Mary Mouser was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes one month after she turned 13. It’s been 14 years since her diagnosis and she continues to understand and embrace diabetes as a part of her life.
“Diabetes is a lot to think about, mentally and emotionally,” Mary shared in a 2023 interview with Insider.com. “My [t:slim X2 insulin] pump takes away some of that burden.”
If she could go back in time, she would give herself a glimpse of all she would accomplish. Most importantly, she believes she achieved these milestones not despite her diabetes — but because of it.
Acting and Type 1 Diabetes
When Mary was first diagnosed, she was worried it would prevent her from doing the thing she wanted to do with the rest of her life: Acting.
Mary recalled being in the hospital at 13 and seeing a magazine with the singer Nick Jonas on the cover discussing his type 1 diabetes.
“I remember being like, ‘If he can do it, then I can do it,’” she told Healthline.com in 2022. As Mary learned to get in tune with her body as part of her diabetes management, she also embraced the understanding that she could still do anything she wanted. She has been playing Samantha LaRusso on Cobra Kai for the past five seasons, which requires extensive physical choreography.
I love the wearability and flexibility of my t:slim X2 pump.
Mary Mouser
Shared in a Conversation with Tandem Diabetes Care
The Benefits of Pumping in Hollywood
After being a long-time customer, Mary is now a Tandem Ambassador. She loves the touchscreen and pump features, as well as being able to integrate a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor to track her blood sugar levels.
“Thanks to the t:slim X2 insulin pump and my CGM system, I can monitor my glucose levels and deliver the proper amount of insulin without fingersticks or insulin shots,” Mary said in a conversation with Tandem Diabetes Care. “This helps me spend more time in my target glucose range and have the flexibility to focus more on my daily activities and work.”
She is able to use her t:slim X2 insulin pump under her karate gi and other costumes for Cobra Kai, especially because she’s asked wardrobe designers to take her pump into consideration.
“I can discreetly wear it under my karate gi on the set of Cobra Kai and check my levels on my smartphone using the t:connect app,” Mary said. “I can also disconnect from it easily when I wear more form-fitting costumes, and then reconnect after my scenes.”
Thanks for being a Tandem Ambassador, Mary. We can’t wait to see what you do next — on- and off-the-screen!
Note: From time to time, we may pass along suggestions, tips, or information about other Tandem insulin pump user experiences or approaches to the management of diabetes. Please note, however, individual symptoms, situations, circumstances, and results may vary. Please consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding your condition and appropriate medical treatment.
Important Safety Information: RX ONLY. The t:slim X2 insulin pump with interoperable technology is an alternate controller enabled (ACE) pump that is intended for the subcutaneous delivery of insulin, at set and variable rates, for the management of diabetes mellitus in people requiring insulin. The pump is able to reliably and securely communicate with compatible, digitally connected devices, including automated insulin dosing software, to receive, execute, and confirm commands from these devices. The pump is indicated for use in individuals six years of age and greater. The pump is intended for single patient, home use and requires a prescription. The pump is indicated for use with U-100 insulin only. Users of the pump must: be willing and able to use the insulin pump and all other system components in accordance with their respective instructions for use; test blood glucose levels as recommended by their healthcare provider; demonstrate adequate carb-counting skills; maintain sufficient diabetes self-care skills; see healthcare provider(s) regularly; and have adequate vision and/or hearing to recognize all functions of the pump, including alerts. The t:slim X2 pump, and the CGM transmitter and sensor must be removed before MRI, CT, or diathermy treatment. Visit tandemdiabetes.com/safetyinfo for additional important safety information.
The information on the t:connect mobile app display may not be identical to the current status of your pump. Wireless uploads from the t:connect mobile app to the cloud-based t:connect web application require a compatible phone and an internet or wireless data connection. Uploads to the t:connect web application do not take place in real time and should not be relied upon by healthcare providers or caregivers for remote patient monitoring. Standard carrier data rates may apply.
t:connect mobile app: The t:connect mobile app is intended to be a secondary display for compatible Tandem Diabetes Care insulin pumps and is capable of wirelessly uploading pump data it receives into the t:connect web application. The t:connect mobile app is not intended to control an insulin pump and is not intended to be a replacement for the information displayed on your insulin pump. Dosing decisions should not be made based on the secondary display device. The user should follow instructions on the continuous glucose monitoring system and insulin pump. This secondary display device is not intended to replace self-monitoring practices as advised by a physician.
