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Thinking of going onto insulin pump tandem t:slim

K

KimL

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi my diabetic team are pushing me to go onto above insulin pump but I have some reservations.
Firstly being tethered to a machine and tubes and secondly, the time it takes to get used to it.
Can anyone share their experiences please as know hearing from those who are using this are different to what healthcare say.
Many thanks
KimL
 
Hi, I am being encouraged by my diabetic consultant to go into the Tandem T:slimx2. But I have reservations, one, bring tethered to a machine & tubes and two, how log it takes to get use to it.
Would love to hear about others experiences so I can make a decision.
Thanks Kim
 
Hi Kim I'm a relatively new tandem tslim user (18 months). As a female I don't find the tethering an issue (bra or pocket, I have invested in some gorgeous leggings with pockets, though some people use special pump waistbands.) If it falls out of my pocket it doesn't get pulled out of my body, it just hangs there looking stupid.

Water sports are a bit of a pain. I generally disconnect and then give myself more insulin every couple of hours.

I got used to it pretty quickly though it's important to keep your basal rates up to date and I'm still learning.

I love my pump and honestly couldn't imagine life without it now.

Disadvantages : more gear when travelling, watersports issue.

Tagging @Juicyj who is more experienced.
 
Oops forgot to say welcome to the forums @KimL
 
 
Many thanks for your reply Ellie. You have given me lots of info for me to consider. Have a great day!
 
Hi @KimL

Like anything in life - a new device takes some getting used to, so be prepared to adjust.

With that out of the way I love my T Slim, I didn't for around a year but that was my fault entirely, i'd got used to adjusting and correcting on my previous pump the medtronic, I needed to let the algorithm settle in and had to ease up on trying to control it. The tethering doesn't bother me, I have the shortest sets available and I wear a pump belt or it goes into a pocket and after a while you don't even know it's there.

The T Slim for a t1d is a game changer of a system, it allow you to live you life without constant worry, it helps you sleep better and it improves your stability with control, so minimises the highs/lows, I should be on commission, go for it, it's the best decision in regards to your t1d you can make.
 
Thanks Antje,
Appreciate you sharing your experience. More food for thought.
Have a great day
 
Mod edit of thread to move to more appropriate forum.
 
I've been on the t:slim since is first came out in the UK, 6-7 yrs ?. I've found it really good. Easy to use and not hard to learn how to use (however had been pumping before). As for water sports, swimming - I take it off and top up as needed (or if not easy to keep pump nearby use a back up pen), snorkelling - same as swimming, kayaking - in the winter keep pump under dry top (use phone to bolus if needed) - in summer wear in neck sling and don't worry about it getting wet (its waterproof). Caving (includes getting wet) - wear is under wet suit in neck sling. Keep a phone on me in a dry pack for bolusing (now its available), easy to operate phone through dry pack screen. Have fun whatever pump you choose.
 
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Thanks Chas, all good information and tips.
Have a great day
 
I’ve been on a pump (Now on Medtronic 780, G 4 cgm) for about 8 years after many years on injections. It’s improved my management a lot. I can’t imagine life without a pump. It’s a lot of work, but worth it. I’d read a lot about the options before deciding. There is an adjustment to being tubed. If I had it to do over, I’d probably try tubeless first (Omnipod). Tubed is ok, but no tube would be preferred for me, as I’m quite active, i’d like to swim laps, but the tubed pump makes it challenging. Good luck with everything.
 
Morning KimL

I am an Omnipod 5 Closed Loop user. I use the Libre 2+ sensor. I have not been on a pump for 5/6 years. I would agree with the others it does take a quite a bit of getting used to. For me it has been well worth it and I would not want to go back to pens. I did use a Medtronic pump for a short time before to Omnipod. I did not find the tubing difficult. For me it was filling the tubing and reservoir. I have arthritic hans and found this very challenging.

It would be useful to find out what pumps are on offer for you. Locally Medtronic,Omnipod, Tandem are on offer

Good luck with your decision making.
 
Hi Prancy,
Thank you for your reply. I am looking into the tubeless but it is not funded here in New Zealand so going to save up & will probably go down that route as like you, I am quite active. I have deferred the funded insulin pump for a year with my health care provider so lots of time to get myself in good shape & make a decision which way to go then. Really appreciate everyone who has replied to me, great to have people like you to talk to.
Have a great day
 
 
Morning,
Tandem t: Slimx2 and YPS pump funded in New Zealand. I have deferred the pump for a year with my health care provider so lots of time to get myself in good shape & explore the non-funded options. Many thanks for sharing your experience it has really helped me a lot.
Have a great day
 
Glad to see so many great replies regarding this kit. I'll be going on to a t:slim pump closed loop system soon too, on UK NHS - possibly Jan 2026 at latest if my team have told me right. The homework they gave me to do to help me understand the kit better did help while I'm waiting. I'm used to applying the rules from the DAFNE course while I've been MDI and learning the differences with this kit have been remarkable. I look forward to trying the kit out. I've never ever been on a pump before.
 
I was MDI for many years and am glad I understand basal, bolus dosing…etc. However I am now very reliant on my pump. It does a better job for me than I do. It really scares me that I might have come off the pump for some reason. Even 24 hours would be horrible. I could manage it, but I’d rather not. I keep supplies available in case I should have to do MDI. It took me a few months to adjust, but about a year to get really comfortable.
 
Definitely understand what you mean, concerns wise. I've not even started on the kit yet, and I am sitting with those thoughts! I'm already thinking about how to keep tabs on my ratios as I go for if my pump system fails or something so if it fails, I've not forgotten how to manage myself like I used to. My team have reassured me that I can translate my ratios from the pump system, which is good to know... just hope I don't get muddled when applying things in real time - but I will have faith.

Definitely makes sense that this sort of system would do a better job since on MDI it's all prediction in advance, while on the pump you can adjust on the go... or let it do it's own thing most of the time with the closed loop system adjusting as it reads. So much more flexability. It's gonna be life changing for sure.

Thanks for the time frame for what it took you to adjust; will help with the routine and management change anxieties! I'm hoping that it will help me with my long term exercise affect fear issues... I'm so sick of being scared to exercise properly. My autistic mind struggles with management stuff when it's harder to predict and I hope that the kit will help with supporting me with this too. I look forward to having a load off my mind after years of hypervigilance!
 

Wishing you lots of luck on your new journey, keep us posted on how you get on. All the best,
Kim
 
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