Some exciting news from Tandem and the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program! Recently, the Tandem Diabetes Care insulin pump, the t:slim X2 with Control-IQ, was approved as a funded device under the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program (IPTP). This means that eligible individuals with diabetes in Alberta can now choose the t:slim X2 with Control-IQ in Alberta when selecting a funded pump.
The Alberta IPTP has some specific criteria and steps to follow that can be reviewed here. Examples of some of the criteria include:
- Be a resident of Alberta who is enrolled or eligible for coverage under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
- Have a diagnosis of Type 1 (or Type 3c) diabetes
- Be willing to participate in an ongoing insulin pump therapy education program
- Be registered with an approved Diabetes Insulin Pump Clinic. To view a list of registered clinics, click here.
To view a full list of eligibility criteria, click here.
Steps to access the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program:
- Talk to your healthcare team: If you think you might be eligible for the Alberta IPTP, the first step is to talk to your healthcare team and ensure they are approved as a Diabetes Insulin Pump Clinic. These clinics can help you determine whether an insulin pump is a right choice for you, and if so, can help you with the application process (or refer you to an Approved Alberta Insulin Pump clinic if they aren’t one!)
- Complete the application: To apply for the Alberta IPTP, you’ll need to complete an application form and work with your healthcare team to learn what you need to know about insulin pump therapy. Your healthcare team can help you with this process, and they’ll need to provide supporting documentation to confirm your eligibility.
- Wait for approval: Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll need to wait for approval from the program. This process can take several weeks, so it’s important to be patient.
- Choose your insulin pump: Once you’ve been approved for the program, you can choose an insulin pump that meets your needs. The t:slim X2 pump with Control-IQ technology is now available through the Alberta IPTP, and it’s an excellent option for anyone who needs an insulin pump.
To learn more about the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program, visit: https://www.alberta.ca/insulin-pump-therapy.aspx
The t:slim X2 pump comes with a range of advanced features, including integration with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and Control-IQ technology. Control-IQ is an advanced hybrid closed-loop system that automatically adjusts basal insulin delivery to help prevent high or low blood sugar levels. It uses data from the Dexcom G6 CGM to make automatic adjustments every five minutes, based on the user’s individual needs.
Here are some of the key features of the Control-IQ technology that are available in Canada:
- Predictive low glucose suspend: If Control-IQ predicts that the user’s glucose levels will go below 3.3 mmol/L in the next 30 minutes, it will suspend insulin delivery to help prevent a low blood sugar episode.
- Basal insulin adjustment: Control-IQ can increase or decrease basal insulin delivery based on the user’s glucose levels and trends.
- Correction bolus: If the user’s glucose levels are above the target range, Control-IQ can deliver a correction bolus to help bring glucose levels back into range.
- Automatic mode: Users can choose to use Control-IQ in automatic mode, which allows the system to adjust basal insulin delivery without user intervention.
If you want to learn more about Control-IQ technology, check out CIM’s blog on the topic.
At Connected in Motion, we’re thrilled that the t:slim X2 pump is now available through the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program – More choice, means more opportunities for success in managing Type 1 diabetes, for more people. Managing diabetes isn’t always easy, but we hope that this recent change can help to make your life with diabetes just a little bit easier.
