratulations on your PhD! - I've been a type 1 diabetic for 48 years, I've been wearing an insulin pump for 26 yrs, just recently changed over to the t:slim X2. I wasn't crazy about my trainer, she didn't seem very knowledgeable what I'm trying to figure out is how to set my "Low Range" to higher than 70. 70 is way to low for me, I've very sensitive to insulin so by the time my sugar is near 70 it is way too low for me, within a few minutes I drop to 50. I'm going to call tandem tomorrow to see if someone there can help me - I like to carry my pump in my bra - I get my bras from Victoria's Secret, I purchase headbands that the color matches my bras - I then take it to my dry cleaners (they do alterations), they put a pocket between the cups (on the inside) - this works fantastic, my pump fits in horizontally, stays secure and no one ever knows I have a pump on : )
I realize you have possibly answered your own questions regarding how to clip or secure your insulin pump to your body. I have sewn together a belt attachment much like the one used on the Medtronic Minimed insulin pumps. It works like a charm. Once I get the drawings completed and recommendations on the stitchin process I will instagram you with the detail. I realize women don't wear belts so in the meantime I will work with my wife and see if we can come up with a few more solutions.
Good day Michelle! T1 since 1985. Been using Medtronic pumps for 20 years. Switched to the TSlim almost 2 weeks ago. Was using the 670G for the previous 4 years. That pump was AWFUL! So bad in fact, that it caused me to permanently divorce Medtronic. Never again (BTW I am not employed in any field involving diabetes care, and my income has zero to do with diabetes products, so my opinions are not biased). So far the TSlim X2 & Dex are FAR superior to the 670G. What do I like the best: no calibration. Seriously, I almost got PTSD-like symptoms trying to calibrate the 670G. I have a B.S. in electrical engineering, and do statistical data modeling for a living, so I know all about predictive algorithms. That pump SUCKED. The Dex sensors are much easier to insert. The needle must be much smaller. I've had about 35,000 insulin injections, about 1,500 infusion set changes, and about 250,000 finger stick blood tests, so I'm not afraid of needles. Dex sensors seem to track slightly better with finger stick results than the 670G sensors. Adhesive on the Dex really does last 10 days (670G it barely lasted the week the sensor lasted). I also like being able to set basal rates. I have awful dawn phenomenon, so being able to increase insulin doses makes it so my morning blood sugars are much more reasonable. The 670G was never able to adjust the basal rate enough to stop that from happening. I have not tried the delayed bolus feature yet, but had that on previous pumps (dual-wave bolus). I like that the TSlim has that - otherwise eating pizza would suck. I'm sure I will try that feature out soon. The 670G did not have it at all - major fail. I also like that the TSlim app can transmit my blood sugars to someone else in case I get dangerously low. After 37 yrs of being T1, I am hypoglycemia unaware, so this feature is nice. It gives my wife peace of mind that she can look at my blood sugars on her phone any time she wants. The 670G had Bluetooth capability (blood test meter connected to the pump via Bluetooth) but it would not connect to phones for that one safety feature? WTF Medtronic???? What do I not like: I also do not like the cartridge refilling. I'm sort of a "cheap bastard" and try to reuse my supplies as long as possible. It was easy to reuse reservoirs on my previous pumps. TSlim - not so easy. I know you aren't supposed to reuse, but I did anyway. Also the infusion set really is a 3-day set. I used to get 4-5 days with Medtronic infusion sets (again, cheap bastard) but the TSlim infusion set tubing is so delicate that at about day 3 it seems to be nearly breakable. Supplies for the TSlim are FAR less expensive than the 670G was, and the initial cost of the TSlim was less than half what the 670G was. I also do not like the constant alarms for high blood sugars. Every few minutes the pump/phone app are going CRAZY. I get that low blood sugar alarms are necessary. But high blood sugars, once the alarm goes off and I acknowledge it, they should silence for a much longer period of time. If my blood sugars are high at night, I am forced to stay awake for hours so the alarms do not wake up my wife. Eventually sugars return to normal range and I can go to sleep.
Loving your content and Congratulation Dr. Lord!!! Getting my Tslim set up with my dexcom 6 tomorrow. Put the case on upside down and Unable to get it off! I don't want to break anything. Any tips!!!
Just started on the T-slim 5 weeks ago. Been on the Dexcom 6 for 2 years, love the interoperability of the 2 systems. I too was uncomfortable with the cartridge filling but, took my time and now think I have the hang of it. As to traveling, I do it a lot so that was an issue for me as well. What I have been doing is being proactive when approaching TSA. First of all, I have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck so what I do is shut off the insulin delivery and disconnect the tubing from the cannula, place the pump and tubing in a plastic baggie, hand it to the TSA person and tell them “this cannot go through the XRay machine, it’s an insulin pump. They take it from me, hand it downstream to another agent who swipes it down and by that time I’m through the process and they hand it back to me in the bag. Then I reattach the cannula and away I go. Gotta say, first time through I was a bit nervous but, I overthought the whole thing. I love the pump, I’m now in range consistently at 90% regularly
Hi. I'm late in seeing your video because I'm about to get the T-slim X2. Congrats on your PHD, Dr. Lord! Can you please explain the tubing and cannula parts?
Congratulations Michelle in your accomplishment!....I’m actually kinda nervous and exited to start using my Tslimx2...tomorrow!,...I’m not as young as you but for me being in injections shots for so long feels like I had my best Christmas gift😇....one important question now that summer is coming...how do you use your pump when you are wearing your swimsuit???
I just started using a pump and the Control IQ has been amazing! I was very nervous about the automatic corrections and basil rate adjustments, but I haven’t had any issues yet. Every night it perfectly adjusts to keep me at my target BS. The only frustration is finding a good clip and location to clip to as I am extremely active and always finding new ways to have the infusion set ripped off. Would love advice on active clothing and better infusion set sites.
When I had my Medtronic...I found workout shirts with a pocket...I cut a small hole on the inside and fished my hosing through to my insertion set...I also put a button on a couple as I was in karate and moving around a lot...it worked pretty well just need to find good quality shirts. Cheers, JpG.
I've recrntly been approved to receive an insulin pump, and my choices (as omnipod is not an option due to high insulin usage) is between the t-slim x2 and the latest medtronic.
I like that the t-slim seems smaller as I wonder how I'll wear it when not wearing jeans (skirts, dresses, looser waistbands etc) but I am a bit concerned about the cartridge filling. I'll have to watch your video about that.
I have a tandem t:slim x2 for now two years and I enjoy using the pump makes my life much easier. I'm an officer and during a training my clip broke of course I looked online for for a better one which was found on Amazon and at the same time works good especially when dealing with lots of issues and safety moment. I definitely am happy to have the best pump ever it took me a while and research to find one and tandem t:slim was best option. I have been diabetic for 20 years and it get tough but with good management and good pump it help greatly. I appreciate your video and understand other option but more happy to see you with tandem.
I switched from the Medtronic 722 to the T:Slim X2, I am using my holster from Medtronic and without modification it works very well. I did find that the pump had a tendency to slide out of the holster if it was on my waste and I leaned against a counter or something that put pressure on the face of the pump (didn’t happen often). In order to remedy that I added a small bumper from a cabinet door (looks like a clear dot) that increased the friction need to remove the pump and now works awesome. So if anyone is in need of a holster that is reliable, doesn’t break easily and allows you to swivel the pump for viewing the use the Medtronic swivel holster.
Hey Michelle! Congratulations on being awarded your PhD! Awesome. Love the video. I just went from an old Medtronic 512 to the t:slim x2. I concur with every observation you made. I tried the Medtronic 630g and disliked it intensely... too big, heavy and the button pushes?! Don't get me started. I just got an email... actually a couple of minutes before watching your post... and basal iq has been approved for Canada. Since I'm paying for my cgm, I'll have to consider whether to upgrade to the g6. Anyway, thanks for the post!
Congratulations Dr. Lord. You’re a fine example and a model for people with challenging diseases such as T1D who are willing to work through adversity in achieving what may seem like impossible goals.
Re. the new pump, are you no longer going to use your smart watch - in conjunction with your phone - to get your glucose readings? I will be getting the Tandem in a few weeks and I’m wondering whether I should keep both systems going (pump CGM readout and cell phone) at the same time. I must admit that I have become somewhat addicted to having my glucose levels available on my smart watch.
All the best in your professional career.
Thank you so much! Yes, I still use my apple watch in conjunction with my phone, especially when I'm out and about in the city. However, when I'm at home I usually don't wear it.
I wear my pump on my hip and use a tactical ttr holder. Looks a little military, but is attached to the belt by a loop, not a clip. That allows it to be positioned lower to avoid my waistline fat. I've always been a fan of repurposed kit. The only thing to be aware of is magnetized closures.
What is a tactical ttr holder?
Very very cool! I just heard about this pump a few days ago and I am ready to switch from my Minimed 630G. I actually wear a slim running belt to hold my pump (gave up on clipping it to belts and whatnot), mostly when I was doing fieldwork in the Yukon last winter - was kinda worried about my insulin freezing in the middle of nowhere :)
Where do you get a slim running belt?
Weeks Congratulations, Michelle, I just received model 260 yesterday, and will in next few weeks be getting therapy on how to use it
I have had the T-slim for over a year now and I must say that when comparing using this pump to sticking needles into my body 4-5 times a day, there is NO comparison. This pump has changed my lifestyle overnight. I no longer have to take insulin cartridges with me (or bottles) where ever I go. I do agree that it is a "chore" to have to fill the cartridge with insulin for the T-slim, but it is still far better than sticking needles. I still have to prick my finger every morning to ensure that my pump reading is in line with my BG reading, but it is no longer a big deal.....you get used to anything after a while. In my opinion, the Tandem T-slim is Out of This World. I was really hesitant about going on the pump, but now, after a year, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Congrats Dr.Lord, on your PhD and new pump!. My teen son has also T1D for 11 yrs and due to not having insurance he's been using needles but now we can afford the pump and I want to know how much it costs monthly, does the Canada government covers or help with the cost, also does it hurt to apply it? We live in Toronto, we don't know much regarding pumps but I know this one works with the G6 CCM, is it true you need to buy a new transmitter every 3 months? I wish I would know more. He really need this.
Congratulations Dr. Lord!!!!🎉🎉
Thank you Isabella!
Wow...pat yourself on your back...Dr Lord...cool!...ohhhh boy, I had to switch from the Omni-pod wireless pod (due to medical coverage change) that doesn’t raise alarms at TSA and I travel all the time...maybe what I would do is disconnect the pump and put it in the carry on bag...just started w the tandem slim x2, and like the interface and sleek design...great video...
Congrats on your achievement! when going through airport security I just disconnect the pump and place it in my pocketbook. I reconnect it immediately after.
That’s just as bad! Should NOT be X-Ray aka radiation.
@@williamtaylor6280 There should be no problem for the pump but there are issues for CGM devices. I always take my pump off and just put it in a pocket in my carry on and have never had a problem (I currently use a medtronic pump).
@@donhutchison9289 completely false. Read your owners manual and talk with them about this. I travel frequently and it will definitely mess up the devices.
They tell you not to for a reason.
My FIRST DISLIKE: This pump clip sucks compared to the medtronic i had for 12 years.
i would have to agree i loved my minimed pump
Congratulations on getting your PhD Dr Lord! 😊 How did you find your viva? I was terrified going into mine, but actually ended up quite enjoying it as both my internal and external examiners were so lovely.
Thank you!! It was such a good experience actually! Very similar to yours, where the examiners were more interested in my work and we ended up having great discussions 😊
I just celebrated my 45th yr with Diabetes on May 4th. I was on same medtronics as you and have been with the T2 since Nov of last yr, Same likes and dislikes as you except I dont use the case/clip as guys usually have an open pocket available but I would recommend looking into the T1 Tactical cases, but may be geared for guys more than females. The basal IQ with the G6 works great and I hear by the end of this yr it will also be able to increase basal if it detects you will be too high as well with the G6.
If you travel through a U.S. airport, TSA lets you "hand check" insulin pumps! Just before you go through the metal detector just ask to have it hand-checked. You hand the pump to the right TSA agent and walk through the metal detector. Then they either swab the pump or your hands and run the swab through the explosives detector. So much easier than a full-body pat-down. Not sure if Canada does the same thing but worth a try!!
I never go through the body scanner with the Dexcom Transmitter on my body, though. So, I have to get the full pat down. Being a girl, I have had to wait upwards of 10 mins for a girl officer to come over and do it. It's not awful though. Just add 10 mins to your security experience.
Congrats Dr. Lord! Thank you for sharing 😊 I’ll also be switching to the tslim from the Medtronic paradigm soon so this was very helpful. Really hoping I can continue using dexcom g5 with it (Aus government cut me off since I turned 21 last week, will only fund me if they decide I’m ‘high need’ now 🙁) Does insurance cover cgms at all in Canada?
MarieTarin Insurance in Canada only covers the Libre.
Hi Michelle! Just wondering when you were doing your research and trying to make your decision for your next Pump, did you ever consider the Omni pod? If not do you mind sharing what your reasons were? I’m toying between the two, really leaning more towards the tandem since the basil IQ IS coming out in February and I’m pretty sure by the end of next year we will see the control IQ also. Just wondering if it was ever one of your considerations. Thanks so much!
Really useful video thanks - I'm currently wanting to switch to the TslimX2 from the Animas Vibe but my hospital here in the UK are saying no. The other CGM augmented option of the Medtronic 670 isn't good as the Guardian and enlite CGMs didn't work reliably for me when I have tested them - kept missing hypos - but the hospital still say no!!
Ugh I'm so sorry that the hospital is saying no :(. I hope you can find a way to switch to the t:slim if that is what you really want. Best of luck!
@@MichelleLord- Thanks, need to stick with Dexcom so this is really the best and only option for me but it does look like a really good pump for other reasons too. I'll be using some of your points when I next see my consultant to try again... Congratulations on the Doctorate by the way...
Thank you for the great video! Could you please explain how is the charging time for X2? My wife wants to change her Medtronic to this one and struggling with the charge time of the X2.
I can charge my pump maybe once a week? I have never had it die on me. When you go take a shower, or are laying in bed its so easy to plug it up. I also carry a battery pack with me if I am going to be out just for emergencies. You can also charge it using a car adapter. Charging time to get a full charge from a low battery can take 15-20 or so minutes just depending? Over all it isn't something I have had trouble with nor seen complaints of.
Mads Liddell thanks a lot 😀
Any advice on infusion sets? I used quik set with my Medtronic pump. I’m nervous about switching to the x2 as I’ve used Medtronic for 20 years but I love my Dexcom so I’m switching.
I used the Mio infusions sets with Medtronic, which are identical to the AutoSoft90 for t:slim. However, I'm not sure if there is a quickset equivalent. You could quickly call Tandem and ask! I find the AutoSoft90 infusion set to be very easy to insert and it doesn't leave scarring for me.
Congrats Dr Lord! Fantastic news about your PhD.
You're going to LOVE Sicily. My husband grew up there. It's an amazing place -fantastic food, people and sea. Which places are you visiting?
Thank you! Oh I am SO excited for Sicily. How amazing that your husband grew up there :). I am visiting Favignana, Trapani, Erice, Palermo, Catania and Taormina :)
Hey Michelle, I am also interested in the T:SLIM X2 and especially in the Control IQ Feature. Will you review the Control IQ feature in the futur? :)
I was using the Medtronic 670G, but due to ALL the major problems I have been having with that pump. After going three different 670G between January and March of this year, I quit using the thing. I am now hoping that my insurance will cover the switch to the Tandem. My big question is how does recharging the pump work for you? Congratulations of the Doctorate.
Congratulations! I just switched from Animas to the Tslim x2 about a month ago. I love it but wish it had a remote to bolus when it's tucked away. Where did you get your overlay patch from? It is so pretty!
Thanks :)! Remote bolus would be a pretty nice feature to have, I agree. I got my patch from pimpmydiabetes.com
Congratulations on your great achievement, Michelle. For a child, is it recommended to use Omnipod or t:slim x2?
Dexvome allows you to monitor your child's sugar levels at all times on your cellphone. On the other hand the Pods are tubeless, which is good. Plus you can use dexcom with any pump, it is just not connected like it is with this one but you can still monitor your child's sugar levels and I think they are working on connecting it with all pumps.
I have had a Medtronic pump for over 20 years and considering a switch. Thanks for all the information. I wear my pump in my back pants pocket at work and clip it to my belt on weekends. Can this pump be worn in back pants pockets without it changing setting etc? Also, charging the cassette looks to be a disadvantage. Also, at times the Medtronic pump would give no delivery messages, have you experienced this with the tslim. Interested in all thoughts- thanks so much!
Hello! I’m currently wearing an Omnipod. However, my supply company told me about this the tandem tx slim 2 (I’m sorry if I got the name of the pump wrong.) anyway the site doesn’t say much about this pump then I found you. How much insulin does the pump hold?! The one and only reason I’m on the Omnipod is because my tubing from my minimed kept getting tangled up with my keys and I had to be particular in the clothes I wore. I’m looking forward to your clothing video.
i just switched to this pump so far i love it
I was on Medtronic pumps since 1991, 31 years. I switched to OmniPod 5, which I got free for 3 months, because i was in a trial release, and I was really interested in an AID system. Now that I have to pay, it will cost me $130 a month more than the Tandem over 4 years. I start Tandem next month when my OmniPod pumps run out. I’m looking forward to it.
Hi Michelle! Congrats on your PhD! I am also a Type 1 diabetic with a PhD! WooHoo! Question: Where did you get the patch around your Dexcom transmitter?
You can use the sugarpatch it's where I get mine
I have been on the T-slim for about 6 months now I HATE it! constant beeping all day and all night! you have to change the cartridge every three days, change the sensor every ten, change the transmitter every three months and a lot of the times the sensor is dysfunctional and you have to contact Solara. Its so unsightly under clothes (yes I purchased the garter, the waist band) and the catheter gets caught in your zipper or falls off and hurts by pulling the needle out!. The nurse at my mammogram told me to STOP wearing it in my bra area because it can cause cancer? Maybe I am too active for this ,but I am going back to injections. Also I gained 17 lbs. since I started the pump and did way better without this pump. I hike 2-3 miles a day and eat great ,I still have to bolus constantly and I have dangerous lows (42) and horrible highs (390+) not in control at all - sorry this is not for everyone!.
Congrats!!!! So amazing!
I have a case/clip on order from Type1Tactical. They are a small company and from what I understand it can take months to recieve, but everyone I've talked to who has one swears by them. There is also a new company Called EDC Solutions T1 out of Texas making holsters....theirs look a bit bulkier, but it's cool that they will custom etch different designs onto the case for you.
Thanks so much for the tips! I will check these companies out :)
Congratulations Dr. Lord on your PhD. Wait until you can download Basel-iQ when it becomes available in Canada. I am still amazed at the number of times and how it determines when to prevent you from going low. Then Control-IQ when approved by FDA (End of 2019?) and later available in Canada. Don’t know about Nite-Ize clips, but I have used their holsters for my pumps for many years. They are high-quality, outstanding innovation, design, engineering and manufacturing.
Thank you! I cannot wait to have Basal IQ. It truly sounds life changing! I'm glad to hear Nite-Ize products are good quality.
i would like to know your opinion on the challenges you faced with this pump or other pumps when it came to the cord.
Great to know it sets off metal detectors! I wasn’t made aware of that
So much WASTE of insulin to change the cartridge! I used to use same tubing for 2, sometimes 3, cartridge refills (Animas). With T slim you have to prime at least *10 units* with each new cartridge. So now I just change the tubing every time. ugh.
Insulin = gold
That’s because the plastic breaks down the effectiveness of Insulin. FACT.
I just switched pumps today! Dumped the Medtronic 670 for this one.
my one challenge is that I can't seem to get it to provide my bolus soon enough and my post meal blood sugars always go up to 200 no matter the bolus amount. It needs to allow more bolus go through more quickly.
Hi Michelle, I am an insulin resistant T2 diabetic and considering a switch to Tandem because they have larger reservoirs and can deliver larger boluses than medtronic. As a diabetic I heal more slowly so I have opted against a CGM, but will reconsider with a pump change. Are there alternatives to a CGM like a communicating glucometer?
Both the Tandem and Medtronic pumps have the same max reservoir amount of 3mL (300 units). The Medtronic pumps actually come with a glucometer that communicates directly with the pump.
I was an early adopter of the t:slim (2013).
Few things I hated in order:
Didn't support apidra or any other insulin except humalog/novolog: most pumps use a piston but t:slim has a pump so it can be smaller crystallization causes blockages.
Changing cartridges was more complicated has many parts with leaving crap all over the place. The leur lock would often get unscrewed, but medtronic’s was integrated with the top of the pump so it didn’t happen very often.
The first T:slim had very little functionality (there wasn't even a TDD function at that time)
Touch screen - have to look at the pump to do most operations.
I asked about upgrade to the x2 but the answer I got started with the letter 'F' eventually a upgrade was offered at the cost of $800 - It was only a software update, why wouldn’t they just give it to me. I paid it, but then the Dexcom integration was out later than they said and I never saw that feature. When my pump came out of warranty they asked if I wanted to upgrade and i told them I had the X2 and what exactly would I be getting and they said a 4 year warranty and continued updates (I only got 1 update at that point) so my response started with the letter ‘F’
Things I liked:
Stable, medtronic at the end would require a pump change every 6 months. I never sent my t:slim in
Waterproof, until 2013 medtronic pumps weren’t waterproof
Touch screen - pump could be a flashlight and interface can be changed
Embedded battery, longer battery life.
Thanks for sharing! I didn’t think about that drawback of the touch screen. Also I had a feeling about the leur-loc being dodgy 😕 Think I’ll still go with the tslim when I replace my pump this year, because the drawbacks of the new Medtronic pumps seem worse to me (too big and wrong orientation for me).
i agree i say go with the old omnipod! loop ftw