Blog - Warrior Stories
Dexcom and Hybrid Closed Loop Systems with Warrior Alyssa
Fuelled by her passion for diabetes advocacy, see how Dexcom Warrior Alyssa* is spreading the message about the power of hybrid closed loop systems. She uses her Dexcom G6 and Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump to live a more independent life with type 1 diabetes.
Meet diabetes activist, Dexcom Warrior Alyssa*
25-year-old Alyssa was born in Kilwinning, Scotland and currently lives in Edinburgh. She works for a Scottish children’s charity, where her focus is on children’s rights, and has recently graduated with her MSc Social Justice and Community Action. This passion for social justice has fuelled her diabetes advocacy.
Alyssa was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 2013 at age 14, after being unwell for some time. Just a week before, she was at her dad’s wedding, getting compliments on how much weight she had lost, and drinking the remainders of other guests’ soft drinks as she was so thirsty. When she was at school, she spotted a poster with the 4 T’s symptoms of type 1 diabetes (Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner), which fit the symptoms she was feeling, and later that day got an emergency appointment at the doctor, where she was quickly diagnosed.
Alyssa very quickly took to type 1 diabetes, being very independent with her self-management from the start. Her difficulties didn’t begin until she started having severe hypos soon after diagnosis, which caused seizures. Due to this, she was moved onto an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system very quickly. She then moved onto the Dexcom G6 CGM System and Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump with Control-IQ TechnologyTM, to form a Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) system, a type of Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system.
1. When did you start using the Dexcom G6?
I started wearing the Dexcom G6 in April 2022. Prior to this, I used a competitor brand, but found that the readings weren’t always as accurate as I needed. I was diagnosed with epilepsy soon after my diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, and the main trigger for my seizures is low blood sugar, and therefore I relied on the safeguard feature (the automatic suspension of insulin when blood sugar is low/predicted low) that comes with having a CGM and insulin pump to keep me safe. I was so scared of having a hypo and potentially having a hypoglycaemic seizure, and this meant that I needed to be able to rely on my technology to be accurate and reliable, which is what I found when I switched to the Dexcom G6 and the Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump.
2. What have you found most beneficial about using Dexcom (and Tandem)?
The main benefit for me using the Dexcom G6 and the Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump is the independence that it grants me. There are a couple reasons for this, but the first is the accuracy of the real-time CGM data. It means that I don’t have to constantly worry about my diabetes as I trust that Dexcom and the Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump will catch any low and correct any high glucose levels as needed. The second reason that it grants me independence is the Dexcom Share and Follow† feature. Having the option to share my CGM readings on the Dexcom app‡ with my loved ones means that if I am alone and have a hypo, I have help and feel more secure.
3. What advantages have you experienced with a hybrid closed loop system?
Having previously used an insulin pump and CGM combination that didn’t have a hybrid closed loop system, moving onto the Dexcom G6 and Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump was a game changer for me.
These systems link together to create a hybrid closed loop system using an algorithm called Control-IQ TechnologyTM, which suspends insulin when glucose levels are too low and gives micro-corrections when your levels are higher.
This system, for me, has revolutionised my self-management by flattening the spikes in my glucose, helping with the inevitable human error that comes with living with type 1 diabetes. It has made things, such as exercise, spontaneous plans and eating out a lot easier, and allowed me to feel better and more in control whilst doing the things I love.
4. Where (and how) do you wear your Dexcom G6?
When wearing the Dexcom G6, I usually place it on my upper arms. I have found this placement the most comfortable and placing it on my upper arms means it doesn’t get in the way of waistlines on trousers or interfere with any fashion choices.
I also love to highlight my Dexcom, wearing it with pride and sharing photos and videos of it on social media, and placing it on my upper arm allows me to share photos and raise more awareness. The great thing about Dexcom is that the sleek design allows the option to accessorise with device stickers and adhesive overpatches, meaning that you can show it off whilst also sharing a bit of your personality.
5. Have you always been comfortable showing off your CGM?
I used to be quite uncomfortable showing off my diabetes technology, often opting to hide my CGM under clothes, as this meant that people would ask less questions that I felt uncomfortable answering. I have found with time, education, and new confidence in the technological advancements for diabetes, I am very open and welcoming of questions. I love to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes, ensuring that the stigma out there is reduced.
6. What is it that you look for in diabetes technology?
My main ask for my diabetes technology is that I can live the life I want to lead as independently as possible, and having the combination of the Dexcom G6 and the Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump with Control-IQ TechnologyTM allows for that independence. It makes everyday self-management of my type 1 diabetes a lot easier, as well as giving me the safety and reliability that I need.
Learn more about the Dexcom G6 and Tandem
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends hybrid closed loop systems as an effective option for managing blood glucose levels for people with type 1 diabetes.1 Learn more about how the Dexcom G6 CGM System seamlessly integrates with the Tandem t:slim X2TM insulin pump to form a hybrid closed loop system.
Footnotes & References:
* Alyssa is a Dexcom Warrior.
† Internet connectivity required for data sharing. Following requires the use of the Dexcom Follow App on a compatible smart device. Followers should always confirm readings on the Dexcom CGM App or receiver before making treatment decisions.
‡ Display device sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
1 Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes. NICE. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ta10845/documents/final-appraisal-determination-document.
† Internet connectivity required for data sharing. Following requires the use of the Dexcom Follow App on a compatible smart device. Followers should always confirm readings on the Dexcom CGM App or receiver before making treatment decisions.
‡ Display device sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
1 Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes. NICE. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ta10845/documents/final-appraisal-determination-document.