Kirsten Ross was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 10. Now at 26, she’s wearing different hats as a full-time nursing student, a medical assistant, and a mother to an 18-month-old son.
Kirsten started her diabetes management therapy on multiple daily injections. But as she began to become more active in sports, she wanted other options. She discovered Tandem Diabetes Care and is on year nine as a Tandem Family member who loves her t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology.
How Control-IQ Technology is Positively Different
Kirsten explained that she’s sensitive to insulin, which is one of the reasons she loves Control-IQ technology.
“My A1c has been a little bit of a roller coaster, but Control-IQ technology helps me get into a normal range,” Kirsten said. “I really, really like it.”
As a full-time mom and student —and someone who also works part-time —Kirsten is busy to say the least.
“There are moments when I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I ate breakfast and didn’t use insulin, but then I know that Control-IQ has me, so I don’t have to worry about spiking,’” Kirsten added. “I don’t have to constantly be like, ‘What’s my sugar level? Oh, I need to do this. I can’t eat that.’ I have more free range to feel like a normal person who doesn’t have diabetes, which is nice.”
Kirsten likes the consistency of the t:slim X2 insulin pump.
“I’ve used [other pumps] and almost every single time I put [them] on, I had multiple issues,” Kirsten recalled. “I played volleyball, so it’d fall off in the middle of a game, but I couldn’t stop playing to put on a new pump. The fact that I don’t have issues with Tandem is why I keep coming back.”
Kirsten is allergic to the plastic used in cannulas, so she appreciates Tandem offers the TruSteel infusion set, which is what she’s used for the last five years.
“I’ve been able to worry less about occlusions … which is really nice,” Kirsten added. “It’s a lot less frustrating.”
Getting to Live Life
Even though Kirsten has lived with type 1 diabetes for the last 16 years, she doesn’t want anyone to treat her differently. In fact, most people in her life today don’t know she’s living with diabetes unless she tells them.
From when I was first diagnosed as a kid, the advances in technology are insane … no other system does what Tandem does, which is why I like it a lot.
KIRSTEN ROSS
To better fit her diabetes management into her busy days, she relies on her smartphone.
“My pump is discreet,” Kirsten said. “I don’t have to do fingersticks. I have the app on my phone, so I can easily give myself insulin.* My pump will vibrate and I’ll realize my sugar is rising or spiking. Then I’ll pick up my phone, pull up the app, and do a correction. People around me think it’s so cool, especially for my generation, I’m on my phone 24/7. Being able to have the app on my phone to give myself [a bolus] is a total game changer.”
Kirsten is excited to see what comes next from Tandem.
Thanks for being part of the Tandem Family, Kirsten!
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. Please read the Important Safety Information before using a Tandem Diabetes Care product.
Responsible Use Control-IQ Technology
Control-IQ technology does not prevent all highs and lows. You must still bolus for meals and actively manage your diabetes. Please visit tandemdiabetes.com/tslimX2-use for more information.
*Bolus delivery from the t:connect mobile app requires
a compatible smartphone model and operating system, an app update, a remote software update on the t:slim X2 insulin pump and additional training. Only available to customers who reside in the United States.
Important Safety Information: RX ONLY. The t:slim X2 pump and Control-IQ technology are intended for single patient use. The t:slim X2 pump and Control-IQ technology are indicated for use with U-100 insulin only. t:slim X2 insulin pump: 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 t:slim X2 pump is indicated for use in individuals six years of age and greater. Control-IQ technology: technology is intended for use with a compatible integrated continuous glucose monitor (iCGM, sold separately) and ACE pump to automatically increase, decrease, and suspend delivery of basal insulin based on iCGM readings and predicted glucose values. It can also deliver correction boluses when the glucose value is predicted to exceed a predefined threshold. Control-IQ technology is intended for the management of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in persons six years of age and greater.
Warning: Control-IQ technology should not be used by anyone under the age of six years old. It should also not be used in patients who require less than 10 units of insulin per day or who weigh less than 55 pounds.
Control-IQ technology is not indicated for use in pregnant women, people on dialysis, or critically ill patients. Do not use Control-IQ technology if using hydroxyurea. Users of the t:slim X2 pump and Control-IQ technology must: use the insulin pump, CGM, 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, alarms, and reminders. 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.
t:connect mobile app: The feature set available within the t:connect mobile app is dependent on the pump software version and the compatible smartphone’s model and operating system (OS).
- The Display and Data Upload feature set provides a secondary display of pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) information, including display of your pump alerts and alarms, and enables wireless uploading of pump and CGM data to the Tandem cloud through an internet or wireless data connection. Standard carrier data rates may apply.
- The Bolus Delivery plus Display and Data Upload feature set additionally allows users to request, stop, and cancel a bolus on the pump from the t:connect mobile app. At least one smartphone security setting must be enabled to utilize the Bolus Delivery feature of the t:connect mobile app.
- WARNING: Always rely on your pump to make therapy decisions when using a smartphone that is incompatible with the Bolus Delivery feature.
- PRECAUTIONS: Always rely on your pump to make therapy decisions if using a smartphone that is incompatible, the smartphone is lost or damaged, or the smartphone loses Bluetooth® connectivity with your pump. Important pump alerts and alarms are only received as app notifications when enabled and the app is either active or running in the background.
