Tandem’s Basal-IQ Approved in Canada

By Frida Velcani and Albert Cai

Approved in the US in 2018, the system stops insulin delivery when low blood sugar is predicted

Health Canada has approved Tandem’s Basal-IQ predictive low glucose suspend system (PLGS). Starting in February 2020, in-warranty t:slim X2 users will be able to update their pumps via Tandem Device Updater, while new pumps will begin shipping in Canada with Basal-IQ starting in early 2020.

Using Dexcom G6 CGM readings and the t:slim X2 pump, the new PLGS algorithm stops basal insulin delivery when low blood sugar is predicted (within 30 minutes) and resumes insulin delivery once blood sugar levels start to rise. The goal is to prevent or reduce time in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) – and it does so without alarms. Users can choose whether or not to receive alerts when insulin is suspended/resumed. This is a big win, especially overnight.

Current t:slim X2 pump users with a four-year warranty receive the Basal-IQ software downloaded for free. These users can expect to receive instructions by email in February 2020, which will include a 30 to 45 minute required online training. It is not known whether users in Canada will need to get a new prescription (like users in the US) before they can receive the update.

The FDA approved Tandem’s Basal-IQ PLGS in the United States in 2018 for people six and older. Recently, the FDA cleared Tandem’s Control-IQ for people 14 years and older. Read more about Tandem’s Basal-IQ (here) and Control-IQ (here).