Jacquean's Wisdom

What type of diabetes do you have?  

T2D – using insulin  

What is your primary physical activity, exercise, or sport?  

Swimming  

If you participate in other physical activities, exercises, or sports, what are they?

Zumba and walking  

What devices do you use to track your physical activity?  

Fitbit  

What devices do you use to manage your diabetes?  

Dexcom G7 & Tandem t:slim X2 with Control IQ 

Why did you choose your devices?

T:slim because how much insulin it can hold and Dexcom G6/G7 because it was compatible with it. 

I selected the [Tandem] t:slim X2 because of how much it holds. But it turns out I need to change it sooner so I could have selected other devices. I do love Control IQ so I don't mind. I chose Dexcom because at the time it was the only one that could be used for Automated delivery. I'm happy with my choices.  

What challenges do you have around diabetes and exercise, and how do you overcome them?

I can't swim with the pump and CGM can't work while I'm in the water. I overcome by disconnecting, Swimming for about 45 to 60 minutes and reconnecting for maybe 15 minutes.  

The system I use is not waterproof but I have been OK with disconnecting for swimming. I swim for about 45 to 60 minutes and reconnect for maybe 15 minutes.  Sometimes I worry about my insulin and spare vial that I carry everywhere out in the sun while I'm swimming.  I try to remember to put a fresh ice pack in my little bag. Once in a while, while swimming I go too low, but I have my glucose gels, and my husband has brought me a soda when I forget the gels. 

What would you tell someone considering the same devices that you use? 

• Good: I have never seen such good glucose numbers in my whole diabetes life 

• Bad: It's not waterproof.  

• In-between: It's not tubeless 

• Tslim x2 

• Good - I have never seen such good glucose numbers in my whole diabetes life. Iit holds more insulin and if something is going on with your phone, you can still do everything from the pump.  

• Bad - It's not waterproof, so I have to disconnect it. ing and tubingIt’s not tubeless.  

• Ugly - The change process can be intimidating. 

• Dexcom G7 

• Good -– It can connect to multiple pumps, it only has a 30- minute warm warm-up, and you can overlap your sensors during the 12 12-hour grace period so you don't have a warm warm-up.   

• Ugly - It was not as accurate as the G6 when I first started using it, but I have seen improvements in accuracy over time. 

What is your favorite low snack?  

I just use a glucose gel and some kind of protein bar. 

Do you have anything else that you want to share?  

Sometimes, I don't want to exercise at all because of having to think about diabetes, but I push through it.  If I don't do any exercise, then that can have a negative impact on the diabetes as well.