Tandem Mobi Automated Insulin Delivery System Now Available
By Anna BrooksSusannah Chen
Tandem’s much-awaited Mobi automated insulin delivery system is now available in the U.S., making it the world’s smallest insulin delivery system to be fully controllable by a smartphone.
Tandem Diabetes Care announced that its newest hybrid closed-loop system, the Tandem Mobi, is now available to ship to eligible customers in the U.S.
Initial shipments of the automated insulin delivery system, which is available for ages 6 and older with type 1 diabetes, will be first come, first served and will go to users who meet eligibility requirements, such as use of the Dexcom G6 CGM to access automated insulin delivery features.
Those interested in starting on the Tandem Mobi can learn more about the order process, eligibility, and timing of initial order shipments on Tandem’s Mobi page.
Mobi: Powered by Control-IQ Technology
Both the Tandem Mobi, which comes out in 2024, and Tandem's existing insulin pump, the t:slim X2, utilize Control-IQ Technology, a prescription-only software that automates glucose levels using an algorithm that analyzes continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings and determines how much insulin to deliver.
Control-IQ, which had previously been cleared for ages 6 and above, has recently been cleared by the FDA for children 2 years of age and older. However, Control-IQ has not yet been labeled for use with ages 2 to 5 because the updated version of Control-IQ software designed to address these age-appropriate enhancements is not yet commercially available. (Some healthcare professionals have begun writing prescriptions for children under the age of 6 with type 1 diabetes to use Tandem's Control-IQ algorithm in what is considered off-label use.)
The FDA's age expansion gives families and healthcare teams access to a useful new tool for pediatric diabetes, which can be especially hard to manage.
Tandem Mobi: Half the size of the t:slim X2
When it enters the market next year, the Tandem Mobi will also be the smallest durable automated insulin delivery system available in the U.S. that's fully controllable from a mobile app. It's less than half the size of the t:slim X2 insulin pump, Tandem’s current hybrid closed-loop system, and includes a 5-inch tubing option.
Unlike the t:slim X2, the Tandem Mobi will not include a screen but instead offer full iOS mobile control through an iPhone app. The Mobi has an on-pump button, providing another quick option for people to manually bolus insulin if they don’t want to do it from their phone.
The insulin pump holds a 200-unit insulin cartridge yet is small enough to fit in a coin pocket. It can also be clipped to clothing or worn with an armband or adhesive sleeve, giving users a wider range of less conspicuous wearability options.
The Tandem Mobi insulin pump is also water resistant, supports wireless charging, and can receive remote software updates.
How the Tandem Mobi stacks up to other pumps on the market
FDA clearance of the Mobi positions Tandem to compete even more directly with Insulet’s Omnipod 5. Right now the Omnipod 5 AID system is controllable using either a remote Insulet controller or an Android app. Insulet has submitted its Omnipod 5 app for iPhone; the app is currently pending FDA clearance.
Tandem Mobi features
In addition to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), infusion set, and insulin pump, some of the Mobi’s main features include:
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Mobile app: Compatible with an iPhone, the Tandem Mobi can automatically administer insulin via a mobile app. This enables users full control from a smartphone, with the option to manually bolus insulin if needed.
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Control-IQ technology: This algorithm interprets CGM data to predict glucose levels. Designed to be used with an AID system, Control-IQ adjusts insulin delivery every five minutes in order to prevent highs and lows and spend more time in range.
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Shorter tubing option: In addition to more than 30 existing infusion sites and tubing length combinations to choose from, users of the new Tandem Mobi insulin pump will also have a shorter 5-inch tubing option.
Right now, Tandem's Control-IQ technology only works with a Dexcom G6 CGM, but it expects integration with the Dexcom G7 sometime in the second quarter of 2024, and the company is also looking to become operable with Abbott's FreeStyle Libre CGMs.
Learn more about Control-IQ and automated insulin delivery here:
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Medtronic MiniMed 780G Now Available in the US, Covered by Medicare
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The Need for Automated Insulin Delivery Systems During Pregnancy in Women with Type 1 Diabetes
Photo credit: Tandem Diabetes Care
