Missing^
injections?
If you^ use^ an^ insulin pen,^ but^
struggle^ to^ remember^ when^
you^ last^ injected,Timesulin^
is^ a^ lid^ for^ your^ pen that^
automatically^ tracks^ how^
long^ it’s^ been^ since your^
last^ injection^ time.sleeker and more hands-off.
Pumps mimic a healthy pancreas
by delivering a steady trickle of
rapid-acting insulin 24 hours
a day. This keeps BGLs stable
between meals and at night,
without the need for long-acting
insulin. Wearers also use the
pump to deliver bolus doses at
mealtimes and when their BGL is
elevated. Delivering insulin this
way can make dosing more
precise and easier to
adjust in real time,
and cut the risk of
low or high BGLs.
Traditional
pumps deliver
a regular preset
amount of
insulin, but the
latest pumps can
tailor insulin to the
amount of glucose in
the blood, like a pancreas.
In 2017, Claire became the first
paediatric patient in the US to
go on the ‘artificial pancreas’ –
Medtronic’s MiniMed 670G
hybrid closed-loop system. The
system combines an insulin
pump with a sensor: the sensor
measures BGLs and the pump
uses an algorithm to alter insulindelivery based on those levels, 24
hours a day. “My previous pump
would give me the same amount
of insulin whether my blood
glucose was 3.3 or 13.9mmol/L.
But the Medtronic is tuned in
to what I’m doing, so it keeps
me in range,” says Claire.
The Medtronic 670G not only
stops delivering insulin if your
BGL dips too low and restarts
when your levels recover, it
can also increase the
dose if your BGL
rises above a
programmed
level. “And,
the overnight
control is
beautiful,” says
Sherr. “However,
a hybrid approach
means users still
need to bolus for
meals. 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
manufacturer that makes both
a pump and a sensor designed to
work in a closed-loop system: the
670G works with its Guardian 3sensor. But it isn’t the only
manufacturer with a high-tech
pump. In fact, Tandem’s t:slim X2
can also be used to create a hybrid
closed-loop system, with the
Dexcom. The t:slim X2 has a sleek
design (less than 2.5cm thick), a
large touchscreen display, and it
holds up to 300 units of insulin.
Plus, it communicates with the
Dexcom to predict low-blood-
glucose events 30 minutes ahead
of time, suspend insulin to avoid
the low, and resume dosing once
BGLs are on the rise.FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Within a few years, experts say,
high-tech gadgets will greatly
enhance people with diabetes’
ability to stay in their goal range.
“But there’s not a one-size-fits-all
solution,” says Sherr. “Instead,
we have to tailor our suggestions
to each individual patient.”
Overwhelmed? There’s a lot out
there. Your doctor and diabetes
educator are great resources. Also
discuss with your healthcare team
whether you are eligible for the
Insulin Pump Program through
JDRF Australia, or contact your
health insurance to see if you have
an appropriate level of cover. ■FREESTYLE
LIBRE
TANDEM’S
T:SLIM X2ACCU-CHEK
TIMESULIN GUIDE METER
(on Novolog
FlexPen for show)W
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need to know