Tandem's Approach to Diabetes Tech: Putting the T1D Community First
At Risely Health, we're always excited to explore how advancements in diabetes technology can improve the lives of those living with T1D. Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Laurel Messer, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Tandem Diabetes Care, who shared valuable insights into how Tandem is revolutionizing diabetes tech by prioritizing the needs of the T1D community.
Community-Driven Innovation: More Than Just a Buzzword
Dr. Messer's approach to diabetes technology development is refreshingly human-centered. "People with diabetes have literally taught me everything I know," she shared. This philosophy extends beyond personal learning to product development, where the needs and experiences of the diabetes community directly influence innovation.
At Tandem, gathering and implementing user feedback isn't just a marketing strategy—it's a core part of their development process. Dr. Messer explained how they meticulously comb through user responses to understand how people are using their devices in real life. For instance, when developing the Tandem Mobi pump, they recorded 19 different ways people were wearing the device before they stopped counting!
Evolution Driven by Real-World Needs
The evolution of Tandem's insulin pump technology clearly reflects this community-first approach. Dr. Messer highlighted a crucial factor in this evolution: ease of use. "If a device is easy to use and it provides benefits, people will use it," she explained.
This principle has driven the development of pumps that are not only more effective but also more user-friendly and less intrusive in daily life. The Tandem Mobi, with its incredibly small size and flexible wear options, directly addresses long-standing barriers to pump adoption that the community has voiced for years.
Balancing Automation and User Control
Perhaps one of the most significant advancements is the development of Control-IQ technology, Tandem's automated insulin delivery (AID) system. This innovation aims to reduce the mental burden of diabetes management while still allowing for user input—a balance that came directly from community feedback.
Dr. Messer described Control-IQ as "a predictive algorithm that maximizes time in your glycemic goals." It's constantly working in the background, making small adjustments to insulin delivery based on CGM data and predicted future glucose levels. However, users still maintain control over their diabetes management, a feature that was important to the T1D community.
Looking to the Future
As we reflect on the incredible progress in diabetes technology, it's clear that Tandem's approach of putting the T1D community first is paying dividends. By listening to real-world challenges and desires, they're creating solutions that truly resonate with users.
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