Tandem Diabetes Care launched a new predictive feature designed to help reduce the frequency and duration of low-glucose events by pausing insulin delivery. The technology is available as a free software update for its t:slim X2 insulin pumps using the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring system.
Pumps preloaded with the new technology, titled Basal-IQ, are expected to begin shipping by the end of the month, the San Diego, California-based company said. The software update will require a new prescription and completion of a 45-minute online training module, both coordinated through an online portal.
The Basal-IQ algorithms are designed to predict trends in glucose levels up to 30 minutes ahead, suspending insulin when low levels are anticipated, and automatically resuming when glucose numbers begin to rise.
“This launch marks the achievement of our goal to offer people with diabetes a simple-to-use automated insulin delivery feature that can reduce time spent low without adding significant burden to the pump therapy experience,” Tandem’s president and CEO, Kim Blickenstaff, said in a statement.
In a clinical study, Basal-IQ demonstrated a 31% reduction in time spent below 70 mg/dL, with no rebound hyperglycemia compared to a CGM-enabled insulin pump without the feature, Tandem said.
RELATED: FDA approves Tandem’s insulin pump with Dexcom CGM integration
Tandem first received FDA approval in August of last year for its touchscreen insulin pump, using Dexcom’s G5 CGM platform, which allowed patients to make treatment decisions without pricking their finger. At the time, Tandem rolled out a remote software update to users to allow them to view insulin delivery activity alongside CGM data from the implanted Dexcom sensor on the t:slim X2’s screen.