The T1D news show you've been waiting for! Long-time broadcaster, blogger and diabetes mom Stacey Simms interviews prominent advocates, authors and speakers. Stacey asks hard questions of healthcare companies and tech developers and brings on "everyday' people living with type 1. Great for parents of T1D kids, adults with type 1 and anyone who loves a person with diabetes.
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Looking back on 2025: Hype, hope and what really matters, with Neil Greathouse
Episode 765
Tuesday, December 30, 2025 • Duration 56:27
This week on Diabetes Connections, a conversation about what really matters in diabetes. We're talking about the top stories of 2025, the hype that didn't happen, some trends for 2026, what community can accomplish, and what LeBron James has to do with all of this. We also get personal – because I'm being interviewed by the wonderful Neil Greathouse, host of Your Best T1D life, and so much more.
Do We Need an At-Home A1C Test in the Age of CGM? Orange Biomed Says Yes
Episode 764
Friday, December 26, 2025 • Duration 22:45
Making the case for a better at home A1C test.
Orange Biomed is developing a compact, one-drop, at-home A1C testing device they say could make frequent A1C checks easier and more accessible than ever. They're passionate about closing the gap for people who struggle to get to clinics regularly… and the research they share is compelling: four A1C tests a year can lead to a nearly 4% reduction in A1C levels. We'll talk about why more frequent A1C monitoring matters—even in the era of continuous glucose monitoring—how their new device works, and what early clinical trial results look like.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
Inside Tandem's Latest: catching up with VP of Product Management Marisa Fienup
Episode 755
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 • Duration 37:51
We've got an update from Tandem Diabetes. We're talking about Libre 3 plus integration, Lyumjev approval, Mobi tubeless, extended wear infusion sets and a lot more with VP of Product Management Marisa Fienup. She's also answering your questions about tubing, alerts, and shares what's next.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
The best way to and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Travel Alert: What You Need to Know About Geofencing and Dexcom G7
Episode 665
Tuesday, September 3, 2024 • Duration 31:53
Traveling with diabetes gives you enough to think about – especially traveling internationally: preparing, packing, going through airport security. But if you travel out of your country – not just the US – with your Dexcom G7, you also have to be aware of something called geofencing. If something goes wrong with your phone or your app.. getting it back is going to be an issue. We'll talk about how this works, why it's in place, and what you can do about it.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
In the News.. Omnipod 5 approved for type 2, bright light at night diabetes link, Zepbound price cut, and more!
Episode 664
Friday, August 30, 2024 • Duration 08:58
It's In the News! A look at the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. Top stories this week: The FDA approved Omnipod 5 for people with type 2 who use insulin, Dexcom's Stelo, the first over the counter CGM, is now on sale. more evidence that bright light at night may increase the risk of diabetes, a price cut for Zepbound, and more!
The best way to and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Why Medtronic and Abbott are teaming up - and what it means for you
Episode 663
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 • Duration 25:35
Medtronic and Abbott are joining forces – and we have questions. The announcement that Abbott will create a new CGM, based on the Freestyle Libre, exclusively for Medtronic comes just as Medtronic gets FDA approval for it's newest sensor. So why the team up? Why now? And what will all this look like for the person using these systems? We're talking to both companies.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
The best way to and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Kicking down barriers: Chris Bright is inspiring the next generation of athletes with T1D
Episode 662
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 • Duration 37:22
It's hard to believe that a generation ago, doctors were still telling newly diagnosed people that they shouldn't play sports with type 1 diabetes. My guest – Chris Bright – is not just an example of how wrong that thinking was and is.. he's actively now helping others pursue their dreams with T1D. Chris was diagnosed as a child back in 1999 and is the founder of The Diabetes Football Community. Chris shares his early challenges, how his mother's experience with type 1 affected their family, and what he wants you all to know about playing any sport with diabetes.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
In the News... weekly basal + semaglutide, liver targeted insulin, Lance Bass educates about LADA, and more!
Episode 661
Friday, August 16, 2024 • Duration 07:15
It's In the News! A look at the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. Top stories this week: A weekly basal plus semaglutide is in the works, but not for the US right now, Tandem updates it's app recall, liver targeted insulin study, a weird walking story, and Lance Bass educates about LADA.
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
"It connects me with joy" - Meet storm chaser Jen Walton
Episode 660
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 • Duration 42:36
This week, when it's stormy out – most of us head inside. But there are those who just can't wait for big storms and extreme weather so they can head out to track and learn from it. Jen Walton is a storm chaser and photographer who lives with type 1. We'll talk about how her diagnosis as an adult helped kick off her long-delayed dream to chase, how she prepares and manages with T1D on board, and how she's encouraging other women and girls to share her passion for extreme weather.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
The journey to diabetes independence: when T1D parenting becomes "Customer Support"
Episode 658
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 • Duration 26:27
I spent a lot of this summer at diabetes conferences and the top question I got from parents was: how did we make Benny so independent with his T1D? But there are some things I've learned that may make it easier for you. I'll explain my parenting pivot to Customer Support with the release of this excerpt from "Still the World's Worst Diabetes Mom"
Today on diabetes connections, making the case for a better at home A1C test. Orange biomed is developing a compact, one drop device that they say could make frequent A1C checks easier and more accessible. They're sharing research that four A1C tests a year can lead to a nearly 4% reduction in A1C levels, but they say a lot of people can't get to the clinic that much. We'll talk about why this matters, even in the era of CGM, how the device works and what the early clinical trial results look like.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your healthcare provider.
Welcome to a bonus episode of diabetes connections. I hope your December is going well and that you know somehow you're able to take some time for yourself in the middle of all the holiday rushing around this time of year can be magical and stressful and exhausting and wonderful, and you know, all the things. And it's the same thing over here, super busy getting all this stuff done before the end of the year. Love it. But, you know, getting podcast episodes out, writing all the things we write and planning for next year, as they say, We're staying booked and busy.
But quick behind the scenes here to better explain this episode, I taped this interview way back over the summer during the ADA Scientific Sessions conference. I had some technical problems. I actually thought I lost this interview. There were two interviews that seemed to have gone missing. We're going to air the other one very soon. But thankfully, I do have backups upon backups. So all the info that you're going to hear today is still relevant.
This product, a small A1C test, is still in development. The only dated bit is about their follow up event that took place in August. Orange Biomed was launched in 2021 in South Korea, with its US headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island. Its founders are two Duke University alums, and they're my guests, CEO Yeaseul Park and Co-President Unghyeon Ko, We are also joined by Janice Dru-Bennett. She is a senior advisor at the company.
Now, English is not the first language of two of these three speakers. This is a good time to remind you that most podcasting platforms have pretty good transcription services these days, especially Apple, I think they have a fantastic real time transcription service for podcasts that has been impressive to me in how they translate diabetes language. They're getting better at it. But I am also going to put a transcript of the interview in the show notes, which I don't normally do because the podcast services have gotten so good at it, but I think it could be helpful for at least a few of you out there. Okay, here is my conversation from the floor of ADA from the team at Orange biomed.
Yeaseul Park, Janice Drew Bennett and Dr Ko, Welcome to diabetes connections. I can't say live from ADA, because we're taping this to air later, but you're all there. Thank you so much for joining
Yeaseul Park 03:08
me. Yes, thank you. We're
03:10
excited to be here. Oh
Stacey Simms 03:11
my goodness. Can I ask first, how is the trip? I mean, yes, let me ask you. You guys came a long way.
Yeaseul Park 03:17
Yeah, it was 13 hours from Korea. But it's I'm so excited, because this event is really one of the times, and this is actually our third time attending ADA.
Stacey Simms 03:31
That's great. And we have so many questions for you, but Janice, let me ask you, you're there as everybody's setting up at the kind of beginnings of the show. What is it like right now for people who aren't familiar with ADA,
Janice Dru-Bennett 03:42
yes, you can hear the hammers in the background, although, but not on this podcast, but there's a lot of noise and people walking by. We're just setting up this the day before the exhibit hall opens and Dr Cole will be presenting at the Innovation Hub tomorrow, which is where we're sitting right now, with tables of innovators will be showcasing their diabetes innovations, and
Stacey Simms 04:04
there's a lot to get to. Dr Koh, I know you're presenting, but yes, let me ask you, like, what why? I know you said it's your third year, but why is orange biomed at ADA, what is your goal
Yeaseul Park 04:16
for us? ADA, is for a learning experience. As well as a platform to share. We come to see how all those around the world are fighting against diabetes, whether through clinical research, digital tools or technologies or community programs. At the same time, you're so proud to hear what orange biomat is building anytime, and eight months exhausting. That makes diabetes monitoring not accessible, not so many. And this year is especially exciting because Dr ko our co founder of orange buying at the group of speaking at ADA brand new program the innovation Hall.
Stacey Simms 04:58
That's awesome. So Dr Koh, tell me. Little bit about this, the Innovation Hub is pretty cool, but what are you going to be talking about?
Unghyeon Ko 05:05
Yeah, actually, I'm talking about the engineering part. I mean our technology, so our orange biomed, we are trying to solve a simple but a serious problem about the A1C accessibility. So to increase the A1C accessibility. So we are, we are developing at home device to measure the A1C level. So I'm, I'm talking about how difficult to increase the accessibility of A1C, but our technology is handled that difficult problem. So we now he's so agreed. So I'm going to introduce our technology and emphasize the importance of the A1C measurement at home.
Stacey Simms 05:49
Yeah, so A1C, it's interesting. My son was diagnosed at two, and in the pediatric world, you know, they'll just prick a finger generally and have that A1C right away. But my husband lives with type two, and he gets his labs drawn. And then it takes forever. So tell me a little bit before we go further about what you're hoping to do and making this easier for the patient,
Speaker 1 06:10
the frequent monitoring of A1C is so important to prevent the diabetic complications. So the money, so if you there is some so I can say that there is a research that if you measure the A 1d the four times a year, the People's A1C level is decreased like 3.8% but if you measure the A 1d at one per year, Then the A1C level is increased 1.5% so the frequent A1C monitoring is so important to prevent the diabetes complications. But problem is A1C measurement is only available at clinical site at this moment, so most of the A1C monitoring is done by the clinical side. So that's why people are difficult to monitoring A1C, because they have to visit the clinics forever. So is so like four times, or even eight times visit the clinics or hospital is quite difficult, especially in the people living in the far area from the hospital. So that's why the home A1C test is required. So I think that's why the accessibility of the A1C is one of the important things in managing the diabetes complications.
Stacey Simms 07:39
Dr Koh, is there evidence that, I mean more frequent A1C testing, I think would give many people peace of mind, perhaps. But is there evidence that it really does help in your health?
Speaker 1 07:51
Oh, yes, it is actually like from there is the research, like the famous research about the A1C level, like the research name this t and this research proved that the A1C is the one of the strongest predictor of diabetes complication. So A1C is completely related with the risk of diabetes complication. So like keeping A1C on the 7% dramatically lower the risk of diabetes complications. And also, there is another research in UK, the UK PDS study, and that study said they are A1C. Lowering A1C by just 1% can reduce overall mortality by 15% and microvascular complication by 37% so the roaring A1C is the goal of the treatment of the
Yeaseul Park 08:47
diabetes. So
Stacey Simms 08:48
when I think of at home diabetes tests, blood tests, seem like they're they're really sensitive, right? You have to be very careful with things like that, although we do, we did finger sticks at home for years and years. Are there challenges with at home A1C testing that that people like me could mess up,
Yeaseul Park 09:06
sure actually when I was doing pandemic outside system? So it's a new
Yeaseul Park 09:19
box of mustard with five or six needles inside, and we need to collect this blood to sound the left result. But then I really tried to collect the requirement matter blood, which is like it was like bleeding. Oh, it's not just retiring in one block, one drop of block, but it's like you need to try, yeah, many times, not just in one spot, to collapse in the block. And the other way you. Built female in, built a lot more broadly, to store your venous blood, and that's features like discomfort.
Stacey Simms 10:10
Would you mind taking us through your experience with the A1C testing? You were talking about how much blood it took? Yeah.
Yeaseul Park 10:17
So it, it requires many, many drops of blood. So I felt like it's like bleeding, and you make a lot of mess around the table. And so I felt, even though it's it was a topic time it was pandemic. So that's the only option I had at that time, but I wanted to make it simple and easier. And the other types of point of care devices only use a drop of blood still have some limitations, because we all don't want to bleed too much, so sometimes we try to finger stick very small and just squeeze to get enough blood. But if you squeeze to get enough sample volume, that's make your other liquid, like sweats, can also mix with your blood, and that actually affects the accuracy of the testing usually so many point of care devices also not recommend you to squeeze to get enough blood, so that means you need to treat a little too deep to get enough. So we really wanted to make this whole process or simpler and more problem.
Stacey Simms 11:43
Can you share a little bit about what the device looks like, what the patient experience is when they use it?
Speaker 1 11:48
Dr, CO, so our device is a palm size. Is in most like, like self, self poem, so it's a palm size device. So our device has no switch, but there is only a slider in the front of the device. So if you slide that, you can the device is turned on and you can insert the cartridge, and the cartridge is disposable cartridge. So after that, you just collect your blood and dilute it in the collecting tube and drop the sample into the cartridge, then analyze the A1C like automatically. So it's quite similar with the covid by covid test kit. So the covid test kit collect the sample in your nose and mix with the Rickett and drop it right? And it's quite similar.
Stacey Simms 12:45
So do you do a finger stick to put on the cartridge? How much blood to yells? Point, you know? How much blood do you need?
Speaker 1 12:52
Our devices for home use device, so it's quite we use a very different technology, because our device analyze the red blood cell one by one. So actually, we don't need exact unlike like five micro or 10 micro, we don't need the exact sample block. So we just need one drop of blood. So if the one drop is big, or if the one drop is right or small, it's fine for us. So one drop of blood, mix with their sample and drop one drop onto the cartridge. So maybe you can, you can drop one more than one drop, but we recommend one drop. So one drop of blood sample my dinner the rest yesterday pointed out that the skeezing the finger of blood is a problem for other device because, because in our body, there is a body wicked inside your under, under your skin. So if the body wicked is mixed with the blood samples, so it might be a problem because it dilute the blood sample. But our device, we analyze the Red Cross itself. So if it is diabetes, I think so we will find so you just puncture very best, and if you scale it, and it's totally fine for us. So it's, it's one of the good point of our device.
Yeaseul Park 14:20
How long does it take to get the results? It takes like, five minutes. Okay, yeah, and that's all at home. Yeah. Yezel, who do you see using this? Who is this for? Basically, it's for everyone. I think whoever has pre diabetes, diabetes type one, type two, and especially, I think who has limited access to primary care or lab testings. You know, many people who are older, tends to have more, especially the people who has limited access to primary care or lab testings. We believe this device can give more value to them. Yeah, and especially some people who have limited mobility, if they are older, or if they have experienced that amputation or something like that, they cannot go to the hospital by themselves. They need a caregivers to drive them to the hospital for the simple lab testing. But now I think it empowers patients who has that limitation still can take control their health by using this kind of home use device. How accurate
Stacey Simms 15:33
is it? I assume you have studies, and you've done some trials on how on the accuracy?
Yeaseul Park 15:37
Dr, CO, do you want to add that?
Speaker 1 15:40
Oh, yeah. So we are preparing the clinical trial. So the official clinical trials will be done within this year, but so that's our plan. But we we tested our device already using the in in last year. So last year, feasibility studies show that our device is quite similar with other point of care devices, and hopefully because at that time, our device, our especially our cartridge sensor, we just manufacturing our own like our in our lab. So this time, the official clinical trial in in this year, we are going to manufacturing in the factories so it might be more precise. So we hopefully we trying to chase the hospital accurate.
Stacey Simms 16:30
And I have to ask, where more and more people with diabetes are wearing a CGM and looking at time and range. What would you say to people who would tell you, well, we don't really need A1C anymore. We have time and range. Dr Cody, I see you nodding. Go ahead, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 16:47
So that's a very important point, but because the timing range is also important, and the CGM is very great technology for diabetes people. But problem is, like the A1C and C GM target different, like the CGM target the hypothesemia, but the A1C targeting the diabetes complications. So like, if you measure the timing range and you can manage your average glucose more nicely, but it might be prevent your hypothenia. But if you want to assess your diabetes management, you might be measure A1C. So if you measure timing range, but you also have to measure the A1C. So A1C is for everyone's and so. And also, the point is, if you don't treat the insulin, or if you don't treat the any medications, then you don't need to actually using the CGM, that's the ADH recommendation. So, but in in that case, you need the A1C as well. So A1C for everyone, and the CGM is for the people who treated the insulin. That's the ADA guide, right? And then,
Stacey Simms 18:12
yes, let me just ask you. You know, you came all this way. As you say, this is your third time at ADA. Trials are starting soon. What's your hope here? Is this something you see in homes of everyone who has any kind of diabetes? What's the big goal for Orange biomed?
Yeaseul Park 18:28
Every time we talk to a day, we can feel what's going on here in diabetes industry. It's a huge maybe first year, I the most frequently hard keyword was aid system. But after that, we now have GLP one, and now we hear more keyword around obesity. So that's a little slightly different trend I can feel. And once you come and join this full sessions, then I can see there's make everyone is making a progress, and we are all together. Want to fight against diabetes in their own way or with their own expertise, whether it's pharmaceutical, whether it's medical device or diabetes, sex, sometimes any other community programs that really support this patient and families, the community, and it's Really this whole atmosphere actually really motivates our team and myself, and we can feel the value. I can really feel this we are doing something valuable to patients and our community, and that's the most great thing, like the greatest thing that I can take when I come back to home with a. After the ADA. And for sure, we want to have opportunity to make voice what we are doing at Orange biomed, and want to deliver this value to the patient and other healthcare professionals. Otherwise, even though we are working hard to make this progress, no one knows, and that makes any changes the world. So that's the important purpose we are coming here. That's great.
Stacey Simms 20:30
Janice, before I let you all go, I know you wanted to talk about an event you've got coming up in Chicago. Can you tell me a little
Janice Dru-Bennett 20:37
bit about that? Yes, we're really excited for Orange biomed to be hosting the first map your health event, a local event here in Chicago, we have done a solving healthcare challenges webinar to announce our map your health campaign, which is, monitor your A1C, monitor your health and then adapt your treatment and prevent chronic disease. And we're actually going to be hosting on August 16, from 10am to 3pm in Chicago at their humble Park, Health Wellness Center, the first local event, inviting all local partners. We'll have some virtual sessions, showcase with yoga or ask the endocrinologist. So we'll have a very exciting agenda that both virtual and on site participants can join in, eat healthy foods. See, see what's in Chicago from a screenings perspective, and really get people motivated to map your health. So hashtag, map your health. Tell your your your health story, and let's get everyone, um, healthier. Wow.
Stacey Simms 21:35
Okay, fantastic. Well, yes, I'll park Dr co Janice, thank you so much for joining me. Have a terrific show. I know this is an audio podcast, but especially behind you. Yassil, it has been wild to watch the construction guys are going by and motorized carts and things are going up behind you. So have a wonderful ADA. Keep us posted, and we'll get the word out about your event in August and going forward. Thanks so much for joining me.
more information in the show notes about the studies and about orange biomed. You can sign up for alerts and emails from them as their product moves forward. So if you're interested, definitely check that out. Thank you to my editor, John Bukenis from audio editing solutions, thank you so much for listening. I'm Stacey Simms. I'll see you back here soon. Until then, be kind to yourself.
Benny 22:30
Diabetes Connections is a production of Stacey Simms media. All Rights Reserved, all wrongs avenged.
Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I'm Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now.
XX
In a first for any automated insulin delivery system, The FDA clears Omnipod 5 for people with type 2 diabetes.
The new indication is based on data from the real-world multicenter SECURE-T2D trial of a racially diverse group of 305 adults with type 2 diabetes who were taking insulin. About half were also taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Use of the Omnipod 5 resulted in a significant A1c reduction from 8.2% at baseline to 7.4% at 13 weeks (P < .001), with no differences in outcome by GLP-1 receptor agonist use.
Some doctors are already prescribing the Omnipod 5 off-label to some of their patients with type 2 and other types of diabetes. Private insurance will typically cover it, although prior authorization is often required. Medicare Part B requires certification of C-peptide deficiency for coverage of insulin pumps.
This new indication is likely to increase uptake of the Omnipod 5 into primary care, where the vast majority of people with type 2 diabetes are managed.
For the first time, you can get a CGM over the counter, with no prescription. Dexcom began selling Stelo this week.. intended for people with Type 2 diabetes who don't take insulin, although it can be used by people without diabetes. It costs 99 dollars for a one-time order of two sensors or $89 dollars for a monthly prescription.
Stelo is a 15-day sensor based on Dexcom's other glucose monitors. The main difference from prescription products is in what information users get through the app. Stelo flags glucose spikes, provides information on time-in-range goals, and includes meal and activity logging. The intent is to reveal how food, exercise and sleep can affect a person's glucose levels.
Competitor Abbott plans to launch two over-the-counter CGMs: one called Lingo, for people without diabetes, and one called Libre Rio, for people with diabetes who don't use insulin. It has not yet priced either sensor.
Abbott said it plans to debut its competing Lingo device this summer. The company has not said when it will launch its Rio CGM.
You'll soon be able to get vials of Lilly's popular weight loss drug, Zepbound, from a direct to consumer website, at a lower cost. This is still nearly 400 dollars a month for the lowest dose $550 for the next lowest and it will come in vials, not pens.
Lilly and Novo have been struggling to make enough of their obesity medications to meet soaring demand, especially keeping up the pen supply.
Lilly's medicines are now listed as available by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, though they are not yet off the FDA's official shortage list where they have been most of the year.
I haven't seen this mentioned in any of the reporting but.. if it's coming in a vial, you have to use a syringe to inject. Not much of a barrier to this group listening.. but pens have made using drugs like this much easier for a lot of people and I worry that going back to syringes is better for these companies than the patients.
Zepbound is terzepatide, the same mediation as in Mounjaro. The latter is approved for people with type 2 diabetes, so this could be a way for some people to better access Mounjaro which is very hard to come by.
In a few months the US govermet will announce the list of 15 moe drugs they'll negotiate Medicare prices for.. and Ozempic is a top candidate. This is speculation from Wall Street analysts but I think worth watching. All the drugs on their prediction list have been on the market since at least 2017 and are among those that the Medicare health program spends the most on.
Under President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), prices for 10 highly popular prescription drugs used by Medicare will be cut by 38% to 79% in 2026. The industry has fought the negotiation program, saying it will stifle innovation.
Government researchers predict that the use of diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss would raise the U.S. deficit over the next 10 years at its current price. Medicare spent over $4.6 billion on the drug in 2022.
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are associated with accelerated brain aging, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Diabetes Care. The good news is that this may be counteracted by a healthy lifestyle.
Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia, but it is unclear how diabetes and its early stages, known as prediabetes, affect brain aging in people without dementia. Now, a comprehensive brain imaging study shows that both diabetes and prediabetes can be linked to accelerated brain aging.
The study included more than 31,000 people between 40 and 70 years of age from the UK Biobank who had undergone a brain MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging). The researchers used a machine learning approach to estimate brain age in relation to the person's chronological age.
Prediabetes and diabetes were associated with brains that were 0.5 and 2.3 years older than chronological age, respectively. In people with poorly controlled diabetes, the brain appeared more than four years older than chronological age. The researchers also noted that the gap between brain age and chronological age increased slightly over time in people with diabetes. These associations were attenuated among people with high physical activity who abstained from smoking and heavy alcohol consumption.
Another study showing the link between bright light at night and a higher risk of developing type 2. This study in the journet Lancet
In the large modeling study, the research team investigated whether personal light exposure patterns predicted the risk of diabetes using data from approximately 85,000 people and around 13 million hours of light sensor data.
The participants – who did not have type 2 diabetes – wore devices on their wrists for one week to track their light levels throughout the day and night.
They were then tracked over the following nine years to observe whether they went on to develop type 2 diabetes.
"Light exposure at night can disrupt our circadian rhythms, leading to changes in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism," he says.
Having more exposure to light at night (between 12:30 am and 6:00 am) was linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and this was true regardless of how much light people were exposed to during the day.
The research accounted for other factors associated with type 2 diabetes, such as lifestyle habits, sleep patterns, shift work, diet, and mental health.
Even after taking these factors into account, the findings showed that getting more light at night was still a strong predictor of developing diabetes.
Is there a link between voice pitch and glucose levels? And is it strong enough to one day perhaps lead to non-invasive glucose monitronig?
Klick Labs published a new study in Scientific Reports today—confirming the link
In "Linear Effects of Glucose Levels on Voice Fundamental Frequency in type 2 diabetes and Individuals with Normoglycemia," researchers investigated how blood glucose levels influence the frequency of the voice in 505 participants across three glycemic statuses—non-diabetic, prediabetic, and type-2 diabetic.
Participants were fitted with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and recorded their voices multiple times daily for two weeks. The analysis revealed a linear relationship where an increase in CGM glucose levels corresponded to an increase in the fundamental frequency in the voice.
The lead author says,
"Whereas current glucose monitoring methods are often invasive and inconvenient, voice-based glucose monitoring could be as easy as talking into a smartphone, which could change the game for the estimated 463 million people around the world living with type 2 diabetes."
Klick Labs' latest research marks another step forward in its ongoing commitment to advancing the detection and management of diabetes using voice tech and machine learning. Their October 2023 study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health demonstrated that voice and AI can screen for type 2 diabetes with high accuracy.
Earlier this year we talked to the teenager behind a free bolus calculator. The FDA took T1D1 down, when they and Apple started cracking down on health tools without regulatory approval. Drew Mendalow has been working to bring it back and we have an update:
He says, "Over the last two years, we have been tirelessly working to complete our FDA premarket submission. Thanks to contributions by the T1D community, we were able to complete the preparations needed for the Human Factors Study. The trial itself is the last, vital piece needed before we can submit the app to the FDA.
Now, we're thrilled to announce that the team at Dexcom has graciously offered to run the study for us!"
It's a big deal – kudos to Dexcom and to Drew. We'll let you know when T1D1 is back in the app store.
Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I'm Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now.
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Novo Nordisk moves ahead with a new combination: once-weekly insulin icodec and semaglutide. Called IcoSema, Novo plans to submit for approval in Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia but NOT the US.
As we told you earlier this summer, icodec – once weeky basal insulin – was not approved by the US FDA.
Semaglutide is the molecule underpinning Novo's immensely popular GLP-1 drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Icodec has been approved as Awiqli in places like Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia but was snubbed by the FDA last month.
The FDA has left the door open for another application, but Novo says they don't expect to iron it out this year.
In studies, the combination worked well to lower A1C for people with type 2 and they lost weight. They also had fewer lows.
An update from Tandm on their app recall. Back in March they notified users of the recall because of an issue that can cause rapid depletion of a user's t:slim X2 insulin pump battery. This battery depletion can result in the pump shutting down sooner than expected, which some customers have continued to experience even after an updated version of the app was released.
Notices were emailed to impacted customers on August 9, 2024 with updated information and recommendations for helping avoid pump battery depletion. Tandem plans to release a new version of the app to address the remaining issues and will notify all users by email and app push notifications following its release.
Impacted customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall can contact the Tandem Diabetes Care Technical Support Team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at techsupport@tandemdiabetes.com or (877) 801-6901.
If you are an adult who has type 1 diabetes, you may be eligible to participate in a trial examining the impact of an investigational liver-targeted insulin on blood glucose control, A1C, and nighttime lows.
This study is researching whether administering a liver-targeting insulin called HDV-L insulin (Hepatocyte-directed Vesicles-insulin lispro), will improve glycemic control.
HDV-L insulin is designed to act on the liver to enhance glucose storage and decrease the frequency of severe hypoglycemia in individuals requiring insulin. It is not currently approved for use.
For this trial, researchers are recruiting roughly 230 adults with type 1 diabetes aged 18-79 who are on multiple daily injections (MDI).
This study is recruiting in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. To enroll or learn more about this study, contact Todd Hobbs, MD at Diasome Pharmaceuticals at thobbs@diasome.com or call 216-780-9324.
Sanofi is investing heavily to boost insulin production. They opened a new facility in Germany for the basal insulin Lantus and they announced they will invest over one billion dollars to expand production capacity in France.
Sanofi's considerable investment in insulin production is especially important given that other insulin companies appear to be focusing their efforts on production of GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro and Ozempic, rather than insulin. This has left some patients worried that Novo Nordisk and Lilly will leave them behind to pursue more lucrative products for weight loss, especially after Novo Nordisk decided to discontinue the basal insulin Levemir.
Hoping to talk to Abbott and Medtronic soon about their partnership announced earlier this month. The companies announced that Abbot will create an integrated continuous glucose monitor that works only with Medtronic's diabetes technology and be sold exclusively by Medtronic.
Along with announcing the partnership, Medtronic said Wednesday it received FDA approval for its Simplera CGM, which does not require fingersticks or overtape, unlike the company's previous sensors.
The Simplera Sync sensor, which is designed to work with Medtronic's automated insulin delivery algorithm, is under FDA review separately.
Researchers have developed a novel computer algorithm that can predict various diseases like diabetes or stroke, just by analysing the colour of the human tongue with 98 per cent accuracy.
The imaging system developed by Middle Technical University (MTU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) in Australia can diagnose conditions such as diabetes, stroke, anaemia, asthma, liver and gallbladder issues, Covid-19, and other vascular and gastrointestinal diseases.
"The colour, shape, and thickness of the tongue can reveal a litany of health conditions," said Ali Al-Naji, adjunct Associate Professor at MTU and UniSA.
The paper published in Technologies describes how the system analyses tongue colour to provide real-time diagnoses, demonstrating that AI can advance medical practices significantly.
The breakthrough was achieved through a series of experiments using 5,260 images to train machine-learning algorithms to detect tongue colour.
Researchers received 60 tongue images from two teaching hospitals in the Middle East, representing patients with diverse health conditions. The AI model matched tongue colour with the correct disease in nearly all cases.
Big roundup article from the UK Guardian all about 6 projects all around smart insulin. Not a lot new here, but it caused a lot of chatter. I'll link it up – good summary of all of the research happening in the space right now. Glucose-responsive insulin is the idea that you could give one injection and the insulin would respond to the rise and fall of glucose levels without further action by the person.
Lance Bass (like glass) continues to keep the public posted on his recent LADA diagnosis. The boy band singer showing his IG audience more about what's also called diabetes 1.5 and explaining how he was first diagnosed with type 2.
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Ok, brace yourself – I promise this is a real story. The Fart Walk is actually good for you. Ok.. stay with me. This is really just a great silly reframing of something we all know, and I couldn't resist putting it in here. A wellness influencer put this out – you may have seen it – claiming the after dinner stroll can limit your risk of type 2 diabetes. A lot of studies confirm that – along with it having benefits if you already have diabetes. The flatulence part – or a release of gastric pressure – is also a known benefit of moving more after meals. So it's funny, farts are always funny, but if it gets more people to walk after they eat I'm all for it.
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