Why I'm Breaking Up With My t:slim

Now let me just say, I’ve loved my t:slim. It’s been my Ride Or Die for the past four years, and it genuinely changed my life with type 1. But… there’s a new device in town. Sleek, smooth, and promising more freedom. Its no-strings-attached design caught my eye, and I had to give it a go. And yes, it was love at first pod.

So, I’m officially breaking up with the t:slim. We had a great run, but it’s time for something new. It’s time for the Omnipod 5. 

First Pump Love 

The t:slim was my first pump love. When I made the switch from injections, it was like someone handed me the remote control to my diabetes. Suddenly, everything felt more manageable. I’ll never forget my first night on Sleep Mode. The freedom of going to bed without worrying where my blood sugar was heading, knowing that the algorithm had my back: Life. Changing. 

Unlike other pumps on the market, the t:slim struck a rare balance between automation and user control. I loved switching between my custom profiles depending on what life threw at me: a “Sensitive” profile for active days and summer holidays, a Sick Day profile for battling resistance, even a Covid profile (because yep, that was a thing). This is where I discovered my love of rage profiling (the calmer, more calculated cousin of a rage bolus). 

Control-IQ gave me stability, confidence, and a level of freedom I hadn’t felt before. 

What Made It Hard to Leave 

The latest updates made the t:slim even harder to let go of. Like being able to bolus from your phone - total game changer, especially if you’ve ever had to awkwardly dig your pump out of your bra because your outfit had no pockets (ladies, you get me). And let's be honest, it’s one of the only pumps that actually looks like it belongs in the 21st century. Sleek, shiny, sexy. So no, breaking up with the t:slim wasn’t easy. 

Why Omnipod 5 Won Me Over 

I was never drawn to the Omnipod DASH because it had no algorithm, and it looked like too much body real estate alongside the Dexcom G6. But then came the G7. Once I saw how tiny it was, I figured I could spare a little space for a pod. 😂 

I knew I wanted more from my pump. I’d pushed the t:slim to its limits and made it do things it was never really built to do. I was ready for something more intuitive – an algorithm that learns and adapts with you. Omnipod 5 adjusts insulin delivery every five minutes based on your current glucose and where you’re predicted to be in 60 minutes.

Also… the return of dresses and skirts with zero pocket drama? Sign me up! And as if on cue, the moment I even considered going tubeless, I started catching my t:slim tubing on EVERYTHING. I couldn’t walk past a kitchen cupboard without getting caught, and every time I sat down on a chair it went bungee jumping out of my pant pockets. 

The Pod Life

Enter Omnipod 5. I spent 90% time in range on my very first pod, it was amazing. Pod 2? Not so dreamy. The algorithm clearly decided I needed way less insulin, and my numbers showed it. But I’d heard it could take 5–6 pods for it to really learn you, and that being as “hands off” as possible during that time helps it figure you out faster. Pod 4 was looking up, and by pod 5, I was a happy girl. 

Now, six weeks in, I’m averaging 88% time in range with way less effort than I ever put into my t:slim.

Mentally, it’s been a big shift. I wear the pod on the back of my hip, so it’s out of sight, out of mind. And I’m back in my dress wearing era!!

I've never hit these kinds of numbers on the t:slim without chasing my tail and being super rigid with food and exercise. And that’s just not me. I’m a busy mum and I’m always on the go. I needed a system that could keep up. 

Switching pumps is a big decision. I never pictured myself as a podder, but here I am raving about it.

I love that it comes with options. You can choose from three CGMs; you can pay as you pod or go through private health; and when a whole new type of pod comes out, you get to upgrade to the latest version without waiting for your private health period to tick over. 

No system is perfect. I’m certainly not a perfect diabetic. But finding a pump that eases the mental load and boosts your confidence is everything.