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TSlim and driving/kayaking

bonerp

Well-Known Member
Messages
400
Location
Dorset
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Whenever I drive my BG's increase like I'm sure others do. previous pump was medtronic and was easy to increase background by say 30%.
TSLIM not so easy. Its a bit of a faff and on short trips find sleep mode helps but if BGs increase too much it doesn't do corrections so need to keep an eye on it.
The alternative is to try activity mode which does do corrections but also keeps BGs a bit higher (for obvious reasons being activity mode). Anyone use this when driving successfully?
I use a smart watch and can monitor BGs easily with a flick of my wrist and a quick glance.

Also when kayaking for several hours I find activity mode, on the other hand, pretty ineffective! Its ok for walks but not really more physical exercise. I set up a different profile with 40% of normal basal in the evenings (not great if I go out on the fly) but I still got quite low after a short period. This pump really needs a temporary basal rate (using control IQ which otherwise needs turning off) offering. Maybe this is the solution? Temp basal rate and revert to my own basal rather than the pump determining it?

Somethings about this pump are good (like I get a flatline of 6mmol through the night :)) but others are really annoying.
thanks
 
Hi @bonerp - When running long distances so more than 1 hour, I too have set up a different basal pattern as the t slim doesn't cope well with active insulin on board + prolonged exercise and generally using standard basal profiles I go low quickly (too much QA on board), but if I set up a reduced basal rate at 1/2 my usual then I can cope with exercise more easily, if I start the profile a good 2 hours beforehand, the other alternative for exercise is to turn off control IQ and bolus what you need when you need it. My last long run was 2.5 hours long a few weeks ago and the new profile coped brilliantly, however I went low-ish (low 4's) when I finished exercising but that was fine and was tucking into cake then !
 
Hi @bonerp - When running long distances so more than 1 hour, I too have set up a different basal pattern as the t slim doesn't cope well with active insulin on board + prolonged exercise and generally using standard basal profiles I go low quickly (too much QA on board), but if I set up a reduced basal rate at 1/2 my usual then I can cope with exercise more easily, if I start the profile a good 2 hours beforehand, the other alternative for exercise is to turn off control IQ and bolus what you need when you need it. My last long run was 2.5 hours long a few weeks ago and the new profile coped brilliantly, however I went low-ish (low 4's) when I finished exercising but that was fine and was tucking into cake then !

thanks for info - I might try turning off ciq and reducing temp basal to 25%. I hope turning off ciq doesnt turn off the sensor?
 
Whenever I drive my BG's increase like I'm sure others do. previous pump was medtronic and was easy to increase background by say 30%.
TSLIM not so easy. Its a bit of a faff and on short trips find sleep mode helps but if BGs increase too much it doesn't do corrections so need to keep an eye on it.
The alternative is to try activity mode which does do corrections but also keeps BGs a bit higher (for obvious reasons being activity mode). Anyone use this when driving successfully?
I use a smart watch and can monitor BGs easily with a flick of my wrist and a quick glance.

Also when kayaking for several hours I find activity mode, on the other hand, pretty ineffective! Its ok for walks but not really more physical exercise. I set up a different profile with 40% of normal basal in the evenings (not great if I go out on the fly) but I still got quite low after a short period. This pump really needs a temporary basal rate (using control IQ which otherwise needs turning off) offering. Maybe this is the solution? Temp basal rate and revert to my own basal rather than the pump determining it?

Somethings about this pump are good (like I get a flatline of 6mmol through the night :)) but others are really annoying.
thanks
Its annoying to have the buzz buzz of correctional doses when you are edging high so I'd agree Activity mode would be a great idea.
Re the kayaking, I'd unplug. Going dancing /drinking this Thursday and will be taking mine off. Admittedly this is also to avoid the pump bulge around my midriff!
Given how easy it is to adjust the bolus rate could you perhaps devise one just fore these scenarios? With tbrs I always forgot to take them off. Ditto sleep/activity mode on this one!
Generally I'd agree it is a great pump.
 
I drive and kayak a lot. Never had to adjust or use activity mode for driving. For kayakingI always use the activity mode, start it at least 30 mins before and it works fine for me, my kayaking can be all day and even for short trips I would not remove my pump. Also with BG's on my watch and phone in a waterproof container I can see my GB's as I'm kayaking too which helps me if I need a boost of glucose.
 
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