So, it's been a week since I started using my t:slim X2 (previously had the regular t:slim), and I have noticed few a things I'm not sure how to feel about.
The first thing is that I have been getting into running for the last month or so, after 2 years of not doing it at all. Even when I set the activity to exercise usually about 30 mins before, CONTROL IQ cannot keep up with my activity and my sugar levels drop below 80 by the time I am done running (usually setting off the alarm saying I will be below 70 in the next 15 mins). Before doing something like running for 5 miles I usually need to bring up my sugar to about 250 because it always ends up low no matter what time of food I eat... and I was hoping CONTROL IQ would help me out with that. I am thinking of just stopping insulin altogether when I exercise like that. On top of that, CONTROL IQ does not seem to able to keep up with my sugar dropping at night on the night after I run. I run at about 7pm, eat my last meal, and by 3am/4am I am getting an alarm that my sugar will be below 70.
On the other hand, many times after I eat CONTROL IQ doesn't seem to able to bring my sugar back down. Today I did a test where I undercounted my carbs, and it kept increasing basal AND giving correction boluses after I ate breakfast (eggs, sausage, a tiny 3-inch pancake)... it hovered around 220 for 4 to 5 hours while it tried to correct it... and ended giving me over 7 units as it attempted to bring it back down. I feel like a normal correction bolus would have fixed it faster. When it tries to correct my sugars if I miss something, it's been giving SO MUCH more insulin than what my regular correction bolus would be that I'm a bit worried about putting on some pounds due to the extra insulin.
My carb and correction factors are pretty up-to-date I think, along with my basal. I know CONTROL-IQ isn't supposed to take care of me, but I was hoping those times I miscount or I'm not immediately responsive with things that it would help a bit. Also, I know it's my first week - does the algorithm learn the user or is it the same algorithm that everyone uses?
Does anyone have experiences with this or have any recommendations? Is it possible to talk to Tandem about this and see what they suggest?
Social Plugin