Starting on t:slim X2: my first questions

[Thomas]

@bkh

I understand that Tandem needed to go to a proprietary connector so that they would be the sole seller of infusion sets for their pump (they were in financial trouble back then, and infusion set sales are now 25% of their business.) But I say that from the patient point of view, it is better to be able to select the equipment that works for me, rather than to be restricted to a few choices so that some company can get higher profits. Whether that company is the manufacturer or the insurance company.

It is good that you found a solution that works for you.

[Chris]

@bkh

it is better to be able to select the equipment that works for me

In an ideal world this would be possible, but frankly I am willing to pay some extra if it means a small innovative company can stay in business. Lesser of two evils thing for me. You should always be able to find an adapter if it comes to that.

[bkh]

@Thomas

It is good that you found a solution that works for you.

I kind of didn’t. I stockpiled the luer-lock cartridges until they went out of stock, and used each cartridge for 3 fills (15 to 18 days total). I tried a 4th fill, but it seemed to be underdelivering, which I attributed to the micro-plunger wearing out from zillions of strokes. I really didn’t know what I’d do when the luer-lock cartridges ran out, but the problem vanished when I started LOOP on an old Medtronic 722 which takes QuickSets with the paradigm connector.

@Chris

You should always be able to find an adapter if it comes to that.

I wish, but I didn’t. If you know of or hear rumors of an adapter that enables the t-lock cartridge to connect to a luer-lock infusion set I would be keenly interested. There was talk here on FU of maybe 3-D printing something, but I was afraid of what might leak from that plastic into the insulin that I’m infusing.

@Chris

In an ideal world this would be possible, but frankly I am willing to pay some extra if it means a small innovative company can stay in business.

I agree that it was vitally important to keep Tandem alive. In my opinion, Medtronic is a despicable company for their apparent practice of trying to drive competitors out of business by means other than creating superior products, such as their exclusionary deal with UnitedHealthcare Insurance to ensure that no insulin pump other than the Medtronic pump was covered. I still don’t understand why that isn’t a violation of antitrust laws.

[Nickyghaleb]

@bkh

I agree that it was vitally important to keep Tandem alive. In my opinion, Medtronic is a despicable company for their apparent practice of trying to drive competitors out of business by means other than creating superior products, such as their exclusionary deal with UnitedHealthcare Insurance to ensure that no insulin pump other than the Medtronic pump was covered. I still don’t understand why that isn’t a violation of antitrust laws.

[Nickyghaleb]

For a second I felt like I walked in on an adult conversation there about the infusion sets and whatnot… but then I found Eric, and now I know it’s safe to carry on with a lower level conversation.

@bkh, thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful response. I respect your opinion and will spend some time looking it all over. In particular, thank you for the speaker trick. I haven’t even opened the boxes yet, but the idea of doing this to a steady beep in the background sounds a little less than ideal. So I won’t.

@Thomas, I’m not going to thank you just yet. You might go away if I do, and I can see you know a thing or two about this. There’s even proof of that knowledge in your Jeopardy board. So thank you for taking the time you’ve taken so far to gather all of this for me, but don’t go away. I’ll need more. I did start on the manual last night but skipped ahead to the information on the suspends. I’ll open it to the beginning today, but I do have one question— The pump will suspend you for up to 2 hours OR until your numbers show a rise (evident by a reading that is higher than the last— the nadir). Did I understand that correctly? You’re not locked in for 2 hours, right? I understand if you remain in for 2 hours, return to your basal for 30 minutes, but THEN are still showing a value beneath the threshold, it will lock you in for an additional 30 minutes— but there’s no commitment on that first part. Is this right?

@Chris, thank you for not hiding even though I (jokingly) accused you of it. I’m going to have a lot of questions, and I wanted to let you know up front I appreciate you guys taking the time. I think I’ll also start up a new thread since it just doesn’t seem proper to start the journey under a concern over a shipment. That would be okay??

[bkh]

@Nickyghaleb

The pump will suspend you for up to 2 hours OR until your numbers show a rise (evident by a reading that is higher than the last— the nadir). Did I understand that correctly? You’re not locked in for 2 hours, right?

You have that right. The very first CGM reading that rises will restart the basal.

[glitzabetes]

@Nickyghaleb

You’re not locked in for 2 hours, right?

Correct, so far I’ve never had it suspend me the full 2 hours. I always end up starting to rise and it turns my basal back on.

[Nickyghaleb]

@bkh

You have that right. The very first CGM reading that rises will restart the basal.

That’s huge, @bkh. It’s my main problem with the 670G. Auto Mode is another level of disaster, but even Manual Mode has its problems. It was very rigid, locking you in for 30 minutes at first, and then, if resolution hadn’t been achieved, for a full 2 hours. You add on top of that a slow, laggy sensor, and you find yourself getting 2 hour suspends left and right for numbers that were fine 15 minutes in.

@glitzabetes, I love hearing you’re not even sure you’ve been suspended the full 2 hours. I can’t do 2 hours without insulin and not feel the effect. How do you feel the suspends are working for you? Do you think they’re helpful??

[Chris]

@Nickyghaleb, the awesome thing is that sometimes it only suspends for a minute or two, then other times it suspends for a longer period of time when you need it. Take a look at this pic. Everywhere you see red lines the insulin is suspended. It is really fantastic. The system landed that big drop without any carbs.

[Nickyghaleb]

@Jattzl showed me some of her screens when she first got hers, and it was what turned me on to the whole idea. I remember thinking how fluid it looked. I hope she’ll come out and chat a little now that she doesn’t have to listen to me drone on and on about the 670.

So you guys don’t see a lot of rebounds then?? When I went back into manual mode after the whole auto mode experience, I finally started to let my pump suspend for just a couple of minutes here and there. It wasn’t intentional. It would be suspending itself as I was starting to crash, and it would just take that amount of time to exit the suspend. I started to find I liked those brief little suspends and sometimes would leave it off for 5 or 10 minutes. It obviously wasn’t doing much, but it felt like it was helping me get ahead a little. So if this thing can do a few minutes here and there, then I’m thrilled. I was hoping that was the case, but I wasn’t sure.

This will motivate me to bump the manual up to the top of my To Do list today. And let my mom come over and make sure I’m on task. She’s so excited she can barely contain herself.

[Jattzl]

I’m here and SO excited! Secretly in the back of my mind I was crossing my fingers you would jump ship from the dark side and join us on the Tandem side:heavy_heart_exclamation:

[Pgithens]

@Nickyghaleb, you’re going down, woman! I’m chasing that delivery man next Friday to hijack my Tandem pump and supplies. He won’t know what hit him…

Challenge accepted…

[Nickyghaleb]

@Pgithens

you’re going down, woman!

Your delivery guy doesn’t even come until next Friday. If I can’t beat you on this, I can never, ever show my face again. But I know where you live… kind of… so I could always just head up your way Thursday night if things are looking tight. And take out your delivery guy before you even see him coming.

[Jattzl]

@bkh

I agree that it was vitally important to keep Tandem alive. In my opinion, Medtronic is a despicable company for their apparent practice of trying to drive competitors out of business by means other than creating superior products, such as their exclusionary deal with UnitedHealthcare Insurance to ensure that no insulin pump other than the Medtronic pump was covered. I still don’t understand why that isn’t a violation of antitrust laws.

This needs to be reposted and reposted again!!

[Jattzl]

@Nickyghaleb

And @Pgithens, too… you know that, right?? She’s getting hers on the 28th.

MUST. GET. MY PUMP ON BEFoRE SHE DOES. She is so competitive.

This is going to be so fun!!

@Jattzl

And @Pgithens, too… you know that, right?? She’s getting hers on the 28th.

MUST. GET. MY PUMP ON BEFoRE SHE DOES. She is so competitive.

I’m so happy for you @Pgithens! I knew you were waiting to get one but wasn’t sure when that would happen!

[Nickyghaleb]

@Jattzl

This is going to be so fun!!

Not if she gets me so worked up I do something stupid.

[Jattzl]

That’s what I’m hoping for

[Nickyghaleb]

Okay, but when they find me outside of Food Lion, facedown, in a pile of pumps and tubing, one of you better feel a little guilty. Preferably both.

[Jattzl]

@Nickyghaleb @Pgithens I would ditto all of Thomas’s advice. You are at the right place for starting it up and working with it. Like he said we all have our own little tidbits and they all help!

@bkh

While the tube is priming there’s a loud, continuous beep-beep-beep but there’s a trick to solve that. On the back of the pump, opposite end from the tube, look for 6 tiny holes in a : : : pattern. That’s the speaker. Hold a finger over those holes and you can prime quietly.

The beeping doesn’t bother me but it really bothers some people so this is something I did not know! Great tip!!

@Thomas

A good time to charge the X2 is when you are in the shower. It does not take long to top off the charge if you plug it in every day or every other day.

The charging doesn’t bother me. I just keep the charger plugged in where I watch TV and top it off if I’m sitting there anyway.

[Pgithens]

pfffffffffft!!! i’m staying up allllllll night watching my back and the delivery truck and drinking all the coffee so there’s none left for your day-old-cold-coffee-drinking-butt…