system. Th e Medtronic 670G system
combines an insulin pump with a sen-
sor the sensor measures blood glucose
levels and the pump uses an algorithm
to alter insulin delivery based on those
levels, 24 hours a day.
“My previous pump would give me
the same amount of insulin whether
my blood sugar was 60 or 250. But the
Medtronic is tuned in to what I’m doing,
so it keeps me in range,” says Claire.
Th e Medtronic 670G not only stops
delivering insulin if your blood sugar
dips too low and automatically restarts
when your levels recover, but it can also
increase the dose if your blood sugar
rises above a programmed level. “And
the overnight control is beautiful,” says
Sherr, who was diagnosed with type 1
diabetes in 1987. “However, a hybrid
approach means users still need to
bolus for meals,” she says. “With the
Medtronic 670G, patients still need to
calibrate their sensors, at least twice a
day, and give a correction bolus if they
are high.”
Medtronic is currently the only man-
ufacturer that makes both a pump and a
sensor designed to work in a closed-loop
system: the 670G works in sync with
their Guardian 3 sensor. But isn’t the
only manufacturer off ering a high-tech
pump. In fact, Tandem’s t:slim X2 can
also be used to create a hybrid closed-
loop system when paired with the Dex-
com G6 CGM System. Th e t:slim X2
has a sleek design (it’s less than an inch
thick), a large touchscreen display, and
holds up to 300 units of insulin. Plus, it
communicates with the Dexcom G6 to
predict low-blood-sugar events 30 min-
utes ahead of time, suspend insulin to
avoid the low, and resume dosing once
blood sugar is on the rise.
Another option is the Omnipod
Insulin Management System. While
traditional pumps deliver insulin via a
conspicuous tube att ached to an infu-
sion-set needle or cannula (a thin tube)
that sits under the skin, the Omnipod
acts as its own infusion set no tubing
required. Th e device adheres to the
skin like a patch, and users can mount
it anywhere they would give themselves
a shot. Th e cannula is att ached directly
to the device and inserts underneath
the skin automatically. Th e device holds
200 units of insulin (up to three days’
worth) and works with Insulet Provided
Glooko, a data management tool used
to compare insulin and carb data with
information from compatible blood glu-
cose meters, CGMs, and fi tness trackers.SMART PENS
Smart pens not only calculate insulin
doses, but they also track injection
data. Th e idea: to see just how well your
dosing regimen is working for you and
to help you troubleshoot when needed.
Th ree smart pens on the market are the
Gocap, NovoPen Echo, and InPen.
“A ‘smart’ cap replaces the existing
cap on a disposable injector pen. Aft er
that, you use it just like a normal pen,”
explains James White, co-founder of
Common Sensing, the company behind
Gocap. “When you put the Gocap back
on the pen, it tracks how much insulin
you dosed, the time you dosed, how
much is left in the injector, and also the
temperature of the injector, so you can
ensure you’re storing it properly.”
You can even pair data with a smart-
phone to create a digital insulin logbook
you can share with your providers and
family members. So, someone on your
share list can say, “Hey, Mom, you didn’t
take your dose today.”FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Th ere’s no doubt that tools for diabetes
management are advancing at dizzying
speed. Within a few years, experts say,Diabetes Goes Digitalhigh-tech gadgets will greatly enhance
PWDs’ ability to stay in their goal range
and improve their quality of life.
“But there’s not a one-size-fi ts-all
solution,” says Sherr. “Instead we have
to tailor our suggestions to each indi-
vidual patient.” Busy college students
who want a CGM but don’t want to be
fl ooded with data may gravitate toward
the FreeStyle Libre. Athletes who need
tube-free pump technology may opt to
use the Omnipod. And those who don’t
want to worry as much about making
adjustments to their insulin doses in
real time might choose the Medtronic
MiniMed 670G.
Overwhelmed? Th ere’s a lot out
there. Your doctor and diabetes educator
are great resources to help you fi gure out
which devices are best for your unique
needs. Th ey may also be able to help
you fi nd out which options are covered
by your insurance and determine which
you can aff ord. If a device you’re inter-
ested in isn’t currently covered by your
insurance, ask your health care team if
they can help you get the documenta-
tion necessary to get approval. In fact,
that’s how Claire got continued coverage
for the Medtronic 670G when her fam-
ily switched insurance providers.
For Claire, a high-tech pump has
been life-changing. She can focus on
being a teenager juggling sports,
school, and friendships instead of
stressing about checking her blood
sugar. And her mom? Francesca can
fi nally sleep through the night, now that
she doesn’t have to worry about night-
time dosing. “Th at’s a game-changer,”
she says.