How Long Do Blood Sugar Swings Last? New Data From Two Popular Insulin Pumps

Researchers analyzed continuous glucose monitor data from 83 people using the Tandem Control IQ pump and 65 people using the MiniMed 780G system over a 60-day period. All participants had their glucose sensors actively recording for more than 70% of the time, giving the researchers high-quality data to work with.

Rather than focusing only on standard metrics like time-in-range, the team looked at something less commonly reported: exactly how long individual low and high blood sugar events lasted. They tracked lows (below 70 mg/dL) and highs (above 180 mg/dL) in specific time increments to build a detailed picture of event duration.

Both systems had similar rates of hypoglycemic events. Control IQ users experienced a median of 28 low blood sugar events per 60 days, while MiniMed 780G users had 23 events. This difference was not statistically significant, meaning the systems performed equally in terms of overall low frequency.

However, duration told a different story. Control IQ events lasted a median of 30 minutes, while MiniMed 780G events lasted 35 minutes. That's about 15% longer with the MiniMed system—a difference that reached statistical significance. While this might sound small, it means that when a low occurs with the MiniMed 780G, users should expect it to take somewhat longer to resolve.

When it came to hyperglycemic events above 180 mg/dL, both systems performed similarly. Control IQ users experienced a median duration of 90 minutes for high blood sugar events, while MiniMed 780G users experienced 85 minutes. This difference was not statistically significant, suggesting the two systems handle elevated blood sugars in comparable ways.

Standard metrics like time-in-range tell you what percentage of time your blood sugar stays in target. But knowing how long individual events last adds important context to that picture. A low blood sugar lasting 30 minutes versus 60 minutes feels very different to someone living with type 1 diabetes—affecting how you function at work or school, how anxious you feel, and how much effort goes into managing the moment.

This study highlights that comparing automated insulin delivery systems requires looking beyond headlines. Two systems might have similar rates of lows, but if one system resolves them faster, that's a meaningful real-world difference. The findings suggest people considering their pump options might want to discuss not just frequency of events, but how quickly their chosen system typically corrects them.

Source: Journal of diabetes science and technology. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.