Copyright © 2022, Quiller Media, Inc.

AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content.

Tandem has finally made its long-awaited app-based Mobile Bolus feature available to insulin pump users thanks to a newly-released set of updates. We tried it ourselves to see how the first app-connected insulin pump works.

As highly-regulated, life-saving devices, insulin pumps tend to be a bit behind the times. They're utilitarian devices and didn't get full-color touch screens until just a few short years ago.

The ability to view your blood sugar, your pump status, and — if necessary — deliver a manual insulin bolus from your phone has been a long time in the making. It's a big step into modern life.

After being first approved by the FDA in February of 2022, the update is now available to users.

I've been a Type-1 diabetic for roughly a decade. I thought I was in the clear, not showing symptoms of this generic disorder until I was in my early 20s. Type-1 diabetes is usually called juvenile diabetes and has a much higher chance of inflicting kids than adults.

It's Type-1 diabetics like me that most commonly rely on insulin pumps as we're almost entirely insulin dependent. My pancreas creates little-to-no insulin, forcing me to dose insulin by manual injection or via an insulin pump.

I've been using the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump which is — so far — the only compatible model with Tandem's new Mobile Bolus feature. Tandem has announced its new Mobi pump that will have no screen and rely entirely on the mobile app to deliver insulin due in late 2022 or early 2023.

I'm also using my iPhone 13 Pro for this testing. Many recent iPhones are supported, all the way back to the iPhone X. For Android users, it is a bit grim. Only select Samsung devices released in the last couple of years have support.

To use the new Mobile Bolus functionality, you need the Tandem Mobile App version 2.1.3 (or newer) and version 7.6 of the t:slim X2 software.

The T:Connect app update is free from the App Store, but you need to complete a series of training modules before the pump update will become available.

These modules walk you through everything you need to know about the Mobile Bolus feature. How to update your pump, how to deliver a bolus, how to stop a bolus, and plenty more. This is crucial and likely required for regulatory reasons so that anyone who uses this has a solid understanding.

I don't think about being tethered to a pump 24 hours a day, seven days a week anymore, but it's crucial to remember that insulin is critically important. Too little or too much can have life-endangering impacts.

Once I finished my training, Tandem emailed me a unique verification code tied to my pump's serial number. I then entered that into the Tandem updater app for Mac and it was on its way.

It's worth noting that during the update process the t:slim X2 restarts multiple times and you'll have to use a new cartridge when you restart it.

I've been waiting for this day for a long time. My Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) — a longtime stage partner of Apple — has worked with my iPhone and Apple Watch for years and I've been eagerly waiting for the day when I could manage my pump from there as well.

Having to use the pump by itself has always been cumbersome. It isn't always easy to get the pump from your pocket and it can be conspicuous to use.

With the new update, you can deliver insulin direct from the app. You tap the bolus button and can set exactly the amount of insulin you need to deliver, like before a meal.

If using the Dexcom CGM with the t:slim X2, the Tandem mobile app will automatically pull in your current blood sugar reading. It will then use this to calculate any correction whenever you give yourself insulin.

For example, if your blood sugar is trending low and you are about to bolus for a meal, the Tandem will decrease the amount of insulin to help prevent further lows.

Alerts from your pump are displayed on your phone too. If there is an occlusion, your insulin runs low, the battery is low, or ControlIQ has increased your insulin due to high blood sugar you can see the alert from your phone, rather than having to dislodge your pump from your pocket.

You already have your phone readily available alongside your Apple Watch. The combination of Mobile Bolus, notifications, and pump information provides a far better experience than the pump alone.

Everything isn't perfect with this new implementation. You still have to clear alerts directly from the pump, and extended boluses also aren't able to be programmed from the phone.

But this new update shows a ton of progress that diabetics can feel legitimately feel excited about.

The Tandem t:slim X2 has been on the market for a few years and has continued to receive software updates. Without insurance, the retail out-of-pocket cost with a prescription is around $4,000. What you pay out of pocket varies, based on the coverage you have — or don't have.

For existing Tandem t:slim X2 owners, the online portal has the training for the update.

New research claims that even as global smartphone shipments have fallen, Apple's iPhone second quarter market share was its best since 2012.

Upgrade your everyday carry with a luxury organizer that can fit all your Apple gear, including your MacBook, iPad, AirPods, and more.

Clock on iPhone or iPad is a great app for both tracking your sleep and getting you up in the morning. Here are some tips to get the most out of it.

We have both M2 Macs here in our testing studio. We're comparing the M2 MacBook Air against the M2 MacBook Pro to see how they stack up and how much of a difference the thermal limitations make.

Master & Dynamic's MW75 are high-quality headphones offering ANC features, directly competing against Apple's AirPods Max. Here's how the premium personal audio accessories compare.

The new Surface Laptop Go 2 is a thin and light Windows notebook at a low cost, and has been positioned by Microsoft to be a competitor to Apple's latest M2 MacBook Air. Here's how the ultra-portable notebooks compare.

Just as we have in years past, we've gotten our hands on dummy units of all four of the iPhone 14 models to see how they line up with what the rumor mill is saying.

Apple's new M2 is the start of a new Apple Silicon generation. Here's how the M2 fares when compared against the already-released M1 family of chips.

Hands on: Tandem t:slim X2's iPhone connected insulin delivery feature

Apple testing new App Store ad placements very soon

Doomed if it does, doomed if it doesn't — Apple will keep beating expectations

Breaking down Apple's tricky, 'gravity defying' $83 billion June quarter

Apple's HomePod mini dips to $89.95 during weekend sale

Amazon Drive is shutting down on December 31, 2023

The macOS Monterey user's guide to Keychain Access password management

Eve Motion 2 Review: New capabilities make up for a boring design

New research claims that even as global smartphone shipments have fallen, Apple's iPhone second quarter market share was its best since 2012.

Upgrade your everyday carry with a luxury organizer that can fit all your Apple gear, including your MacBook, iPad, AirPods, and more.

Clock on iPhone or iPad is a great app for both tracking your sleep and getting you up in the morning. Here are some tips to get the most out of it.

Apple's computers are powerful tools with fantastic displays. If you need more real estate, though, we've rounded up the best monitor for your Mac in 2022.

Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 16 to developers and soon public beta testers. It contains a number of new changes as Apple prepares it for release. Here's what we've uncovered thus far.

When watchOS 9 launches for Apple Watch owners they'll receive a hearty array of updates to keep you fit including new workout types, more metrics, and improved customization.

If you're looking for Thunderbolt 4-compatible hubs and docks so that you can add more connectivity to your Mac, we've curated some of the best docking and port-expanding accessories currently on the market.

The Sonos Ray is a new budget-friendly offering from the premium audio maker that now has a more affordable soundbar that sits below the Beam and Arc.

The second-generation Eve Motion is better in almost any conceivable way for HomeKit users, but its design is tired and doesn't mesh with the company's other products.

Upgrade your everyday carry with a luxury organizer that can fit all your Apple gear, including your MacBook, iPad, AirPods, and more.

The Manfrotto CFexpress Professional CFexpress Type B card reader is a great utility tool for creative pros on Mac or iPad.

The SmartMi 2 air purifier has HomeKit smarts, UV sterilization, and good coverage. If not for a messy setup process, this would be a great purifier to add to your home.

Bellroy's Mod Case + Wallet may be the ultimate solution for those who want a great MagSafe iPhone case with a matching wallet as it fixes some of Apple's missteps.

AppleInsider is one of the few truly independent online publications left. If you love what we do, please consider a small donation to help us keep the lights on.

If you love AppleInsider and want to support independent publications, please consider a small donation.